Process for conversion of acyclic C5 compounds to cyclic C5 compounds and catalyst composition for use therein

A process for conversion of an acyclic C5 feedstock to a product comprising cyclic C5 compounds including cyclopentadiene, said process comprising the steps of contacting said feedstock and, optionally, hydrogen under acyclic C5 conversion conditions in the presence of a catalyst composition to form said product, wherein said catalyst composition is made by the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting a catalyst support with a source of a Group 1 alkali metal silicate and/or a Group 2 alkaline earth metal silicate to form a silicate-containing catalyst precursor;
• (b) heating said silicate-containing catalyst precursor in one or more steps to a first temperature of 450° C. or above and then cooling to form a heat-treated silicate-modified catalyst precursor;
• (c) contacting said heat-treated silicate-modified catalyst precursor of step (b) with a source of a Group 10 metal, and, optionally, a Group 11 metal, to form a metal silicate catalyst precursor;
• and
• (d) drying said metal silicate catalyst precursor in one or more steps at temperatures from 90° C. to 400° C. to form said catalyst composition, whereby said catalyst composition having said Group 10 metal, and, optionally, a Group 11 metal, deposited thereon.