Effects of raw materials and preparation methods of catalysts on the selective hydrogenation of ethyl phenylacetate

A ruthenium/tin/alumina catalyst was found to hydrogenate ethyl phenylacetate to 2-phenylethanol selectively with a high yield. The optimum atomic ratio of ruthenium to tin was 1∶2, and the optimum metal content was about 5 and 11.75 wt% for ruthenium and tin, respectively. The raw materials of the catalyst had a significant effect on the conversion and selectivity in the catalytic hydrogenation. Chloride had a negative effect on catalytic activity. Washing the catalysts, which were prepared from chloride materials, with distilled water or alkali solution had a positive effect upon catalyst activity. The catalyst prepared from chloride-free raw materials performed the best, and the impregnation catalyst has a higher yield than the solgel catalyst, suggesting that impregnation is a suitable procedure for this reaction.