| abstract |
Lower aliphatic acids, e.g., isobutyric acid and esters, e.g., methyl isobutyrate are dehydrogenated in the presence of oxygen and a solid heterogenous dehydrogenation catalyst at temperatures in the range of from about 250 DEG C. to about 600 DEG C. The catalyst is the calcined residue of a base catalyst described as the mixed phosphates of iron and lead and a modifier component selected from the group consisting of manganese, uranium, praseodymium, calcium, strontium and chromium wherein such modifier is present in the amount of from about 0.1 to about 10% based on the weight of said base catalyst. |