| abstract |
Process comprising contacting and reacting a diarylketone of the formula RCOR', wherein each of R and R' is aryl, the same or different, and hydrogen over at least a catalytic amount of lead-poisoned palladium catalyst, for example, Lindlar catalyst, at a hydrogen gage pressure in the range from about 150 kPa to about 15,000 kPa, preferably from about 340 kPa to about 3400 kPa, at a temperature in the range from about 50° C. to about 200° C., preferably from about 100° C. to about 150° C., to produce diarylmethanol of the formula RCHOHR', wherein R and R' are as defined above. |