| abstract |
This invention relates to processes for producing one or more substituted or unsubstituted 1,6-hexanediols, e.g., 1,6-hexanediol, which comprise subjecting one or more substituted or unsubstituted alkadienes to hydrocarbonylation in the presence of a hydrocarbonylation catalyst, e.g., a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, and a promoter and optionally free ligand to produce said one or more substituted or unsubstituted 1,6-hexanediols. The substituted and unsubstituted 1,6-hexanediols produced by the processes of this invention can undergo further reaction(s) to afford desired derivatives thereof, e.g., epsilon caprolactone. This invention also relates in part to reaction mixtures containing one or more substituted or unsubstituted 1,6-hexanediols as principal product(s) of reaction. |