CYCLOHEXANE

Cyclohexane (hexahydrobenzene, melting point: 6.5 C, boiling point: 81 C, density: 0.7791, flash point: ?20 C) can be quantitatively produced from benzene by hydrogenation over either a nickel or a platinum catalyst at 210 C and 350 to 500 psi hydrogen (Fig. 1).

Figure 1: Manufacture of cyclohexane.

Several reactors may be used in series and the yield is over 99 percent.

Cyclohexane is used for the manufacture of adipic acid and caprolactam. Adipic acid is used to manufacture nylon 6,6, and caprolactam is the monomer for nylon 6.

CYCLOHEXANOL

Cyclohexanol (melting point 25.2 C, boiling point: 161.1 C, density: 0.9493, flash point: 67.2 C) and cyclohexanone (melting point ?47 C, boiling point: 156.7 C, density: 0.9478, flash point: 54 C) are made by the air oxidation of cyclohexane with a cobalt(II) naphthenate or acetate or benzoyl peroxide catalyst at 125 to 160 C (255 to 320 F) and 50 to 250 psi.

The ratio of the cyclohexanol to cyclohexanone in the product mix is 3 to 1.

The hydrogenation of phenol at elevated temperatures and pressures, in either the liquid or vapor phase and with a nickel catalyst, is also used in the manufacture of cyclohexanol.

Cyclohexanol is used primarily in the production of adipic acid, which is further used as a raw material in nylon 6,6 production, and in methylcyclohexanol production.

CYCLOHEXANONE

See Cyclohexanol.

DARVON

Darvon , d-propoxyphene hydrochloride, is a synthetic, nonantipyritic, orally effective analgesic, with similar pharmacological activity and effects to codeine. Darvon is not a narcotic but can be substituted for...