Disclosed is a process for a cyclohexanedimethanol by hydrogenation of
a cyclohexane-dicarboxylate ester in the presence of a Raney metal catalyst doped
with rhenium. The process is useful for the reparation of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol
from dialkyl esters of 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate or dialkyl terephthalates.
When Raney nickel is used as the catalyst, the process produces CHDM having a high
trans content.
