Reduction of 9, 10 anthracene carbonylic adducts

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR ELECTIVELY REDUCING THE CARBONYL GROUP OF A CARBONYL COMPOUND OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF MONOOLEFINIC ALDEHYDES AND OLEFINC KETONES HAVING NOT MORE THAN 14 CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE WHICH COMPRISES REACTING SAID CARBONYL COMPOUND WITH AN ANTHRACENE COMPOUND OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ANTHRACENE AND THE ALKYL AND ARYL ANTHRACENES IN SOLUTION IN A LIQUID HYDROCARBON AT ABOUT 50* C. TO ABOUT 400* C. UNDER A PRESSURE OF 500 TO ABOUT 3000 P.S.I.G., HYDROGENATING THE CARBONYL GROUP OF THE RESULTING 9,10-DIHYDRO-9,10-ETHANO-ANTHRACENE CARBONYL COMPOUND BY REACTING SAID COMPOUND WITH GASEOUS HYDROGEN AT ABOUT 30* C. TO ABOUT 150* C. IN THE PRESENCE OF A HYDROGENATION CATALYST OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF RANEY NICKEL AND COPPER-CHROMINUM OXIDE CATALYST UNDER A HYDROGEN PRESSURE OF FROM ABOUT 500 TO ABOUT 5000 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH, AND PYROLYZING THE HYDROGENATION PRODUCT BY HEATING IT AT ABOUT 250* TO 400* C. TO PRODUCE AN OLEFINIC ALCOHOL CORRESPONDING TO THE STARTING CARBONYL COMPOUND AND REGENERATE SAID ANTHRACENE COMPOUND.