Catalyst and process for dehydrogenation of oxygen-containing derivatives of the cyclohexane series into corresponding cyclic ketones and/or phenols

A catalyst for dehydrogenation of oxygen-containing derivatives of the cyclohexane series of the general formula: wherein R1 is hydrogen or a C1-C4 alkyl; R2 and R3 are radicals having the same or different meanings: -H, -OH, =O, provided that R2 and R3 are not simultaneously hydrogen and R1, R2 and R3 are attached to different carbon atoms of the cycle, into corresponding cyclic ketones and/or phenols containing the following components, percent by weight: -nickel 15 to 55 -promotor-germanium -and/or lead 0.2 to 8.0 -inert carrier 84.8 to 37.0 - and an atomic ratio of nickel to the promotor is within the range of from 15:1 to 410:1 respectively. The catalyst can additionally contain a salt of an alkali metal and a mineral acid in an amount of from 0.01 to 1.0% by weight. A process for dehydrogenation of oxygen-containing derivatives of the cyclohexane series of said general formula into corresponding cyclic ketones and/or phenols comprises contacting said oxygen-containing derivatives of the cyclohexane series with said catalyst in the presence of a diluent-an inert gas, aliphatic C1-C4 hydrocarbons, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, steam, aliphatic C1-C3 alcohols or different combinations thereof, at a temperature within the range of from 160 DEG to 340 DEG C. under a partial pressure of said oxygen-containing derivatives of the cyclohexane series of from 0.003 to 0.1 atm, and feed rates of said oxygen-containing derivatives of the cyclohexane series and diluent equal to 0.5-5.0 kg/1.hr and 1-53 m3/1.hr respectively. The catalyst features a high productivity (up to 3.8 kg/1.hr) selectively (up to 99%) and stability (operates with unchanged characteristics of productivity and selectivity for 400 hours and longer). The process is simple, it can be performed on a standard equipment, whereby it is economically efficient.