This paper introduces specific dehydration of diols over rare earth oxides (REOs) to produce the corresponding unsaturated alcohols in the vapor phase. 3-Buten-2-ol and trans-2-buten-1-ol were produced selectively in the dehydration of 1,3-butanediol over CeO2, and 3-buten-1-ol was produced in the dehydration of 1, 4-butanediol over REOs such as Yb2O2. The reaction mechanism was discussed in connection with the surface structure of REOs using quantum-chemical analysis.
