PURPOSE: To obtain 1-(4'-isobutylphenyl)ethanol useful as an intermediate for ibuprofen by hydrogenating 4-isobutylacetophenone in the absence of a solvent and in the presence of a treated active spongy Ni catalyst precleaned with an org. cleaning liq.

CONSTITUTION: The objective compd. is obtd. by hydrogenating 4- isobutylacetophenone in the presence of a treated active spongy Ni catalyst in an amt. of 1-30 wt.% of the total amt. of all the reactants. The catalyst is prepd. by treating an active spongy Ni catalyst wetted with a water-base protective liq. with an org. cleaning liq. (e.g. methanol, ethanol, or isopropanol). The hydrogenation is conducted under a hydrogen pressure of 0.7-84 kg/cm2 at 10-150°C for 0.25-10 hr. After treated with the org. cleaning liq., the catalyst may be further cleaned with 1-isobutylacetophenone, and this further cleaning reduces the amt. of the org. cleaning soln. remaining in the final product.