Higher concentrations, i.e. more than 10 p.p.m. of the said alkaline reacting compound acts to alter the specificity of the sodium promoted catalyst. Thus additions of more than 10 p.p.m. of these alkaline reacting compounds causes an increase in the amount of cyclohexanol pro- 1 to 10 p.p.m. (based on the weight of phenol used) of sodium.