Abstract: Higher &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated alcohols are prepared by monoethynylation of a ketone by the NH3/KOH method, if desired hydrogenation of the acetylene alcohol in the presence of hydrogen over a Pd-containing thin layer catalyst, purifying distillation of the hydrogenation product, preferably in a dividing wall column with recirculation of the unreacted ketone to the ethynylation step, and, if desired, preparation of higher alcohols having in each case 5 more carbon atoms in the chain by reacting the alcohols prepared by monoethynylation and, if desired, partial hydrogenation with alkyl acetoacetatesor diketene in a Carroll reaction to form ketones and using these as starting materials for the steps ethynylation, optional hydrogenation and fractional distillation.

Abstract: In a process for the continuous hydrogenation of nitrites to primary amines in the liquid phase over a suspended, activated Raney catalyst based on an alloy of aluminum and at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt and nickel, and, if desired, one or more further transition metals selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, chromium and manganese, the hydrogenation is carried out in the absence of ammonia and basic alkali metal compounds or alkaline earth metal compounds.

Abstract: A process for the coproduction of 6-aminocapronitrile and hexamethylenediamine starting from adiponitrile by a) hydrogenating adiponitrile in the presence of a catalyst comprising an element of the eighth transition group as catalytically active component, to obtain a mixture comprising 6-aminocapronitrile, hexamethylenediamine, adiponitrile and high boilers, b) distillatively removing hexamethylenediamine from the mixture comprising 6-aminocapronitrile, hexamethylenediamine, adiponitrile and high boilers, and either cl) distillatively removing 6-aminocapronitrile, and then d1) distillatively removing adiponitrile, or c2) simultaneously distillatively removing 6-aminocapronitrile and adiponitrile into separate fractions is characterized by base of column temperatures below 185° C. in steps d1) or c2).

Abstract: A process for preparing lactams by hydrolytic cyclization of aminonitriles in the gas phase in the presence of a metal phosphate catalyst comprises using a catalyst comprising one or more oligophosphates of the general formula (I) M (POa)b  (I) where M is a metal of group 3 or 4 of the periodic table, including the lanthanides, a is >2.5 and <4.0, and b is such that electrical neutrality is ensured, or a mixture of one or more oligophosphates of the general formula (I) with one or more further salts of a metal of group 3 or 4 of the periodic table, including the lanthanides, with an inorganic acid.

Abstract: Nitriles are hydrogenated to primary amines over an activated, alpha-Al2O3-containing, macroporous Raney catalyst based on an alloy of aluminum and at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt and nickel, and, if desired, one or more further transition metals selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, chromium and manganese, which is obtainable by a process comprising the steps in the order (a)-(f):

Abstract: In a process for the continuous hydrogenation of nitrites to primary amines in the liquid phase over a suspended, activated Raney catalyst based on an alloy of aluminum and at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt and nickel, and, if desired, one or more further transition metals selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, chromium and manganese, the hydrogenation is carried out in the absence of ammonia and basic alkali metal compounds or alkaline earth metal compounds.

Abstract: Alkenes are prepared by partial hydrogenation of alkynes in the liquid phase at from 20 to 250° C. and hydrogen partial pressures of from 0.

Abstract: A cyclic lactam and a cyclic amine are coproduced by reacting an aliphatic alpha, omega-diamine with water in the gas phase in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst.

Abstract: A cyclic lactam and a cyclic amine are coproduced by coreacting an aliphatic alpha, omega-diamine and an aliphatic alpha, omega-aminonitrile with water in the gas phase in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst.

Abstract: A process for catalytic hydrogenation of adiponitrile to hexamethylenediamine at elevated temperature and elevated pressure in the presence of catalysts based on elemental iron as catalytically active component and ammonia as solvent comprises a) hydrogenating adiponitrile at from 70 to 220° C.

Abstract: A process for the coproduction of 6-aminocapronitrile and hexamethylenediamine starting from adiponitrile by a) hydrogenating adiponitrile in the presence of a catalyst comprising an element of the eighth transition group as catalytically active component, to obtain a mixture comprising 6-aminocapronitrile, hexamethylenediamine, adiponitrile and high boilers, b) distillatively removing hexamethylenediamine from the mixture comprising 6-aminocapronitrile, hexamethylenediamine, adiponitrile and high boilers, and either c1) distillatively removing 6-aminocapronitrile, and then d1) distillatively removing adiponitrile, or c2) simultaneously distillatively removing 6-aminocapronitrile and adiponitrile into separate fractions is characterized by base of column temperatures below 185° C. in steps d1) or c2).

Abstract: Alkenes are prepared by partial hydrogenation of alkynes in the liquid phase at from 20 to 250° C. and hydrogen partial pressures of from 0.

Abstract: A material useful as catalyst for the hydrogenation of alpha, Omega-dinitriles comprises a) iron or a compound based on iron or mixtures thereof, (b) from 0.001 to 0.3% by weight based on (a) of a promoter based on 2, 3, 4 or 5 elements selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silicon, zirconium, titanium and vanadium, (c) from 0 to 0.3% by weight based on (a) of a compound based on an alkali and/or alkaline earth metal, and also (d) from 0.001 to 1% by weight based on (a) of manganese.

Abstract: A material useful as catalyst for the hydrogenation of alpha, omega-dinitriles comprises

Abstract: A process for preparing aliphatic alpha, omega-diamines by hydrogenation of aliphatic alpha, omega-dinitriles in the presence of a catalyst comprises using a hydrogenation catalyst comprising (a) iron or a compound based on iron or mixtures thereof, (b) from 0.001 to 0.3% by weight based on (a) of a promoter based on 2, 3, 4 or 5 elements selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silicon, zirconium, titanium and vanadium, and also (c) from 0 to 0.3% by weight based on (a) of a compound based on an alkali and/or alkaline earth metal.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenation of aliphatic alpha, omega-dinitriles in the presence of a heterogeneous fixed bed catalyst comprises using a reaction mixture comprising from 2 &mgr;mol to 30 mmol NA, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba or Mn or mixtures thereof in the form of a basic salt, based on 10 mol of aliphatic alpha, omega-dinitrile used.