Abstract: Alcohols are prepared by the catalytic hydrogenation of the corresponding carbonyl compounds at elevated temperatures and at superatmospheric pressure in the liquid phase by a process in which the catalyst used contains copper on an SiO2-containing carrier in the presence or absence of one or more of the elements magnesium, barium, zinc and chromium.

Abstract: Tertiary amines are produced by reacting a secondary amine having identical or different substituents, in particular a readily volatile amine, with a primary or secondary monohydric or polyhydric alcohol, in particular a sparingly volatile fatty alcohol, over a copper catalyst formed directly from copper formate under the reaction conditions.

Abstract: Aldehydes or ketones of not less than 4 or 5 carbon atoms, respectively, are manufactured in a one stage process in the liquid phase by subjecting aldehydes and/or ketones of not less than 2 or 3 carbon atoms, respectively, to an aldol condensation and hydrogenating the resulting olefinically unsaturated aldehyde, the catalyst used for the aldol condensation and hydrogenation containing nickel or cobalt or their mixtures, zinc oxide and at least one of the elements iron, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, gallium, indium, thallium, germanium, tin, lead, cadmium and mercury or compounds of the said elements.

Abstract: 5-Diethylaminopentan-2-ol is obtained from 1-diethylamino-pent-2-yn-4-ol by hydrogenation, if a nickel catalyst is used in the presence of a basic alkali metal compound or alkaline earth metal compound and the hydrogenation is carried out in the absence of water.

Abstract: Aldehydes or ketones of not less than 4 or 5 carbon atoms, respectively, are manufactured in a one stage process in the liquid phase by subjecting aldehydes and/or ketones of not less than 2 or 3 carbon atoms, respectively, to an aldol condensation and hydrogenating the resulting olefinically unsaturated aldehyde, the catalyst used for the aldol condensation and hydrogenation containing a mixture of nickel and cobalt, zinc oxide and at least one of the elements iron, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, gallium, indium, thallium, germanium, tin, lead, cadmium and mercury or compounds of the said elements.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of secondary amines, especially fatty amines, from alcohols and ammonia over a hydrogenating catalyst in the presence of hydrogen, in which the reaction mixture essentially consists of alcohol and the amine formed, with only little ammonia, the latter being added progressively and the water formed in the reaction being removed progressively.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of higher ketones by reacting an aldehyde with a ketone in the presence of hydrogen over a catalyst system which contains, firstly, oxides or salts of the rare earth metals and, secondly, metals of group VIII of the periodic table of the elements. The process gives numerous higher ketones, required, for example, as solvents for surface coatings, or as scents, with high conversions and good selectivities, and therefore more simply and more economically than conventional methods.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of succinic anhydride by eliminating water from succinic acid using a chemically inert hydrophilic solvent which does not form an azeotropic mixture with water, and fractional distillation.