Abstract: Novel ruthenium catalysts can be obtained by: i) treating a support material based on amorphous silicon dioxide one or more times with a halogen-free aqueous solution of a low molecular weight ruthenium compound and subsequently drying the treated support material at below 200° C., ii) reducing the solid obtained in i) by means of hydrogen at from 100 to 350° C., where step ii) is carried out directly after step i). These catalysts can be used for the catalytic hydrogenation of monosaccharides and disaccharides to produce sugar alcohols, with the exception of sorbitol.

Abstract: Sugar alcohols are prepared by catalytically hydrogenating the corresponding monosaccharides and oligosaccharides in the liquid phase over a heterogeneous ruthenium catalyst, with the exception of the preparation of sorbitol, wherein the heterogeneous ruthenium catalyst is prepared by: i) treating a support material based on amorphous silicon dioxide comprising at least 95% by weight of silicon dioxide and less than 1% by weight aluminum oxide, calculated as Al2O3, one or more times with a halogen-free aqueous solution of a low molecular weight ruthenium compound which is a ruthenium (III) salt or a metal ruthenate and subsequently drying the treated support material at a temperature below 200° C., and ii) reducing the solid obtained in i) by means of hydrogen at a temperature ranging from 100 to 350° C., wherein step ii) is carried out directly after step i), and wherein the ruthenium content in the catalyst ranges from 0.1 to 5% by weight, based on the support material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing cyclohexanedicarboxylic acids or derivatives thereof, such as esters and/or anhydrides, encompassing the reaction of diene/maleic acid anhydride mixtures, in particular of butadiene/maleic acid anhydride mixtures or of mixtures of maleic acid anhydrides and C5-dienes to give alkyl-substituted or unsubstituted cyclohexenedicarboxylic acid anhydrides in the condensed phase, ester formation, and then hydrogenation to give the corresponding cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid derivative, and also to the use of the cyclohexanedicarboxylic acids or derivatives thereof prepared according to the invention as plasticizers for plastics.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing sorbitol by catalytic hydrogenation of a monosaccharide forming sorbitol on hydrogenation in the liquid phase, which comprises the catalyst being obtainable by: i) single or multiple treatment of an amorphous silicon dioxide based support material with a halogen-free aqueous solution of a low-molecular-weight ruthenium compound and subsequent drying of the treated support material at below 200° C., ii) reducing the solid obtained in i) with hydrogen at from 100 to 350° C., step ii) being carried out immediately after step i).

Abstract: A process for preparing at least one unsaturated alcohol (B) comprises the steps (I) to (III) below: (I) reaction of at least one alkali metal hydroxide or alkaline earth metal hydroxide with at least one alcohol (A) in at least one organic solvent (L) to give a mixture (G-I) comprising at least the alcohol (A), the solvent (L) and an alkoxide (AL); (II) reaction of at least one carbonyl compound of the formula R—CO—R? with at least one alkyne of the formula R?—C?C—H and the mixture (G-I) obtained in step (I) to give a mixture (G-II) comprising at least the alcohol (A), the solvent (L) and an unsaturated alcohol (B); (III) distillation of the mixture (G-II) obtained in step (II) to give the alcohol or alcohols (B) and a mixture (G-III) comprising the solvent (L) and the alcohol (A), wherein the solvent (L) obtained in step (III) and the alcohol (A) obtained in step (III) are recycled as a mixture to step (I).

Abstract: Novel ruthenium catalysts can be obtained by:

Abstract: A process is described for preparing sorbitol by catalytic hydrogenation of a monosaccharide forming sorbitol on hydrogenation in the liquid phase, which comprises the catalyst being obtainable by:

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing cyclohexanedicarboxylic acids or derivatives thereof, such as esters and/or anhydrides, encompassing the reaction of diene/maleic acid anhydride mixtures, in particular of butadiene/maleic acid anhydride mixtures or of mixtures of maleic acid anhydrides and C5-dienes to give alkyl-substituted or unsubstituted cyclohexenedicarboxylic acid anhydrides in the condensed phase, ester formation, and then hydrogenation to give the corresponding cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid derivative, and also to the use of the cyclohexanedicarboxylic acids or derivatives thereof prepared according to the invention as plasticizers for plastics.