Abstract: Multistep process for preparing (+)-p-mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol from (+)-(R)-limonene. New compounds useful as intermediates in said process.

Abstract: 1-Menthol can be readily obtained from racemic menthol by conversion of the latter to the diastereomeric esters of an optically active amino acid and chromatographing the diastereomers. The separation of the diastereomeric esters is relatively insensitive to the support or to the solvent used as eluant, and satisfactory separation occurs under a broad variety of conditions. 1-Menthol can be obtained by base catalyzed hydrolysis of the purified diastereomer with high optical purity.

Abstract: The present invention describes cycloaliphatic alcohols prepared via a Diels-Alder reaction.

Abstract: Perillic alcohol is prepared by allowing beta-pinene epoxide to react with an aqueous suspension of mercuric salt, after this, the organic fraction is removed from the reaction medium, and treated with an inorganic acid. If the inorganic fraction is left untreated, 7, 8-dihydroxy-1-paramenthene is obtained. Perillic alcohol and derivatives thereof are used in the fields of perfumery, cosmetics and soaps.

Abstract: A process for producing menthone comprising dehydrogenating citronellol in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst at about 150 to about 260.degree. C in an atmosphere of hydrogen under a pressure of 0 to about 5 kg/cm.sup.2. G and a process for producing menthol. Since the dehydrogenation catalyst has a hydrogenating ability, an embodiment additionally includes the ability to ultimately produce menthol in the same reactor without separating the catalyst or adding additional or another catalyst to the system by simply changing the temperature and the hydrogen pressure. Embodiments also include producing menthone and also ultimately menthol utilizing geraniol or a mixture of geraniol and citronellol as a starting material again without catalyst separation or use of additional or another catalyst.

Abstract: Production of an alken-2-ol-1, or of an alken-2-ol-1 and an alkanol-1 from the corresponding alken-3-ol-1 is described. The above compound or compounds can be produced with good selectivity by converting an alken-3-ol-1 to the boric acid ester, and, then, contacting the ester with a palladium catalyst in the presence of hydrogen or, alternatively, by carrying out the latter-mentioned step under conditions favorable to the formation of said boric acid ester and, thereafter, subjecting the reaction product to solvolysis.