Abstract: In a process for reacting an organic compound in the presence of a catalyst comprising, as active metal, at least one metal of transition group VIII of the Periodic Table, either alone or together with at least one metal of transition group I or VII of the Periodic Table, in an amount of from 0.01 to 30% by weight, based on the total weight of the catalyst, applied to a support containing macropores, the support comprises, as a support component, boron(III) oxide in an amount of from 10 to 100% by weight, based on the total weight of the support.

Abstract: A process for purifying alkenyl compounds having a divalent or trivalent heteroatom in the &agr;-position relative to the double bond by distillation comprises carrying out at least two distillations in which the purified alkenyl compounds are obtained from the gas phase by condensation, where the time between the first distillation after the synthesis of the alkenyl compounds and at least one further distillation is at least one day and the purified alkenyl compounds have an APHA color number of <30.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a catalyst by activating a catalytic composition which comprises a) at least one metal of group IB or IIB or a compound thereof, b) where appropriate a carrier which comprises treating the composition with an alkyne of the general formula I R1—C≡C—R2  (I) in which R1 is alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, hydroxyalkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy or alkoxyalkyl, R2 is a hydrogen atom, alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl, and a carbonyl compound of the general formula II in which R3 and R4 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl, to catalysts obtainable by this process, and to alkynylations and aminoalkylations employing these catalysts.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenating a benzenepolycarboxylic acid or a derivative thereof or a mixture of two or more thereof by bringing the benzenepolycarboxylic acid or the derivative thereof or the mixture of two or more thereof into contact with a hydrogen-containing gas is carried out in the presence of a catalyst which comprises as active metal at least one metal of transition group VIII of the Periodic Table alone or together with at least one metal of transition group I or VII of the periodic table applied to a support which contains macropores with the proviso that if dimethyl terephthalate is hydrogenated, the hydrogenation using a catalyst which comprises as active metal ruthenium either alone or together with at least one metal of transition group I, VII or VIII of the Periodic Table applied to a support, where the support has a mean pore diameter of at least 50 nm and a BET surface area of at most 30 m2/g and the amount of the active metal is from 0.

Abstract: A process for the hydrogenation of a sugar or a mixture of two or more thereof comprises the following step: Bringing the sugar or the mixture of two or more thereof into contact with hydrogen in the presence of specific catalysts to give a sugar alcohol or a mixture of two or more thereof, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one metal of transition group VIII of the Periodic Table, either alone or together with at least one metal of transition group I or VII of the Periodic Table.