Abstract: A process for preparing linear or branched primary alcohols with 3 to 13 carbon atoms from linear or branched alkanes with 3 to 13 carbon atoms by incubating a host organism having a functional P153 enzyme under elevated pressure in the presence of oxygen.

Abstract: A process for preparing 1-butanol from butane by incubating a host organism having a functional P153 enzyme under elevated butane pressure in the presence of oxygen.

Abstract: Process for the treatment of wastewater from an aldolization process which is contaminated with water-soluble and/or dispersed organic impurities by means of single-stage or multistage extraction with an organic liquid of the aldolization process wastewater which has been set to a pH of from 0 to 6, in which an organic liquid obtained by stripping of the acidified aldolization process wastewater or of the acidified and extracted aldolization process wastewater, condensation of the stripped compounds and phase separation of the condensate is used as extractant for the extraction of organic impurities from the acidified aldolization process wastewater and wastewater having a lower content of organic impurities than the aldolization process wastewater fed to the extraction is taken off from the stripping apparatus.

Abstract: The use of hexahydrophthalimide compounds of the formula (I) is described as plasticizers for molding compositions, in particular polyvinyl chloride, in which R is alkyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkylalkyl, where the two last named moieties can be unsubstituted or alkyl-substituted, and the moiety R has at least 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Process for the treatment of wastewater from an aldolization process which is contaminated with water-soluble and/or dispersed organic impurities by means of single-stage or multistage extraction with an organic liquid of the aldolization process wastewater which has been set to a pH of from 0 to 6, in which an organic liquid obtained by stripping of the acidified aldolization process wastewater or of the acidified and extracted aldolization process wastewater, condensation of the stripped compounds and phase separation of the condensate is used as extractant for the extraction of organic impurities from the acidified aldolization process wastewater and wastewater having a lower content of organic impurities than the aldolization process wastewater fed to the extraction is taken off from the stripping apparatus.

Abstract: Formaldehyde is removed by distillation from reaction solutions containing a methlolated alkanal which was obtained from the reaction of formaldehyde with an alkanal which has at least one acidic hydrogen atom &agr; to the carbonyl function or from the reaction of a 2-alkylacrolein or acrolein with water and formaldehyde, by a process in which this reaction was carried out in the presence of catalytic amounts of organic amine. The process permits the improved removal of formaldehyde from the reaction mixture and furthermore facilitates the hydrogenation of the alkanals thus obtained to give polyols.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the purification, by distillation, of trimethylolpropane originating from the hydrogenation of 2,2-dimethylolbutanal, said process including the following steps: (a) reaction of n-butyraldehyde with formaldehyde in the presence of catalytic amounts of a tertiary amine, and hydrogenation of the resulting mixture to give a mixture containing trimethylolpropane; (b) separation of water, methanol, trialkylamine and/or trialkylammonium formate by distillation; (c) heating of the residue obtained in (b) under reduced pressure to a temperature at which TMP is volatile and compounds boiling above TMP are cleaved, in order to separate off, by distillation, TMP and compounds more volatile than TMP; (d) distillation of the distillate obtained in (c) in order to separate off the more volatile compounds and recover pure TMP; and (e) optional distillation of the TMP obtained in (d) in order to recover TMP with a low APHA color index.

Abstract: A process for greatly improving the color index of polyhydric alcohols, especially trimethylolpropane, by hydrogenation comprises using, in the hydrogenation, an alcohol which has already been purified by distillation. The catalysts used are those conventionally employed in hydrogenations, preferably copper, nickel, palladium or ruthenium catalysts.

Abstract: A process is provided for increasing the yield in the preparation of polyhydric alcohols obtained from methylolated alkanals by hydrogenation, wherein derivatives of these alcohols are decomposed by adding 5 ppm to 1% by weight, preferably 100 to 1000 ppm, of a suitable acid to an anhydrous mixture containing these derivatives, heating the mixture to temperatures of 100 to 300° C. and then separating off the polyhydric alcohol by distillation. This process makes it possible simply and efficiently to decompose compounds which boil above the polyhydric alcohol and are unwanted by-products of its synthesis.

Abstract: A process is provided for increasing the yield in the preparation of polyhydric alcohols obtained from methylolated alkanals by hydrogenation, wherein derivatives of these alcohols are decomposed by adding 5 ppm to 1% by weight, preferably 100 to 1000 ppm, of a suitable acid to an anhydrous mixture containing these derivatives, heating the mixture to temperatures of 100 to 300° C. and then separating off the polyhydric alcohol by distillation. This process makes it possible simply and efficiently to decompose compounds which boil above the polyhydric alcohol and are unwanted by-products of its synthesis.

Abstract: A process for greatly improving the color index of polyhydric alcohols, especially trimethylolpropane, by hydrogenation comprises using, in the hydrogenation, an alcohol which has already been purified by distillation. The catalysts used are those conventionally employed in hydrogenations, preferably copper, nickel, palladium or ruthenium catalysts.

Abstract: Formaldehyde is removed by distillation from reaction solutions containing a methylolated alkanal which was obtained from the reaction of formaldehyde with an alkanal which has at least one acidic hydrogen atom &agr; to the carbonyl function or from the reaction of a 2-alkylacrolein or acrolein with water and formaldehyde, by a process in which this reaction was carried out in the presence of catalytic amounts of an organic amine. The process permits the improved removal of formaldehyde from the reaction mixture and furthermore facilitates the hydrogenation of the alkanals thus obtained to give polyols.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a 1,3-bis-(N-lactamyl)propane of general formula (I), wherein radicals R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 independently stand for hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl and at least one of said radicals does not stand for hydrogen, (NLac) and (NLac′) are the same or different and stand for N-lactamyl radicals. The invention also relates to the use of said substances as a solvent in pharmaceutical and cosmetic agents. Disclosed are novel compounds of formula (I), wherein R1 and methyl and R2-R6 stand for hydrogen.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the purification, by distillation, of trimethylolpropane originating from the hydrogenation of 2,2-dimethylolbutanal, said process comprising the following steps:

Abstract: A process for the catalytic hydrogenation of a carbonyl compound or of a mixture of two or more carbonyl compounds in the presence of a catalyst which comprises an inorganic support containing TiO2, and as active component copper or a mixture of copper and at least one of the metals selected from the group of zinc, aluminum, cerium, a noble metal and a group VIII metal, wherein the copper surface area does not exceed 10 m2/g.

Abstract: A process for preparing 1,3-diols having 6 or more carbon atoms comprises a) provision of at least one alkanal having at least three carbon atoms; b) thermal treatment of the alkanal in the absence of a basic catalyst; c) hydrogenation of the aldol addition product formed in step b); and d) isolation of the 1,3-diol obtained. The process of the present invention makes it possible to prepare 1,3-diols simply and inexpensively.

Abstract: Formic ester is transesterified with a hydroxyl-containing compound in the presence of a tertiary amine as transesterification catalyst to form a formic ester which differs from the formic ester used as reactant, and of a hydroxyl-containing compound which is different from the hydroxyl-containing compound used as reactant.

Abstract: A carbonyl compound or a mixture of two or more carbonyl compounds is catalytically hydrogenated in the presence of a Raney copper catalyst in the form of nuggets.

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: Amines are prepared by reacting primary or secondary alcohols, aldehydes or ketones with nitrogen compounds selected from the group consisting of ammonia and primary and secondary amines at elevated temperatures and superatmospheric pressures in the presence of hydrogen and of a catalyst containing copper and oxygen-containing compounds of titanium by a process in which the catalyst is used in the form of moldings which have been prepared with the addition of metallic copper powder.