Abstract: In a process for preparing alcohols containing cycloaliphatic groups by hydrogenation of carboxylic acids containing aromatic nuclei, or anhydrides or esters thereof, in the presence of a catalyst, the hydrogenation is carried out in one stage, and the catalyst contains at least one element from groups 8 to 10 and at least one element from group 7 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, in the form of the metal or an oxide in each case.

Abstract: A process for preparing 1,4-butanediol by continuous catalytic hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol comprises reacting 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in the liquid continuous phase in the presence of a heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst at from 20 to 300° C., a pressure of from 1 to 200 bar and values of the liquid-side volumetric mass transfer coefficient kLa of from 0.1 s−1 to 1 s−1 a) using a catalyst suspended in the reaction medium, where if a packed bubble column is employed this is operated in the upflow mode and at a ratio of gas leaving the reaction vessel to gas fed to the reaction vessel of from 0.99:1 to 0.4:1, or b) passing the liquid and gas in cocurrent in an upward direction through a fixed-bed reactor operated in the gas-circulation mode while maintaining a ratio of the gas fed to the reaction vessel to gas leaving the reaction vessel of from 0.99:1 to 0.4:1.

Abstract: In a process for preparing aliphatic alcohols by hydrogenating aliphatic carboxylic acids or anhydrides or esters thereof or lactones in the presence of a catalyst comprising Pt and Re, in the form of the metal or an oxide in each case, the catalyst further comprises at least one further element from the groups 5 to 12 and 14 and the lanthanides of the Periodic Table of the Elements in the form of the metal or an oxide.