Abstract: A process for the preparation of saturated alcohols by catalytic hydrogenation of acetylenic alcohols at a temperature of from 50.degree. to 200.degree. C. and under a pressure of from 30 to 320 bar, wherein the catalyst used has a content of from 20 to 75% of nickel oxide, from 10 to 75% of zirconium dioxide and from 5 to 50% of copper oxide, by weight of the oxidic, unreduced catalyst.

Abstract: Catalysts whose active material contains, in addition to from 20 to 85% by weight, calculated as ZrO.sub.2, of oxygen-containing zirconium compounds, from 1 to 30% by weight, calculated as CuO, of oxygen-containing compounds of copper and from 1 to 40% by weight each, calculated as CoO or NiO, respectively, of oxygen-containing compounds of cobalt and of nickel are used for the amination of alcohols under hydrogenating conditions.

Abstract: Ketones of the general formula (I) ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently of one another are each alkyl, cycyloalkyl, arylalkyl, aryl or hetaryl, and one or more of the radicals R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 carry one or more hydrogen atoms on the .alpha.-carbon atom, are prepared by reacting two carboxylic acids of the general formulae (IIa/IIb), R.sup.1 --COOH (IIa) and R.sup.2 --COOH (IIb) or by reacting a carboxylic acid R.sup.1 --COOH (IIa) and a ketone ##STR2## or by reacting a mixture of IIa, IIb and Ib, in the gas phase in the presence of a catalyst, by a process in which a catalyst is used whose active material contains at least 50% by weight of titanium dioxide having a specific surface area greater than 10 m.sup.2 /g.0.

Abstract: Organic halogen compounds in which one or more halogen atoms are covalently bonded to the carbon are subjected to reductive dehalogenation by reaction with a hydrocarbon in the presence of carbon at elevated temperatures with formation of a hydrogen halide, by a process in which the dehalogenation is carried out in the presence of iron powder or an iron compound as a cocatalyst, at from 100.degree. to 450.degree. C.

Abstract: Amorphous metal/magnesium silicates of the general formulaM.sub.x Mg.sub.y (SiO.sub.2).nH.sub.2 O.where M is a divalent, reducible metal atom from the group consisting of Cu, FeII, Co and Ni, x and y are numbers which together can add up to a value of 1.5 and n after drying, expressed in % by weight, ranges from 0 to 80 are prepared by subjecting a freshly precipitated magnesium silicate to an ion exchange, washing the product and then neutralizing it with an alkali and are used in catalytic reactions after the reducible metal in the metal/magnesium silicates has been converted into the metallic state with a reducing gas.

Abstract: Furan is prepared by decarbonylation of furfural in the gas phase at elevated temperatures and under from 0.1 to 10 bar in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst which contains platinum and/or rhodium and contains an alkali metal. The reaction is carried out in the presence of hydrogen. Catalysts which contain platinum and/or rhodium and to which cesium has been added are preferably used.

Abstract: A honeycomb catalyst consisting of from 30 to 95% by weight, calculated as Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, of an iron compound and from 0.1 to 60% by weight, calculated as Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, CeO.sub.2 or Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, of an aluminum, cerium and/or chromium compound and/or from 1 to 50% by weight of an alkali metal compound, in particular potassium, calculated as K.sub.2 O, and/or from 0.2 to 20% by weight, calculated as MeO.sub.3, of an element of sub-group 6, preferably MoO.sub.3 and WO.sub.3, and/or from 0.1 to 20% by weight, calculated as V.sub.2 O.sub.5, of a compound of vanadium and/or from 0.1 to 20% by weight, calculated as P.sub.2 O.sub.5, of a compound of phosphorus, a process for the preparation of the honeycomb catalyst, and the use of the catalyst for organic reactions.

Abstract: Ruthenium-on-charcoal and ruthenium-on-carbon black catalysts, containing from 0.1 to 5% by weight of iron, for the preparation of olefinically unsaturated alcohols by selective hydrogenation of the corresponding .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in the liquid phase are prepared by modifying the catalyst with iron only after it has been impregnated with the ruthenium compound, and reducing the catalyst with hydrogen at from 400.degree. to 600.degree. C., with thorough mixing.The catalysts according to the invention are particularly useful for improving the industrially difficult hydrogenation of citral to give the soughtafter fragrances geraniol and nerol.

Abstract: Ruthenium-on-charcoal and ruthenium-on-carbon black catalysts, containing from 0.1 to 5% by weight of iron, for the preparation of olefinically unsaturated alcohols by selective hydrogenation of the corresponding .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in the liquid phase are prepared by modifying the catalyst with iron only after it has been impregnated with the ruthenium compound, and reducing the catalyst with hydrogen at from 400.degree. to 600.degree. C., with thorough mixing.The catalysts according to the invention are particularly useful for improving the industrially difficult hydrogenation of citral to give the sought-after fragrances geraniol and nerol.

Abstract: Olefinically unsaturated alcohols (I) are prepared by selective hydrogenation of the corresponding carbonyl compounds (II) in the liquid phase with hydrogen, using an Ru, Rh, Os, Ir or Pt catalyst and carrying out the hydrogenation in the presence of from 5 to 40% by weight, based on (II), of a tertiary amine.The process is of particular importance for the selective hydrogenation of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (IIa) and amongst these specifically for the hydrogenation of citral to geraniol and nerol.The preferred amine is trimethylamine.

Abstract: Olefinically unsaturated carbonyl compounds R.sup.1 --CHR.sup.2 --CHR.sup.3 --C(R.sup.4)O (I) and alcohols R.sup.1 --CHR.sup.2 --CHR.sup.3 --CH(R.sup.4)--OH (II) (where R.sup.1 is an olefinically unsaturated organic radical, and R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl) are prepared by hydrogenating the carbonyl compounds R.sup.1 --CR.sup.2 .dbd.CR.sup.3 --C(R.sup.4)O (III) in the liquid phase with hydrogen, using a catalyst system comprising, firstly, Pd and, secondly, Ru, Rh, Os, Ir or Pt, in the presence of from 5 to 40% by weight, based on (III), of a tertiary amine, under a hydrogen pressure of from 1 to 20 bar is predominantly (I) is to be obtained and from 20 to 150 bar if predominantly (II) is to be obtained.The process is of particular importance for the hydrogenation of citral (IIIa) to give citronellal (Ia) or citronellol (IIa), the preferred amine being trimethylamine.

Abstract: Carbonyl compounds R.sup.1 --CHR.sup.2 --CHR.sup.3 --CR.sup.4 O (I, R.sup.1 =H or an organic radical; R.sup.2 -R.sup.4 =H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl) are prepared by selective hydrogenation of the .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carbonyl compounds R.sup.1 --CR.sup.2 =CR.sup.3 --CR.sup.4 O (II) in the liquid phase by means of hydrogen in the presence of a palladium catalyst and of from 15 to 50% by weight, based on (II), of a tertiary amine.