Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing enriched isopulegol by crystallization from a melt comprising isopulegol. The invention relates specifically to a process for preparing enantiomerically enriched n-isopulegol proceeding from optically active isopulegol having a relatively low enantiomeric excess by crystallization from the melt. The invention further relates to a process for preparing menthol proceeding from enantiomerically and/or diastereomerically enriched n-isopulegol prepared by crystallization from the melt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a particularly economic overall method for producing menthol, specifically for producing optically active, essentially enantiomerically and diastereomerically pure L-menthol and racemic menthol, starting from the starting material citral which is available inexpensively on an industrial scale. The method comprises the following steps a.1) catalytic hydrogenation of neral and/or geranial to give citronellal, b.1) cyclization of citronellal to isopulegol in the presence of an acidic catalyst, c.1) purification of isopulegol by crystallization and d.1) catalytic hydrogenation of isopulegol to give menthol.

Abstract: The invention relates to moulded bodies having catalytic properties, obtained due to a method that comprises the following said steps: a) a moulded body is produced by means of a powder-based rapid-prototyping-method, b) said moulded body is optionally heat-treated, c) at least one catalytically active component is optionally applied to the moulded body, d) said moulded body is optionally subjected to another heat-treatment. The steps b, c) and/or d) can be performed several times. Said moulded bodies are used as reactor fittings in heterogeneously catalyzed chemical reactions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for preparing racemic or optically active menthol in pure or enriched form by distillatively separating menthol from substance mixtures which comprise essentially menthol and diastereomers thereof. This distillatiive separation is performed in a dividing wall column with 50 to 300 theoretical plates and one or more side draw points at an absolute operating pressure of 5 to 500 mbar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for preparing neral (cis-citral) in pure or enriched form by distillatively separating neral from substance mixtures comprising essentially neral and geranial (trans-citral). This distillative separation is performed in a dividing wall column or in a connection of two distillation columns in the form of a thermal coupling.

Abstract: Processes comprising: (a) providing a shaped body having a surface and comprising a metal oxide, and impregnating the shaped body with a liquid comprising an unsaturated compound; (b) subjecting the impregnated shaped body to thermolysis under an inert gas atmosphere at a temperature of 250 to 400° C., such that at least 10% by weight of the unsaturated compound is thermalized to form a layer of a high molecular weight polyaromatic on at least a portion of the surface of the shaped body; and (c) reacting the shaped body with a reagent to functionalize the polyaromatic layer, wherein the shaped body has a smallest dimension in any spatial direction of at least 1 mm to provide a shaped catalyst body having ion- exchange properties; shaped catalyst bodies prepared thereby and uses therefor as catalysts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fractionating stereoisomeric compounds which have at least one alcohol and/or amino group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing enriched isopulegol by crystallization from a melt comprising isopulegol. The invention relates specifically to a process for preparing enantiomerically enriched n-isopulegol proceeding from optically active isopulegol having a relatively low enantiomeric excess by crystallization from the melt. The invention further relates to a process for preparing menthol proceeding from enantiomerically and/or diastereomerically enriched n-isopulegol prepared by crystallization from the melt.