Abstract: A supported catalyst containing rhodium and compounds of chromium, manganese, alkali metals and, if appropriate, compounds of sulphur is prepared by first applying compounds of chromium and manganese to the catalyst support, subsequently heating the catalyst support thus charged to elevated temperatures and then impregnating it with a rhodium solution, drying it, treating it with an alkali metal solution and, if appropriate, applying sulphur compounds to the catalyst support thus treated. The supported catalyst thus prepared can be used for the dehydrogenation of compounds and/or compound mixtures consisting of completely and/or partly hydrogenated hydroxydiphenyl.

Abstract: New biscyclohexylamine derivatives represented by the following formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 represent identical or different alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms;X is a single bond,a divalent aliphatic straight-chain or branched-chain group having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms,a methylene group, when at least one of the substituents R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 has more than 1 carbon atom,a divalent cycloaliphatic group having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms,a divalent aliphatic straight-chain or branched-chain group with cycloaliphatic substituents having from 6 to 8 carbon atoms,a divalent straight-chain or branched-chain dialkyl cyclohexane group having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and a divalent straight-chain or branched-chain dialkyl benzene group having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A supported ruthenium catalyst comprising a hydroxide, hydrated oxide or oxide of chromium and manganese as the catalyst support, said catalyst containing an inorganic and/or organic alkali metal compound, a process for its preparation and use of such supported ruthenium catalyst as a catalyst especially for nuclear hydrogenation of aromatic amines.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a propane-1,3-diol, disubstituted in the 2-position, which comprises contacting an ethanal disubstituted in the 2-position, which ethanal has the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are identical or different and denote optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl or aryl radicals or an optionally substituted heterocyclic radical, or together denote an optionally substituted divalent hydrocarbon radical with formaldehyde in the presence of an acid ion exchanger and thereafter contacting the resultant reaction product with hydrogen under hydrogenation conditions.

Abstract: Cycloaliphatic amines are prepared by catalytically hydrogenating an aromatic amine under elevated pressures and temperatures in the presence of a supported ruthenium catalyst wherein the support is a hydroxide and/or hydrated oxide of chromium and manganese and/or their dehydration products. The catalyst preferably contains from 0.1 to 10% by weight ruthenium based on the total weight of the supported catalyst. Novel cycloaliphatic amines produced according to the process have the formulas ##STR1## wherein THE R substituents are hydrogen or alkyl.

Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of a trimethylolalkane of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 denotes an aliphatic radical by reacting formaldehyde with an aldehyde of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning indicated above and thereafter hydrogenating the resultant 2,2-dimethylolalkanal, the improvement residing in employing formaldehyde in a molar ratio of at least 8:1 to the aldehyde reactant, carrying out the aldehyde-formaldehyde reaction in the presence of an aldol condensation base at a temperature between -20 and 5.degree. C, optionally in the presence of an ion of an element of group VII and/or VIII and/or sub-group I or II of the periodic system.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a dihydric alcohol with the formula ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl radical of 1 to 20 carbon atoms which comprises contacting a 2-alkylacrylaldehyde of the formula ##STR2## wherein R has the meaning given above with formaldehyde and thereafter contacting the resultant reaction mixture with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: Diphenylamines having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are the same or different and are hydrogen, alkyl with up to 4 C atoms or alkoxy with up to 4 C atoms,Are prepared by catalytically dehydrogenating the corresponding wholly or partially hydrogenated diphenylamines. The catalyst used is a nickel/chromium catalyst containing manganese and/or aluminum and/or copper and/or sulphates of the alkali metals or alkaline earth metals.

Abstract: A supported ruthenium catalyst has a support based on hydroxides and/or hydrated oxides of chromium and manganese and/or their dehydration products. The catalyst generally contains 0.1 to 10% by weight of ruthenium relative to the support catalyst and the weight ratio of manganese to chromium is generally from 0.2:1 to 5:1.

Abstract: Hydroxydiphenyl is prepared by dehydrogenating a starting material comprising completely and/or partly hydrogenated hydroxydiphenyl in a gaseous phase in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst and a compound having the formula ##SPC1##WhereinR.sup.1, r.sup.2 and R.sup.3, which may be the same or different, each represents a linear or optionally branched alkyl radical having up to 6 carbon atoms, in addition to which R.sup.3 can also represent a hydrogen atom,Is added as a stabilizer to the starting material before it comes into contact for the first time with and and/or other oxygen-containing gases.

Abstract: Hydroxydiphenyl is prepared by dehydrogenating a starting material comprising a completely and/or partly hydrogenated hydroxydiphenyl in the gaseous phase in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst. The starting material is free from autoxidation products less volatile than the completely or partially hydrogenated hydroxydiphenyl, or of a peroxidic nature, and only contain products of an acid nature to such an extent than the acid number of the starting material is less than 0.2.