Abstract: A method for preparing 1,2-propanediol involves reacting propene with hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst and a heteropolytungstate, in a liquid reaction mixture containing an aqueous phase with a maximum apparent pH of 6 and an organic phase containing a solvent having a solubility in water at 20° C. of less than 500 mg/kg. The method then involves separating the liquid reaction mixture into an aqueous phase containing 1,2-propanediol and an organic phase; recycling at least a part of the separated organic phase to the reaction; and extracting the separated aqueous phase with an extractant solution containing the same phase transfer catalyst and solvent as used in the reaction to provide an extracted aqueous phase and an extract phase. The method further involves recycling at least a part of the extract phase to the reaction and recovering 1,2-propanediol from the extracted aqueous phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a triphasic single reactor comprising a solid, a liquid and a gaseous component, wherein the (i) the solid component is (a) a catalytically active composite based on (b) at least one perforated and permeable support, wherein the catalytically active composite is on at least one side of the support and inside the support and (a) the catalytically active composite is obtained by applying a suspension comprising at least one inorganic component of a compound of at least one of the elements Ce, La Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, Hf, Rf, V, Nb, Ta, Db, Cr, Mo, W, Sg, Mn, Tc, Re, Bh, Fe, Co, B, Al, In, Tl, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb and Bi with at least one of the elements Te, Se, S, O, Sb, As, P, N, Ge, Si, C and Ga and/or a compound of one of the elements Ti, Zr, Al, Ce and Si with oxygen, and/or a metal selected from Pt, Rh, Ru, Ir, Cu, Ni, Co, Mg, Zn, Al and Pd, in suspension in a sol, and (b) the support comprises fibers of at least one material selected from the group consisting of carbon, meta

Abstract: The process for preparing 1,2-propanediol from propene and hydrogen peroxide comprises the steps of a) reacting propene with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst mixture comprising a phase transfer catalyst and a heteropolytungstate, wherein the reaction is carried out in a liquid mixture comprising an aqueous phase having a pH of at most 6 and an organic phase, b) separating the biphasic mixture from step a) into an aqueous phase and an organic phase comprising propene oxide, c) recycling the propene oxide present in the separated organic phase into the reaction of step a) and d) separating 1,2-propanediol from the aqueous phase separated in step b).

Abstract: In the method for the epoxidation of an olefin, the olefin is continuously reacted with hydrogen peroxide in a mixed reactor in the presence of a water soluble epoxidation catalyst, comprising a manganese complex, the reaction is carried out in a reaction mixture comprising an aqueous liquid phase and an organic liquid phase with mixing of the liquid phases, reaction mixture is continuously withdrawn from the mixed reactor and separated into a separated aqueous phase and a separated organic phase, and part of the separated aqueous phase is continuously recycled into the mixed reactor, with the combined hold-up time of aqueous phase in withdrawing, separating phases and recycling aqueous phase being kept at less than 15 minutes.

Abstract: The process for preparing 1,2-propanediol from propene and hydrogen peroxide comprises the steps of a) reacting propene with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst mixture comprising a phase transfer catalyst and a heteropolytungstate, wherein the reaction is carried out in a liquid mixture comprising an aqueous phase having a pH of at most 6 and an organic phase, b) separating the biphasic mixture from step a) into an aqueous phase and an organic phase comprising propene oxide, c) recycling the propene oxide present in the separated organic phase into the reaction of step a) and d) separating 1,2-propanediol from the aqueous phase separated in step b).

Abstract: Epoxidation of an olefin is carried out by continuously reacting the olefin with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a water soluble epoxidation catalyst, comprising a manganese complex, in a reaction mixture comprising an aqueous liquid phase and an organic liquid phase using a loop reactor with mixing of the liquid phases, and during the reaction the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the aqueous liquid phase is maintained at less than 1.0% by weight.

Abstract: In the method for the epoxidation of an olefin, the olefin is continuously reacted with hydrogen peroxide in a mixed reactor in the presence of a water soluble epoxidation catalyst, comprising a manganese complex, the reaction is carried out in a reaction mixture comprising an aqueous liquid phase and an organic liquid phase with mixing of the liquid phases, reaction mixture is continuously withdrawn from the mixed reactor and separated into a separated aqueous phase and a separated organic phase, and part of the separated aqueous phase is continuously recycled into the mixed reactor, with the combined hold-up time of aqueous phase in withdrawing, separating phases and recycling aqueous phase being kept at less than 15 minutes.

Abstract: Epoxidation of an olefin is carried out by continuously reacting the olefin with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a water soluble epoxidation catalyst, comprising a manganese complex, in a reaction mixture comprising an aqueous liquid phase and an organic liquid phase using a loop reactor with mixing of the liquid phases, and during the reaction the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the aqueous liquid phase is maintained at less than 1.0% by weight.

Abstract: Epoxidation of an olefin is carried out by continuously reacting the olefin with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a homogeneous epoxidation catalyst in a reaction mixture comprising an aqueous liquid phase and an organic liquid phase, using a loop reactor with mixing of the liquid phases. The loop reactor comprises a measuring section in which the liquid phases are temporarily separated, at least one pH electrode is arranged in the measuring section in contact with the separated aqueous phase, a pH of the separated aqueous phase is determined with the pH electrode and the pH is maintained in a predetermined range by adding acid or base to the loop reactor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chemocatalytic liquid-phase process for the direct one-stage amination of alcohols to primary amines by means of ammonia in high yields using a catalyst system containing at least one transition metal compound and a xantphos ligand.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing primary amines comprising the process steps A) provision of a solution of a primary alcohol in a fluid, nongaseous phase, B) contacting of the phase with free ammonia and/or at least one ammonia-releasing compound and a homogeneous catalyst and optionally C) isolation of the primary amine formed in process step B), characterized in that the volume ratio of the volume of the liquid phase to the volume of the gas phase in process step B is greater than 0.05 and/or in that process step B is carried out at pressures greater than 10 bar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chemocatalytic liquid-phase process for the direct one-stage amination of alcohols to primary amines by means of ammonia in high yields using a catalyst system containing at least one transition metal compound and a xantphos ligand.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing primary amines comprising the process steps A) provision of a solution of a primary alcohol in a fluid, nongaseous phase, B) contacting of the phase with free ammonia and/or at least one ammonia-releasing compound and a homogeneous catalyst and optionally C) isolation of the primary amine formed in process step B), characterized in that the volume ratio of the volume of the liquid phase to the volume of the gas phase in process step B is greater than 0.05 and/or in that process step B is carried out at pressures greater than 10 bar.