Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the catalytic hydrogenation of methylol alkanals of general formula (I), where R1 and R2 independently represent an additional methylol group or an alkyl group having with 1 to 22 carbon atoms, or an alkyl group with 1 to 22 C atoms, or an aryl group or aralkyl group with 6 to 33 carbon atoms, in the liquid phase on a hydrogenation catalyst. The inventive method is characterized in that a pH value ranging between 6.3 and 7.

Abstract: A process for preparing N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC) by continuously reacting methyl acetate (MeOAc) with dimethylamine (DMA) in the presence of a basic catalyst, wherein MeOAc is used in the form of a methanolic solution which is obtained as a by-product in the preparation of polyTHF by transesterifying polyTHF diacetate with methanol.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing polymethylol compounds of the formula (I) (HOCH2)2—C—R2 ??(I) where the radicals R are each, independently of one another, a further methylol group or an alkyl group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms or an aryl or aralkyl group having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms, by condensation of aldehydes having from 2 to 24 carbon atoms with formaldehyde in an aldol reaction using tertiary amines as catalyst to form alkanals of the formula (II) where the radicals R each independently have one of the abovementioned meanings, and subsequent hydrogenation of the latter. The particular inventive feature of this process is that the aldol reaction is carried out using an aqueous formaldehyde solution having a formic acid content of <150 ppm and preferably <100 ppm. In this way of carrying out the process, the formation of by-products can advantageously be prevented in a targeted manner and the yield of the desired polymethylol compound can thereby be increased.

Abstract: Process for the catalytic hydrogenation of methylolalkanals of the general formula where R1 and R2 are each, independently of one another, a further methylol group or an alkyl group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms or an aryl or aralkyl group having from 6 to 33 carbon atoms, in the liquid phase by means of hydrogen over a hydrogenation catalyst, wherein hydrogen is used in a molar ratio to methylolalkanal of greater than 1.

Abstract: A process for preparing N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC) by continuously reacting methyl acetate (MeOAc) with dimethylamine (DMA) in the presence of a basic catalyst, wherein MeOAc is used in the form of a methanolic solution and in the range from 0.0002 to 0.09 mol of catalyst per mole of MeOAc, and performing the reaction at a temperature in the range from 90 to 140° C. and at an absolute pressure in the range from 10 to 30 bar.

Abstract: Process for the catalytic hydrogenation of methylolalkanals of the general formula where R1 and R2 are each, independently of one another, a further methylol group or an alkyl group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms or an aryl or aralkyl group having from 6 to 33 carbon atoms, in the liquid phase by means of hydrogen over a hydrogenation catalyst, wherein hydrogen is used in a molar ratio to methylolalkanal of greater than 1.

Abstract: A process for removing trialkylammonium formate from methylolalkanes which have been obtained by condensation of formaldehyde with a higher aldehyde comprises decomposing trialkylammonium formate at elevated temperature in the presence of a hydrogen-containing gas over a catalyst comprising ruthenium supported on titanium dioxide. The process makes it possible to separate off the trialkylammonium formate from methylolalkanes prepared by the organic Cannizzaro process or by the hydrogenation process.

Abstract: Process for the catalytic hydrogenation of methylolalkanals of the formula where R1 and R2 are each, independently of one another, a further methylol group or an alkyl group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms or an aryl or aralkyl group having from 6 to 33 carbon atoms, in the liquid phase over a hydrogenation catalyst, wherein the pH of the hydrogenation feed is set to from 6.3 to 7.8 by addition of at least one tertiary amine.

Abstract: In a process for the catalytic hydrogenation of a polymethylolalkanal or a monomethylolalkanal of the formula (I) where R may be identical or different and are each a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, an aryl or arylalkyl group having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms or a methylol group, in the presence of a copper-containing catalyst, the hydrogenation feed comprising the polymethylolalkanal or monomethylolalkanal has a total content of metal ions of groups 3 to 14 of the Periodic Table of the Element of up to 5 ppm.

Abstract: A process is provided for improving the color number of polyhydric alcohols, especially trimethylolpropane, by catalytic hydrogenation, the polyhydric alcohol used in the hydrogenation having been purified by distillation following its preparation, wherein the hydrogenation is carried out in the presence of a macroporous supported heterogeneous catalyst containing, as the active metal, at least one metal of subgroups VII to X of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: In a process for the catalytic hydrogenation of a carbonyl compound or a mixture of two or more carbonyl compounds in the presence of catalyst tablets which comprise an inorganic, TiO2-containing support and, as active component, copper or a mixture of copper with at least one metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, aluminum, cerium, nobel metals and metals of transition group VIII and whose copper surface area is not more than 10 m2/g, the diameter d and/or the height h of the tablets is less than 3 mm.

Abstract: In a process for the catalytic hydrogenation of a carbonyl compound or a mixture of two or more carbonyl compounds in the presence of catalyst tablets which comprise an inorganic, TiO2-containing support and, as active component, copper or a mixture of copper with at least one metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, aluminum, cerium, nobel metals and metals of transition group VIII and whose copper surface area is not more than 10 m2/g, the diameter d and/or the height h of the tablets is less than 3 mm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for catalytically hydrating a poly- or monomethylol alkanal of the general formula (I), wherein R is the same or different and may represent a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon with 6 to 22 carbon atoms, an aryl or arylalkyl group with 6 to 22 carbon atoms or a methylol group, in the presence of a copper-containing catalyst. The inventive method is characterized in that the poly- or monomethylol alkanal containing batch to be hydrated has a total content of up to 5 ppm of metal ions of the groups 3 to 14 of the periodic system.

Abstract: Polymethylolalkanoic or monomethylolalkanoic acids of the formula (I) 1

Abstract: A process is provided for improving the color number of polyhydric alcohols, especially trimethylolpropane, by catalytic hydrogenation, the polyhydric alcohol used in the hydrogenation having been purified by distillation following its preparation, wherein the hydrogenation is carried out in the presence of a macroporous supported heterogeneous catalyst containing, as the active metal, at least one metal of subgroups VII to X of the Periodic Table.