Abstract: Isomerization of ?-keto-allenes of the general formula I wherein R1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, in particular hydrogen or methyl; R2 is hydrogen or methyl; R3 is hydrogen or methyl, in particular methyl and R4 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon residue containing 1-37 carbon atoms, into corresponding ?,?-dienones of formula II by treatment with a basic ion exchange resin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process of production of substituted diphenylacetylenes (tolanes) of formula (I) which are starting materials for production of stilbenes products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel processes for the manufacture of chroman derivatives such as ?-tocopherol (TCP) and alkanoates thereof, especially ?-tocopheryl acetate (TCPA), whereby at least one step of the processes is carried out in the presence of a Lewis acid or a mixture of a Lewis acid with a Bronsted acid as the catalyst under pressure, preferably at an absolute pressure of at least 1.1 bar. As starting materials for the manufacture of TCP and its alkanoates either a mixture of 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone (TMHQ) or 2,3,6-trimethylhydroquinone-1-alkanoate (TMHQA) and a compound selected from the group consisting of phytol (PH), isophytol (IP) and (iso)phytol derivatives or 2-phytyl-3,5,6-trimethyl-hydroquinone (PTMHQ)/3-phytyl-2,5,6-trimethylhydroquinone-1-alkanoate (PTMHQA) and/or an isomer thereof are used. Suitable Lewis acids are indium(III) salts and scandium(III) salts. Suitable acid mixtures are iron/iron(II) chloride/hydrogen chloride and zinc(II) chloride/hydrogen chloride.

Abstract: The invention relates to the (stereoselective) hydrogenation of carbon-carbon double bonds in compounds having at least one such bond, e.g., isoprenoids, non-cyclic sesquiterpenes, tocomonoenols, tocodienols, tocotrienols or derivatives thereof, as well as to the (stereoselective) hydrogenation of parts/extracts of plant oils containing such tocotrienols or derivatives thereof, in the presence of a chiral Ir complex as the catalyst, whereby preferably one stereoisomer is manufactured in an excess.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the catalytic conversion of a carbohydrate, an alcohol, an aldehyde or a polyhydroxy compound in the presence of a catalyst containing gold in a solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of reacting specific compounds, which are defined below with hydrogen in the presence of a structured catalyst based on sintered metal fibers (SMF) coated by a ZnO layer with Pd-nanoparticles, to reactions of these specific compounds with hydrogen in the presence of said catalyst and an organic base as well as to vitamins, carotinoids, perfume ingredients, and/or food or feed ingredients prepared by using this reaction.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 1-ethynyl-3,3-dimethylcyclohexan-1-ol from dimedone by a reaction sequence of reduction and ethynylation and its further transformation into green ketone.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the manufacture of 2-pentyn-1-ol starting from 2-propyn-1-ol via the following intermediates (I), (II) wherein R1 is H or linear C1-6 alkyl, R2 is linear C1-6 alkyl or branched C3-6 alkyl and R3 is linear C1-6 alkyl, as well as to the intermediates themselves.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of E-farnesyl acetone characterized by reaction of nerolidol with isopropenylmethyl ether in the presence of an acidic catalyst at elevated temperature and isolation by fractionated distillation.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 1-(3,5-diacetoxyphenyl)-ethanol by catalytic hydrogenation of 3,5-diacetoxy-acetophenone in the presence of a Ni-alloy as catalyst in a C1-3-carboxylic acid ester as solvent.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of a compound of the structure (I) with R1=hydrogen, alkyl (C1-C10, linear, cyclic or branched, aliphatic or aromatic), NR?R? (wherein R? and R? are independently selected from H, alkyl [C1-C10, linear, cyclic or branched, aliphatic or aromatic] and R2=CH2R3 wherein R3 is selected from NHR1?? (with R??=C(O)H, C(O)CH3, C(O)alkyl, CH2C6H2(OMe)3 or other saponifiable residues), alkyl (C1-C10, linear, cyclic or branched) aromatic residues, heteroaryl residues, substituted aryl residues, e.g. 3,4,5-trimethoxy-phenyl) wherein 1 equivalent of an ?-formyl-propionitrile salt is reacted with 0.75 to 2 equivalents of an acetamidine salt in the presence of a Lewis acid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the manufacture of 3,7-dimethyl-1-octen-3-ol comprising the following steps: a) hydrogenation of 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-on to 6-methyl-2-heptanon in the presence of hydrogen and a palladium containing catalyst on a carrier selected from the group consisting of carbon, calcium carbonate and aluminum oxide. b) reaction of 6-methyl-2-heptanon with acetylene to 3,7-dimethyl-1-octin-3-ol in the presence of ammonia and potassium hydroxide and in the absence of any additional organic solvent; c) hydrogenation of 3,7-dimethyl-1-octin-3-ol to 3,7-dimethyl-1-octen-3-ol in the presence of hydrogen and a palladium containing catalyst on a carrier selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, aluminum oxide, silica, porous glass, carbon or graphite, and barium sulphate, with the proviso that the catalyst additionally contains lead when the carrier is calcium carbonate.

Abstract: A process for acylating organic hydroxy compounds, characterized in that the acylation is effected in the presence of a metal oxide which does not carry a catalyst and the use of such metal oxides for acylating organic hydroxy compounds.

Abstract: Allyl and propargyl ethers of the formula X—C(R1)(R2)—O—C(CH3)(R3)—OCH3 (I), wherein X is an ethynyl or vinyl group, R1 is methyl or ethyl, R2 is a saturated or unsaturated linear or cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon residue and R3 is methyl or ethyl, a method for their preparation and their use in the manufacture of ?-ketoallenes, ?,?-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and ?,?-unsaturated ketones.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a catalyst comprising palladium on a porous Silica glass as carrier, as well as to the use of such catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of alkines to alkenes.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of gamma-delta -unsaturated ketones of formula (R1)(R2)C?CH—CH2—CH2—CO—R3 (I), wherein R1 is methyl or ethyl; R2 is a saturated or unsaturated linear or cyclic hydrocarbon residue and R3 is methyl or ethyl, by reacting a tertiary vinyl carbinol of formula (R1)(R2)C(OH)—CH?CH2 (II) with an isopropenyl methyl or ethyl ether of formula H3C—C(OR3)?CH2 (Ill) in the pre-sence of an ammonium salt as catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new method for a safe transport of ethyne in form of ?-alkynols as precursors for ethyne. The new method comprises three steps. In a first step the synthesis of the ?-alkynol(s) is performed by reacting ethyne with (a) carbonyl compound(s). The second step comprises the transport of the resulting ?-alkynol(s) in a safe manner, whereas the safety requirements for this transport are not as high as for ethyne because ?-alkynol(s) are normally classified for transportation as hazardous class 3. In the third step the ?-alkynol(s) can be cleaved and the ethyne and the carbonyl compound(s) can be obtained in the cleavage reaction and can be separated to yield pure products for further applications.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the manufacture of a 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone dialkanoate comprising reacting ketoisophorone with an acylating agent in the presence of an indium salt as the catalyst. Preferred are indium(III) salts such as indium trichloride or indium tris (trifluoromethanesulfonate). Further aspects of the present invention are a process for the manufacture of 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone using 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone dialkanoate as the starting material, especially a process for the manufacture of 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone by transesterification of 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone dialkanoate, as well as a process for the manufacture of a-tocopherol and its alkanoates, especially of (all-rac)-a-tocopherol and its acetate, comprising the reaction of ketoisophorone to 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone dialkanoate according to the present invention.

Abstract: Saturated aliphatic ketones, e.g. hexahydropseudoionone, may be prepared by hydrogenating an olefinically unsaturated ketone, e.g. pseudoionone in a continuous fixed-bed mode in the absence of a solvent in the presence of a catalyst comprising a noble metal deposited on a carrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of cyclic thio esters (thiolactones) and related compounds by hydrogenation of cyclic thioanhydrides in the presence of metal catalysts.