Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing higher oxo alcohols from mixtures of isomeric olefins having from 5 to 24 carbon atoms by hydroformylation in the presence of a catalyst at elevated temperature and at elevated pressure, in which the hydroformylation is carried out in one stage, the olefin conversion rate for one pass is restricted to from 40 to 90% to produce a reaction mixture, and the reaction mixture is selectively hydrogenated.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for preparing C4-25 aldehydes by hydroformylating the corresponding C3-24 olefins in the presence of a cobalt hydroformylation catalyst, and catalytically decomposing the formic acid formed in the hydroformylation reaction or in the subsequent catalyst work-up. The aldehydes so produced may be hydrogenated to form alcohols.

Abstract: Olefins are hydroformylated to give alcohols and/or aldehydes in a plurality of hydroformylation stages, each of which comprises:

Abstract: Carboxylic esters are prepared by a process, which comprises reacting dicarboxylic or polycarboxylic acids or their anhydrides with alcohols in a liquid medium with the concomitant removal of water formed by the esterification reaction by azeotropic distillation together with the alcohol in the medium, wherein the amount of liquid removed from the reaction medium by azeotropic distillation is replaced in whole or in part with the alcohol.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the catalytic aldol condensation of aldehydes by means of a multiphase reaction in a tube reactor, wherein the catalyst is present in the continuous phase and at least one aldehyde is present in a dispersed phase and the loading factor B of the tube reactor is equal to or greater than 0.8; the aldol condensation products obtained in this way can be used for preparing alcohols or carboxylic acids.

Abstract: A process for preparing higher oxo alcohols from mixtures of isomeric olefins having from 5 to 24 carbon atoms by two-stage hydroformylation in the presence of a cobalt catalyst or rhodium catalyst at elevated temperature and at elevated pressure, which comprises selectively hydrogenating the first hydroformylation stage reaction mixture, separating the hydrogenation mixture in a distillation into crude alcohol and low-boilers predominantly consisting of olefins, passing these low-boilers to the second hydroformylation stage, again selectively hydrogenating the second hydroformylation stage reaction mixture, separating the hydrogenation mixture in one distillation into crude alcohol and low-boilers, working up the crude alcohol by distillation to pure alcohol and taking off at least some of the low-boilers to discharge saturated hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A nickel-containing hydrogenation catalyst is prepared by reducing nickel-containing catalyst material in the liquid phase in a single-stage process by means of hydrogen.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for preparing C4-25 aldehydes by hydroformylating the corresponding C3-24 olefins in the presence of a cobalt hydroformylation catalyst, and catalytically decomposing the formic acid formed in the hydroformylation reaction or in the subsequent catalyst work-up. The aldehydes so produced may be hydrogenated to form alcohols.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the selective hydrogenation of reaction mixtures from the hydroformylation of C5 to C24 olefins using hydrogen and a supported catalyst which, as active components, comprises copper, nickel and chromium.

Abstract: A process for the hydrogenation of reaction mixtures from the hydroformylation of C5 to C24 olefins using hydrogen on fixed catalysts at elevated temperature, in which the aldehydes, alcohols, formates and low-boilers are evaporated from the reaction mixture and passed in the vapor state over a support-free Cu/Cr catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the catalytic selective hydrogenation of a polyunsaturated organic compound, wherein the hydrogenation is carried out in a plurality of two or more series-connected loops, wherein each loop involves the use of one reactor, which comprises:(a) feeding the polyunsaturated organic compound and hydrogen to an upper part of a reactor to catalytically hydrogenate said the polyunsaturated organic compound to produce a hydrogenation product,(b) recycling a portion of said hydrogenation product back into said upper part of said reactor,(c) feeding the remainder of said hydrogenation product from said reactor to an upper part of a subsequent reactor wherein the polyunsaturated organic compound is catalytically hydrogenated to produce a subsequent hydrogenation product, and wherein a portion of said subsequent hydrogenation product has been recycled and is fed with said remainder of said hydrogenation product to said upper part of said subsequent reactor,(d) repeating step

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 2-ethylhexanal by catalytic hydrogenation of 2-ethylhex-2-enal, wherein the hydrogenation is carried out in a plurality of two or more series-connected loops, wherein each loop involves the use of one reactor, which comprises:(a) feeding 2-ethylhex-2-enal and hydrogen to an upper part of a reactor to catalytically hydrogenate said 2-ethylhex-2-enal to produce a hydrogenation product,(b) recycling a portion of said hydrogenation product back into said upper part of said reactor,(c) feeding the remainder of said hydrogenation product from said reactor to an upper part of a subsequent reactor wherein 2-ethylhex-2-enal is catalytically hydrogenated to produce a subsequent hydrogenation product, and wherein a portion of said subsequent hydrogenation product has been recycled and is fed with said remainder of said hydrogenation product to said upper part of said subsequent reactor,(d) repeating step (c) until the subsequent reactor is the last reacto

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanone by catalytic hydrogenation of isophorone, wherein the hydrogenation is carried out in a plurality of two or more series-connected loops, wherein each loop involves the use of one reactor, which comprises:(a) feeding isophorone and hydrogen to an upper part of a reactor to catalytically hydrogenate said isophorone to produce a hydrogenation product,(b) recycling a portion of said hydrogenation product back into said upper part of said reactor,(c) feeding the remainder of said hydrogenation product from said reactor to an upper part of a subsequent reactor wherein isophorone is catalytically hydrogenated to produce a subsequent hydrogenation product, and wherein a portion of said subsequent hydrogenation product has been recycled and is fed with said remainder of said hydrogenation product to said upper part of said subsequent reactor,(d) repeating step (c) until the subsequent reactor is the last reactor,(e) recovering the remainder of said subseque

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the catalytic selective hydrogenation of a polyunsaturated organic compound, wherein the hydrogenation is carried out in a plurality of two or more series-connected loops, wherein each loop involves the use of one reactor, which comprises:(a) feeding the polyunsaturated organic compound and hydrogen to an upper part of a reactor to catalytically hydrogenate said the polyunsaturated organic compound to produce a hydrogenation product,(b) recycling a portion of said hydrogenation product back into said upper part of said reactor,(c) feeding the remainder of said hydrogenation product from said reactor to an upper part of a subsequent reactor wherein the polyunsaturated organic compound is catalytically hydrogenated to produce a subsequent hydrogenation product, and wherein a portion of said subsequent hydrogenation product has been recycled and is fed with said remainder of said hydrogenation product to said upper part of said subsequent reactor,(d) repeating step

Abstract: A process for preparing a cyclic ketone from a cyclic epoxide, comprising the step of:contacting a cyclic epoxide with an alkali or alkaline-earth halide salt in the presence of a polar solvent at a temperature ranging from 120.degree. to 250.degree. C., wherein said cyclic epoxide is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more C.sub.1-5 alkyl or alkenyl groups, and wherein said cyclic epoxide comprises 7-20 ring carbon atoms, and contains up to 5 carbon-carbon multiple bonds.