Abstract: A catalyst for the hydrogenation of unsaturated aliphatic compounds having a content of 20-70% w/w of nickel oxide, 25-45% w/w of zirconium oxide and 5-40% w/w of copper oxide, based on the oxidic, unreduced catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of saturated alcohols by catalytic hydrogenation of acetylenic alcohols at a temperature of from 50.degree. to 200.degree. C. and under a pressure of from 30 to 320 bar, wherein the catalyst used has a content of from 20 to 75% of nickel oxide, from 10 to 75% of zirconium dioxide and from 5 to 50% of copper oxide, by weight of the oxidic, unreduced catalyst.

Abstract: A catalyst containing copper and silica is prepared by a process in which an aqueous alkali metal silicate solution containing from 1 to 26% by weight of SiO.sub.2 is brought to a pH of from 0.5 to 2.0 with nitric acid, an aqueous copper nitrate solution containing from 5 to 15% by weight of Cu is added, after the addition of the nitric acid, so that a clear solution containing from 0.18 to 3.0 moles of Cu per mole of SiO.sub.2 is formed, the resulting solution is mixed with an aqueous alkali metal carbonate solution at from 40.degree. to 80.degree. C., the pH of the mixture being kept at from 7.5 to 8.5, and the precipitated material is separated off, dried, calcined by heating at from 250.degree. to 400.degree. C. and pressed in a conventional manner to give catalyst moldings. The catalyst thus obtained is used for the hydrogenation of dialkyl dicarboxylates to diols.

Abstract: Catalysts containing one of the metals iron, cobalt or nickel or a mixture of these are prepared by reduction of the particular catalyst intermediate with hydrogen at from 80.degree. to 260.degree. C. and under from 1 to 300 bar, in the liquid phase and in the presence of a redox system, and are used in the hydrogenation and amination of organic compounds.

Abstract: Very pure alkanediols are prepared by catalytic hydrogenation of an alkynediol in an aqueous medium under a pressure greater than 20 bar and at above 200.degree. C.

Abstract: The hydrogenation of carboxylic acids having 6 or less C atoms, as obtained as by-products of cyclohexane oxidation, to give corresponding diols is improved by the addition of a small amount of phosphoric acid or a phosphoric ester before hydrogenation.

Abstract: Aromatic amines (anilines) are obtained directly or via the corresponding cycloaliphatic amines by an aminating/hydrogenating reaction of phenols with ammonia and hydrogen over a supported palladium catalyst which also contains elements from group 1b, 2b or 7b of the periodic table as well as iron, cobalt or nickel, as such or in the form of their compounds, and, preferably, an inorganic base, said catalysts also having dehydrogenating properties.

Abstract: N-Alkylpiperidines or N-alkylpyrrolidines are obtained by hydrogenating a corresponding N-alkyldicarboxylic acid imide over a fixed catalyst by first working to only partial conversion, for example of about 50%, and distilling off the required product together with water from the partially converted mixture, where appropriate with recycling of the unconverted remainder.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a hydrogenation catalyst which contains the oxides of the metals nickel, copper, molybdenum and aluminum and/or iron, and may or may not contain manganese oxide, by precipitating a solution of salts of the metals with an alkali metal carbonate at from 35.degree. to 95.degree. C. and a pH of from 5 to 9 and heating the precipitate at from 350.degree. to 700.degree. C., the amount of the metal salts being selected so that the catalyst contains from 5 to 70 percent by weight of aluminum oxide and/or iron oxide, the remainder being principally nickel oxide and, based on nickel oxide, from 20 to 40 percent by weight of copper oxide, from 0.5 to 6 percent by weight of molybdenum oxide and from 0 to 10 percent by weight of manganese oxide.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a hydrogenation catalyst which contains the oxides of the metals nickel, copper, molybdenum and aluminum and/or iron, and may or may not contain manganese oxide, by precipitating a solution of salts of the metals with an alkali metal carbonate at from 35.degree. to 95.degree. C. and a pH of from 5 to 9 and heating the precipitate at from 350.degree. to 700.degree. C., the amount of the metal salts being selected so that the catalyst contains from 5 to 70 percent by weight of aluminum oxide and/or iron oxide, the remainder being principally nickel oxide and, based on nickel oxide, from 20 to 40 percent by weight of copper oxide, from 0.5 to 6 percent by weight of molybdenum oxide and from 0 to 10 percent by weight of manganese oxide.

Abstract: Butynediol is prepared by reacting acetylene and formaldehyde in contact with a heavy metal acetylide as catalyst, in the liquid phase by the Reppe method. Acetylene is fed upwardly through a suspension of the catalyst in formaldehyde at such a rate that it is virtually completely consumed and a liquid zone containing no catalyst is formed above the suspension.

Abstract: In a process for the manufacture of butynediol by the reaction of formaldehyde and acetylene in aqueous solution, in which a catalyst is used which is produced by the action of acetylene and formaldehyde on copper (II) compounds, the catalyst becomes inactive when it is treated for a relatively long period with formaldehyde at elevated temperature in the absence of acetylene so that it must constantly remain in contact with acetylene-containing solution if its temperature is above 70.degree. C.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of butynediol-1,4 from acetylene and formaldehyde in aqueous solution in contact with a copper acetylide catalyst in the absence of a gas phase.

Abstract: A new catalyst for the manufacture of butynediol from formaldehyde and acetylene, based on a carbonate which contains copper, has the structure of the natural mineral manasseite, also contains magnesium or aluminum or -- in place of aluminum -- iron or chromium and is converted into the catalyst by reaction of the copper ions with acetylene.