Abstract: trans-RuH(&eegr;1-BH4)[(S)-xylbinap][(S,S)-dpen] (0.00125 mmol), acetophenone (5.0 mmol), and 2-propanol (2.5 mL) were placed in an autoclave, and the resulting solution was repeatedly subject 5 times to a procedure of performing pressure reduction and argon introduction while stirring the solution for deaeration. A hydrogen tank was then connected to the autoclave, and after replacing the air inside an introduction tube with hydrogen, the pressure inside the autoclave was adjusted to 5 atmospheres and then hydrogen was released until the pressure dropped to 1 atmosphere. After repeating this procedure 10 times, the hydrogen pressure was adjusted to 8 atmospheres and stirring at 25° C. was performed for 12 hours. By concentrating the solution obtained by depressurization and subjecting the crude product to simple distillation, (R)-1-phenylethanol (yield: 95%) in the form of a colorless oily substance was obtained at an ee of 99%.

Abstract: Process for enantioselectively hydrogenating prochiralen ketones to (S)-alcohols using platinum catalysts in the presence of cinchonines or quinidines as modifiers and in the presence of hydrogen, which is characterized in that the modifiers used are cinchonines unsubstituted in the 3-position, 3-ethylidenyl- or 9-methoxycinchonines or derivatives thereof in which the quinoline ring is replaced by other rings.

Abstract: Catalyst for the asymmetric (transfer) hydrogenation represented by the formula MLaXbSc, where M is a transition metal, to be chosen from rhodium and ruthenium, and X is a counter ion and S is a ligand, a ranges from 0.5 to 3 and b and c, each independently, range from 0 to 2, and L is a chiral ligand having the formula (1), where Cn together with the two 2 O-atoms and the P-atom forms a substituted or non-substituted ring with 2-4 C-atoms, R1 and R2 each independently represent H, an optionally substituted alkyl, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl group or may form a (heterocyclic) ring together with the N-atom to which they are bound. And a process for the asymmetric (transfer) hydrogenation of an olefinically unsaturated compound, ketone, imine or oxime derivate in the presence of a hydrogen donor and of a catalyst, use being made of a catalyst represented by formula MLaXbSc, where M is a transition metal, to be chosen from rhodium, iridium and ruthenium, X is a counter ion, S is a ligand, a ranges from 0.

Abstract: A multi-stage synthesis is effective for preparing 1-olefins from aldehydes. The aldehyde is condensed with acetone to form an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated ketone. The unsaturated ketone is hydrogenated to yield a saturated alcohol. By dehydrating the saturated alcohol a 1-olefin is obtained. The olefin can be isolated in high yield and purified.

Abstract: The present invention features methods for preparing stabilized &agr;-AlH3 and &agr;′-AlH3, compositions containing these alane polymorphs, e.g., energetic compositions such as rocket propellants, and methods for using the novel polymorphs as chemical reducing agents, polymerization catalysts, and as a hydrogen source in fuel cells and batteries. The method produces stabilized alane by treating &agr;-AlH3 with an acidic solution that optionally contains a stabilizing agent such as an electron donor, an electron acceptor, or a compound which coordinates the Al3+ ion.

Abstract: The invention provides novel ruthenium complexes having an optically active diphosphine compound, which has asymmetry on carbon and is easy to synthesize, as the ligand and a process for preparing optically active alcoholic compounds using said complexes as the catalysts, wherein said process is the process for preparing optically active alcoholic compounds, which are excellent in terms of reactivity, enatioselectivity and the like in an asymmetric hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds compared with conventional ruthenium complex catalysts having an optically active diphosphine compound having the axial chirality or the asymmetry on carbon as the ligand.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for the catalytic hydrogenation of ketones and aldehydes to alcohols at low temperatures and pressures using organometallic molybdenum and tungsten complexes and the catalyst used in the process. The reactants include a functional group which is selected from groups represented by the formulas R*(C═O)R′ and R*(C═O)H, wherein R* and R′ are selected from hydrogen or any alkyl or aryl group. The process includes reacting the organic compound in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst to form a reaction mixture. The catalyst is prepared by reacting Ph3C+A− with a metal hydride. A− represents an anion and can be BF4−, PF6−, CF3SO3− or Bar′4−, wherein Ar′=3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl.

Abstract: A method of increasing enantioselectivity in a reduction reaction of a prochiral substrate with a borane reagent including a borohydride species (for example, a borohydride stabilized borane-tetrahydrofuran complex) catalyzed by a chiral catalyst includes the step of maintaining the concentration of borohydride species in the borane reagent below approximately 0.005 M during the reduction of the prochiral substrate. A method of increasing enantioselectivity in a reduction reaction of a prochiral substrate with a borane reagent including a borohydride species that is catalyzed by a chiral catalyst includes the step of reducing the detrimental effect the borohydride species has on enantioselectivity by adding a Lewis acid. For example, the prochiral substrate can be a ketone and the chiral catalyst can be a chiral oxazaborolidine.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for carrying out a chemical reaction in a reactor, comprising passing a reaction mixture in liquid phase through at least one structured reactor element present in sad reactor, the internal surface of said reactor element that comes into contact with the reaction mixture being catalytically active, the improvement comprising passing said reaction mixture through the said at least one reactor element, said reaction mixture comprising at least one liquid and at least one gas in liquid phase.

Abstract: A heterogeneous liquid-phase process for the hydrogenation of aldehydes of Formula (I) and (III) to the corresponding alcohols of Formula (II) and (IV) which process comprises contacting alcoholic or aqueous-alcoholic solution of aldehydes and hydrogen gas with a catalyst comprising a reduced mixture of CuO and ZnO in presence of a metal of group IIIA of the Periodic Table, such as aluminium, as a promoter at a temperature of between about 110° and 180° C. and a pressure of between about 20 and 500 psig.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of polyols having 3 or 4 hydroxyl groups, from an aldehyde and formaldehyde in the presence of water, followed by hydrogenation of the aldolisation product in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst at an elevated temperature. The aledhyde is obtained by an aldolisation reaction of an aldehyde having at least two &agr;-hydrogen atoms and a formula according to R1CH2CHO, wherein R1 is selected from a group comprising hydrogen, alkyl groups having 1-7 carbon atoms which can have cycloalkyl substituents, cycloalkyl groups, aryl groups and aralkyl groups with 1-7 carbon atoms is the alkyl chain, with formaldehyde in the presence of water in an amount of 20-70 wt %, preferably 40-60 wt % and in the presence of an anion exchange resin. The hydrogenation is preferably carried out in the presence of water.

Abstract: A process for the hydrogenation of acetone to prepare isopropanol is provided, wherein the hydrogenation reaction is carried out in a multi-tubular reactor.

Abstract: Production of unsaturated aldehydes by the aldol condensation of straight chain aldehydes, e.g. butyraldehyde, by contacting the aldehyde in the vapour phase with a particulate catalyst comprising at least one basic alkali metal compound supported on an inert substrate at a temperature above 175° C.

Abstract: There are disclosed an optically active azetidincarboxamide-coordinated transition metal complex of formula (1): 1

Abstract: Compounds of formula III, 1

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for preparing optically active trimethyllactic acid and/or its esters by catalytic hydrogenation of trimethylpyruvic acid and/or its esters in the presence of noble metal complex catalysts containing phosphorus ligands.

Abstract: A process for producing an aldehyde, which comprises a reaction step of producing an aldehyde by reacting an olefinic compound with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a rhodium complex catalyst comprising at least rhodium and an organic phosphite in a reaction zone, a separation step of obtaining a catalyst solution containing the rhodium complex catalyst by separating the aldehyde from a reaction solution taken from the reaction zone, and a recycling step of recycling the catalyst solution into the reaction zone, wherein the aldehyde is separated from the reaction solution in such a manner as to make an aldehyde concentration from 0.5 to 99 wt % in the catalyst solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of saturated C3-C20-alcohols in which a liquid hydrogenation feed comprising at least one C3-C20-aldehyde is passed over a bed of a hydrogenation catalyst in the presence of a hydrogen-containing gas, which comprises adding to the hydrogenation feed an amount, homogeneously soluble therein, of a salt-like base. The addition of base suppresses side reactions, such as acetalization, aldolization, Tischtschenko reaction or ether formation.

Abstract: In a process for preparing alcohols by catalytic hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds over a catalyst comprising rhenium on activated carbon, the catalyst used comprises rhenium (calculated as metal) in a weight ratio to the activated carbon of from 0.0001 to 0.5, platinum (calculated as metal) in a weight ratio to the activated carbon of from 0.0001 to 0.5 and, if appropriate, at least one further metal selected from among Zn, Cu, Ag, Au, Ni, Fe, Ru, Mn, Cr, Mo, W and V in a weight ratio to the activated carbon of from 0 to 0.25, and the activated carbon has been nonoxidatively pretreated It is also possible to prepare ethers and lactones if the hydrogen pressure is not more than 25 bar. In this case, the activated carbon in the catalyst may also have been nonoxidatively pretreated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for the selective hydrogenation of olefinically unsaturated carbonyl compounds to give unsaturated alcohols in particular of citral to give a mixture of geraniol and nerol, in a reactor containing a liquid phase, in which at least one catalyst is suspended, and which can additionally contain a gas phase, wherein the liquid phase and, if present, the gas phase are passed through a device in the reactor having openings or channels.

Abstract: A process has been developed for oxygenating linear C2 to C6 alkanes to ketones or aldehydes. The process involves reacting the alkanes with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising an imide promoter and a metal co-catalyst. An example of the imide is N-hydroxyphthalimide and an example of the co-catalyst is Co (acetylacetonate). The process is preferably carried out using an inert solvent, an example of which is acetic acid. Optionally, the oxygenated product can be hydrogenated to give the corresponding alcohol which can optionally in turn be dehydrated to provide the corresponding olefin.

Abstract: Aldehydes are prepared in a hydroformylation apparatus by the multiphase hydroformylation reaction of one or more olefins with hydrogen and carbon monoxide, where the continuous phase contains a solvent mixture and the hydroformylation catalyst is present in the continuous phase, at least one olefin is present in the dispersed phase, and the loading factor of the tube reactor is greater than or equal to 0.8.

Abstract: The invention relates to catalysts comprising cobalt supported on a solid silica support and, in particular, to a method for manufacturing such catalysts. The catalysts may be prepared by slurrying a silica powder or impregnating a silica particle with a solution of a cobalt compound, cobalt amine carbonate, and aging the resulting slurry or solid at elevated temperature; the cobalt amine carbonate is decomposed and precipitated as basic cobalt carbonate onto the silica support. Preferably, the catalysts have a cobalt surface area in the range of 25 to >100 m2 per gram total cobalt. The catalyst may be used in hydrogenation reactions, Fischer-Tropsch reactions and oxidation reactions.

Abstract: Ferrocene anchored chiral ligands and metal complexes based on such chiral ligands useful in asymmetric catalysis are disclosed. The metal complexes according to the present invention are useful as catalysts in asymmetric reactions, such as, hydrogenation, hydride transfer, allylic alkylation, hydrosilylation, hydroboration, hydrovinylation, hydroformylation, olefin metathesis, hydrocarboxylation, isomerization, cyclopropanation, Diels-Alder reaction, Heck reaction, isomerization, Aldol reaction, Michael addition; epoxidation, kinetic resolution and [m+n] cycloaddition. The new ligands are effective for asymmetric Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation reactions and Ag-catalyzed [3+2] cyclization of azomethine ylides.

Abstract: A first invention group is characterized by 1,3-butylene glycol which, at a period of three months after production, exhibits potassium permanganate color-fading time of at least five minutes as measured according to JIS K1351 3.10.

Abstract: Prochiral ketones are enantioselectively reduced to chiral secondary alcohols with a compound having the formula I: where, the two R2 groups are identical and are each a substituted or unsubstituted, aryl, alkyl, cycloalkyl or aralkyl group; and R3 is a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkoxy group; wherein the substituents on the R2 and R3 groups are substantially non-reactive.

Abstract: A platinum complex is described to include a platinum(IV) metal center so positioned and oriented in the complex so as to complex in cis orientations with two hydride groups and with an alkyl group.

Abstract: A method for preparation of alcohols by catalytic hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds with hydrogen or hydrogen-containing gases in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst of Raney type, where the catalyst is used in the form of hollow bodies, Preferred as catalytically active components are nickel, cobalt, copper, iron, platinum, palladium or ruthenium.

Abstract: Alcohols are produced in a practical and advantageous method, by the hydrogenation of a carbonyl compound under mild conditions, by reacting the carbonyl compounds with hydrogen in the presence of a bipyridyl derivative, a group VIII transition metal complex, and a base, or by reducing a carbonyl compound in the presence of a bipyridyl derivative, a group VIII transition metal complex, a base, and an alcoholic solvent.

Abstract: Ketones and aldehydes are hydrogenated to the corresponding alcohol or alkyl group, using H2 gas as the stoichiometric reductant, and organometallic ruthenium complexes as the catalysts.

Abstract: A process for producing alcohols, which comprises subjecting a mixture comprising an aldehyde having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms and a polycondensate of the aldehyde at a weight ratio of from 95:5 to 5:95 to a mixing hydrogenation reaction in the presence of a catalyst to produce alcohols corresponding to the aldehydes at the same time wherein substantially no by-product is produced.

Abstract: A process for producing alcohols, to obtain a straight-chain alcohol having a carbon number of n (where n=3 to 6), a branched chain alcohol having a carbon number of n (where n=3 to 6) and a branched chain alcohol having a carbon number of 2n (where n=3 to 6) from a mixed aldehyde comprising a straight-chain aldehyde having a carbon number of n (where n=3 to 6) and a branched chain aldehyde having a carbon number of n (where n=3 to 6) in an optional proportion, which comprises supplying the mixed aldehyde to a distillation column, withdrawing from the bottom of the column an aldehyde rich in the straight-chain aldehyde, dimerizing the straight-chain aldehyde, followed by hydrogenation to obtain the branched chain alcohol having a carbon number of 2n, while obtaining, as a fraction from the top of the column, an aldehyde rich in the branched chain aldehyde and having a straight-chain aldehyde concentration in the fraction of at least 30 wt %, subjecting the fraction to hydrog

Abstract: Carrier-bound ruthenium catalysts are used to produce alcohols by the catalytic hydrogenation of aldehydes and ketones. The problem of deactivation of the catalyst is solved by the use of a ruthenium catalyst on an oxide carrier of the series TiO2, SiO2, ZrO2, MgO, mixed oxides thereof and silicates thereof. In particular, Ru on TiO2 or SiO2 results in a long service life of the catalyst.

Abstract: A method of preparing a reduced product by efficiently reducing an unsaturated organic compound by using, as a reducing agent, a trichlorosilane which is industrially cheaply available and is easy to handle, and a reducing agent therefor. A reduced product of an unsaturated organic compound is obtained by mixing the unsaturated organic compound and a trichlorosilane together to reduce the unsaturated organic compound in the presence of a compound that forms a silicon complex having five coordinations upon acting on the trichlorosilane such as an N-formylated product of a secondary amine having not less than 3 carbon atoms. The invention further provides a reducing agent comprising a particular silicon complex.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 1-(2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl)-3-alkanols with a content of at least 15% of trans isomers, based on the total amount of the 1-(2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl)-3-alkanol, by catalytic hydrogenation, where a) 1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1 or 2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-1-alken-3-ones are reacted in the presence of ruthenium-containing catalysts or catalyst mixtures, or b) 1 -(2,6,6-trimethyl-1 or 2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-1-alken-3-ols are reacted in the presence of catalysts which contain 1 or more elements of groups Ib, VIb and VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements.

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: A process for the enantioselective reduction of prochiral ketones to chiral alcohols by (a) the reaction of a prochiral ketone with a silane agent, which is present in a stoichiometric quantity, in the presence of a catalyst derived from a Zn, Co or Cd precursor compound and from a chiral amine, imine, alcohol or amino alcohol ligand; (b) the hydrolysis of the siloxane obtained using an appropriate agent; and (c) the separation and purification of the optically active alcohol formed. Polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) is a preferred silane agent, zinc is a preferred metal, and the precursor compound is produced by reacting a salt or complex of the respective metal with the reducing agent. In another embodiment, an appropriate salt of the chosen metal is used directly in the reaction with the chiral ligand to produce the catalytic form after reaction with the ligand. The process enables high enantiomeric excesses (ee) to be obtained in chiral alcohols.

Abstract: Unsaturated coconut and/or palm nut fatty alcohols having an iodine number in the range from 65 to 85, which essentially comprise unsaturated fatty alcohols and mixtures of saturated fatty alcohols of the formula (I):

Abstract: A process for the direct carbonylation of saturated hydrocarbons has been developed. The process involves contacting the saturated hydrocarbons, which contain at least one primary, secondary or tertiary carbon atom, with carbon monoxide in the presence of a solid strong acid catalyst to produce an oxygenated saturated hydrocarbon. In a specific embodiment isobutane is reacted with carbon monoxide using sulfated zirconia as the catalyst to produce methylisopropyl ketone. The oxygenated hydrocarbon can subsequently be hydrogenated to give a reduced oxygenated saturated hydrocarbon. The hydrogenation can also be done simultaneously with the carbonylation, i.e., reductive carbonylation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of optically active alcohols from optically active carboxylic acids by reducing an optically active carboxylic acid with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising ruthenium and at least one further metal or transition metal having an atomic number in the range of from 23 to 82.

Abstract: A process for producing alcohols, to obtain a straight-chain alcohol having a carbon number of n (where n=3 to 6), a branched chain alcohol having a carbon number of n (where n=3 to 6) and a branched chain alcohol having a carbon number of 2n (where n=3 to 6) from a mixed aldehyde comprising a straight-chain aldehyde having a carbon number of n (where n=3 to 6) and a branched chain aldehyde having a carbon number of n (where n=3 to 6) in an optional proportion, which comprises supplying the mixed aldehyde to a distillation column, withdrawing from the bottom of the column an aldehyde rich in the straight-chain aldehyde, dimerizing the straight-chain aldehyde, followed by hydrogenation to obtain the branched chain alcohol having a carbon number of 2n, while obtaining, as a fraction from the top of the column, an aldehyde rich in the branched chain aldehyde and having a straight-chain aldehyde concentration in the fraction of at least 30 wt %, subjecting the fraction to hydrog

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 cis-olefin of the formula: R1—CH═CH—R2 is prepared by reducing an alkyne of the formula: R1—C≡C—R2 with formic acid in the presence of a palladium catalyst. R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, ester group, substituted silyl group, carboxyl group, cyano group, aliphatic C1-C20 hydrocarbon group, and phenyl group. The cis-olefin which is a useful intermediate for the synthesis of fine chemicals is selectively produced in high yields.

Abstract: A mixture of monounsaturated alcohols with 14 to 24 linear carbons in the linear chain is represented by jojoba alcohol, which remains an oily liquid at moderate ambient temperature. Jojoba alcohol is prepared by chemical hydrogenolysis of jojoba oil using a metal hydride reducing agent. A similar mixture of long chain monounsaturated alcohols can be prepared by hydrogenolysis of sperm whale oil. Mixtures of long chain monounsaturated alcohols penetrate epidermal layers of the skin to the vascular cells underneath where herpes viral infection, pain and other disorders occur.

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: Disclosed is a method of producing an optically active &bgr;-hydroxy sulfonic acid compound comprising hydrogenating a &bgr;-keto sulfonic acid compound represented by formula 1: where R1 represents an alkyl or a phenyl group, which may be substituted, and R2 represents sodium or an alkyl group, in an acidic solvent, in the presence of an asymmetric catalyst comprising a complex of bivalent Ru, having 2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthyl as a ligand, to produce a compound represented by formula 2: where R1 and R2 are as defined above, and * designates an asymmetric carbon atom.

Abstract: A method of increasing enantioselectivity in a reduction reaction of a prochiral substrate with a borane reagent including a borohydride species (for example, a borohydride stabilized borane-tetrahydrofuran complex) catalyzed by a chiral catalyst includes the step of maintaining the concentration of borohydride species in the borane reagent below approximately 0.005 M during the reduction of the prochiral substrate. A method of increasing enantioselectivity in a reduction reaction of a prochiral substrate with a borane reagent including a borohydride species that is catalyzed by a chiral catalyst includes the step of reducing the detrimental effect the borohydride species has on enantioselectivity by adding a Lewis acid. For example, the prochiral substrate can be a ketone and the chiral catalyst can be a chiral oxazaborolidine.

Abstract: A reductive system including a silane, preferably PMHS, and an active zinc compound, which is monomeric and not a hydride, wherein a reduction of a carbonyl substrate to a corresponding alcohol is achievable.

Abstract: Hydrogenation catalysts based on palladium, platinum or rhodium comprising at least one other metal M which are deposited on zirconium oxide and silicon oxide supports. Process for the manufacture of these catalysts by successive impregnation of the support using palladium, platinum or rhodium and using another metal M. Use of these catalysts in hydrogenation reactions and in particular in preparing hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous process for the preparation of a high-purity hydrogenated ose by catalytic hydrogenation of the corresponding ose in falling film reactors, wherein the hydrogenation is carried out in a series of fixed beds of ruthenium catalyst comprising: a) a first hydrogenation zone consisting of at least one fixed bed of ruthenium catalyst, and b) a second hydrogenation zone consisting of at least one fixed bed of ruthenium catalyst containing a promoter.