Basf Aktiengesellschaft

Badische Anilin- & Soda-fabrik Aktiengesellschaft

Heinrich Pasedach

Axel Nissen

Matthias Irgang

Michael Horner

Lothar Arnold

Peter R Laurer

Horst Pommer

Rudolf Mohr

Albrecht Friederang

Carbonyl compounds R.sup.1 --CHR.sup.2 --CHR.sup.3 --CR.sup.4 O (I, R.sup.1 =H or an organic radical; R.sup.2 -R.sup.4 =H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl) are prepared by selective hydrogenation of the .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carbonyl compounds R.sup.1 --CR.sup.2 =CR.sup.3 --CR.sup.4 O (II) in the liquid phase by means of hydrogen in the presence of a palladium catalyst and of from 15 to 50% by weight, based on (II), of a tertiary amine.

Preparation of carbonyl compounds

An improved process for the manufacture of 2-methyl-2-hepten-6-one by reacting an alkyl acetoacetate with 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol in the presence of an organic aluminum compound such as aluminum trialcoholate, aluminum triacetoacetate, aluminum alkylacetoacetate or aluminum triaryloxylate. 2-Methyl-2-hepten-6-one is an intermediate for the manufacture of vitamins.

Manufacture of 2-methyl-2-hepten-6-one

A process for the production of 2,3,6-trimethylphenol in which diethyl ketone is reacted in the presence of a basic reagent with crotonaldehyde or methyl vinyl ketone (or a compound which in the presence of a basic reagent is converted into crotonaldehyde or methyl vinyl ketone) and the 2,5,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one or 2,3,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one formed is dehydrogenated.

Production of 2,3,6-trimethylphenol

Manufacture of piperitenone by mixing excess mesityl oxide with 10 to 70% by weight aqueous potassium hydroxide solution, heating the mixture to a temperature of between 20.degree.C and the boiling point and introducing the methyl vinyl ketone into the heated mixture. d,1-methol is obtained directly, or via a mixture of methone and isomenthone, from the piperitenone which is obtained in good yield.

Growing community of inventors

Ludwigshafen, Germany

Heinrich Pasedach