Kao Corporation

Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft Auf Aktien

Markus Schneider

Thomas Gerke

Thomas Markert

Lothar Friesenhagen

Stephan Heck

Theo Stalberg

Norbert Klein

Gerrit Pelzer

Alkyl-substituted butenols having the formula (I):R&#x2014;CH&#x2014;CH&#x2550;CR&#x2014;CHOH &#x2003;&#x2003;(I)wherein Ris a saturated or olefinically unsaturated alkyl or cycloalkyl group having from 4 to 16 carbon atoms and wherein Ris optionally substituted by an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or alkaryl having up to 12 carbon atoms; Ris hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms are produced by a process which comprises: (1) reacting an aldehyde of the formula (II):R&#x2014;CH&#x2014;CHO &#x2003;&#x2003;(II)wherein Rhas the same meaning as in formula (I), with the corresponding lower aldehyde to form an unsaturated aldehyde in an inert organic solvent; (2) continuously contacting an optionally calcined copper/zinc catalyst with the unsaturated aldehyde under isothermal conditions at temperatures of from about 45 to about 60&#xb0; C. and under a hydrogen pressure of from 1 to about 300 bar.

Method for producing alkyl-substituted butenols

Process for the production of sclareolide

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Duisburg, Germany

Markus Schneider