Basf Aktiengesellschaft

Wolfgang Lengsfeld

Walter Gramlich

Ludwig Schuster

Dieter Voges

Franz Merger

Herbert Mueller

Werner Hoffmann

Dieter Degner

Gerd Heilen

Wolfgang Schroeder

Hans-Martin Hutmacher

Otto Hertel

Peter Hettinger

Guenter Boettger

Klaas Jansen

Cyclopentanones monoalkylated in the 2-position and of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is a branched or straight-chain aliphatic group of 2 to 12 carbon atoms and R.sup.2 to R.sup.7 may be identical or different and are each hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, are prepared by a process in which a cyclopentanone of the general formula II ##STR2## or a corresponding cyclopentenone, is reacted with an aldehyde of the general formula III ##STR3## at from 80.degree. to 280.degree. C. in the presence of hydrogen in an autoclave, over a catalyst which contains, as active components, on the one hand an oxide or a phosphate of magnesium, aluminum, titanium or zinc or of one of the rare earth metals, and on the other hand a noble metal of group VIII of the periodic table, preferably palladium. The 2-alkylcyclopentanones obtainable according to the invention in a simple single-stage reaction with virtually complete conversion and high selectivity are important as intermediates and in particular as scents.

Preparation of 2-alkylcyclopentanones

4-isopropylcyclohexylmethanol and its alkyl ethers of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, are prepared by a process in which the novel 4-(1-alkoxy-1-methylethyl)-benzaldehyde or its dialkyl acetal of the general formula II ##STR2## where X is oxygen (IIa) or its two R.sup.2 O groups (IIb) and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, is heated to 100.degree.-250.degree. C., preferably 130.degree.-200.degree. C., under a hydrogen pressure of from 50 to 350, preferably from 150 to 300, bar in the presence of a noble metal of group VIII of the Periodic Table.

Prepartion of 4-isopropylcyclohexylmethanol and its alkyl ethers

2-tert-butyl-4-methylcyclohexanol is used as a scent and as a component of scent compositions. Scent compositions contain 2-tert-butyl-4-methylcyclohexanol (I), which influences their fragrance. It has a very intense earthy woody vetiver-like fragrance and is stable in neutral, acidic and alkaline solutions.

Use of 2-tert-butyl-4-methylcyclohexanol as a scent and as a component

Morpholine and other cyclic imines are obtained by reacting diethylene glycol and other appropriate diols with ammonia under hydrogenating conditions in the gas phase in the presence of a catalyst which contains copper, a smaller amount of nickel and alumina.

Preparation of morpholine

1-Alkyl- or 1-cycloalkylpiperazines are prepared by reacting piperazine with an alkanol or cycloalkanol in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation catalyst by a process in which the reaction is carried out at from 130.degree. to 190.degree. C. under from 5 to 100 bar in the presence of from 5 to 40% by weight, based on the reaction mixture, of water, and the molar ratio of piperazine to alkanol or cycloalkanol is kept at from 1:1.5 to 1:8.

Preparation of 1-alkyl- or 1-cycloalkylpiperazines

Joint preparation of ethylene cyanohydrin and its ethers

Growing community of inventors

Limburgerhof, Germany

Wolfgang Lengsfeld