Preparation of unsaturated alcohols

US4455442A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Michael Horner · Neustadt, DE
• Matthias Irgang · Heidelberg, DE
• Axel Nissen

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 8, 1980
• Grant date: Jun 19, 1984
• Expiry date: Jul 8, 2000

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C29/141
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Olefinically unsaturated alcohols (I) are prepared by selective hydrogenation of the corresponding carbonyl compounds (II) in the liquid phase with hydrogen, using an Ru, Rh, Os, Ir or Pt catalyst and carrying out the hydrogenation in the presence of from 5 to 40% by weight, based on (II), of a tertiary amine. The process is of particular importance for the selective hydrogenation of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (IIa) and amongst these specifically for the hydrogenation of citral to geraniol and nerol. The preferred amine is trimethylamine.