Selective liquid-phase hydrogenation of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

US6150564A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Franz Josef Brocker · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Gerd Kaibel · Lampertheim, DE
• Werner Aquila · Mannheim, DE
• Hartwig Fuchs · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Günter Wegner · Charlotte, US
• Manfred Stroezel · Ilvesheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 25, 1999
• Grant date: Nov 21, 2000
• Expiry date: Mar 25, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01J2219/32
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for the selective liquid-phase hydrogenation of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carbonyl compounds of the formula I, ##STR1## where R.sub.1 is hydrogen or an organic radical, and R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, independently of one another, are hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -- to C.sub.4 --alkyl group, to saturated carbonyl compounds of the formula II ##STR2## using hydrogen in the presence of a pulverulent palladium and/or rhodium catalyst and in the presence of an organic base. The process is carried out in a packed bubble column reactor (1, 2) with product recycling (11, 17) and circulating hydrogen gas (4, 15, 16). It is particularly suitable for the selective hydrogenation of citral to citronellal.