Selective liquid-phase hydrogenation of &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

US6369277B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Franz J. Broecker
• Gerd Kaibel · Lampertheim, DE
• Werner Aquila · Mannheim, DE
• Hartwig Fuchs · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Guenter Wegner · Ludwigshafen am Rhein, DE
• Manfred Stroezel · Ilvesheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 25, 2000
• Grant date: Apr 9, 2002
• Expiry date: Aug 25, 2020

Classification

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

Abstract

An &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carbonyl compound of formula (I) where R1 is saturated C1-40-hydrocarbyl or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic radical containing moiety, and R2, R3 and R4, independently of one another, are hydrogen or a C1- to C4-alkyl group, is selectively hydrogenated in the liquid phase to a saturated carbonyl compound of formula (II) with hydrogen in the presence of a pulverulent palladium and/or rhodium catalyst and in the presence of an organic base, by conducting the hydrogenation in a packed bubble column reactor in which product is recycled and hydrogen gas is recirculated.