The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an optically active carbonyl compound by asymmetric hydrogenation of a prochiral ,-unsaturated carbonyl compound with hydrogen in the presence of at least one optically active transition metal catalyst that is soluble in the reaction mixture and which has rhodium as catalytically active transition metal and a chiral, bidentate bisphosphine ligand, wherein the reaction mixture during the hydrogenation of the prochiral ,-unsaturated carbonyl compound additionally comprises at least one compound of the general formula (I): ##STR00001##
in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2: are identical or different and are C.sub.6- to C.sub.10-aryl which is unsubstituted or carries one or more, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, substituents which are selected from C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.3- to C.sub.6-cycloalkyl, C.sub.6- to C.sub.10-aryl, C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkoxy and amino; Z is a group CHR.sup.3R.sup.4 or aryl which is unsubstituted or carries one or more, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, substituents which are selected from C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.3- to C.sub.6-cycloalkyl, C.sub.6- to C.sub.10-aryl, C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkoxy and amino, wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are as defined in the claims and the description.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an optically active carbonyl compound by asymmetric hydrogenation of a prochiral ,-unsaturated carbonyl compound with hydrogen in the presence of at least one optically active transition metal catalyst that is soluble in the reaction mixture and which has rhodium as catalytically active transition metal and a chiral, bidentate bisphosphine ligand, wherein the reaction mixture during the hydrogenation of the prochiral ,-unsaturated carbonyl compound additionally comprises at least one compound of the general formula (I): ##STR00001##
in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2: are identical or different and are C.sub.6- to C.sub.10-aryl which is unsubstituted or carries one or more, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, substituents which are selected from C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.3- to C.sub.6-cycloalkyl, C.sub.6- to C.sub.10-aryl, C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkoxy and amino; Z is a group CHR.sup.3R.sup.4 or aryl which is unsubstituted or carries one or more, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, substituents which are selected from C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.3- to C.sub.6-cycloalkyl, C.sub.6- to C.sub.10-aryl, C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkoxy and amino, wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are as defined in the claims and the description.

The present invention discloses a metal complex catalyst, its preparing method and its application in preparing D,L-menthol, the metal complex catalyst includes weight percent elements as follows: 70-85% of Ni, 8-10% of Al, 5-10% of V, and 2-10% of Co. When this metal complex catalyst is applied in preparing D,L-menthol through thymol hydrogenation, it has the characteristics of high reaction activity and quick racemization of chiral compound. Meanwhile, a certain kind of alkali added in isomerization is the key to reducing light constituent byproduct. The whole process comes in good reaction selectivity, simple preparing technology, low production cost, and environment-friendly synthetic route.

The present invention discloses a metal complex catalyst, its preparing method and its application in preparing D,L-menthol, the metal complex catalyst includes weight percent elements as follows: 70-85% of Ni, 8-10% of Al, 5-10% of V, and 2-10% of Co. When this metal complex catalyst is applied in preparing D,L-menthol through thymol hydrogenation, it has the characteristics of high reaction activity and quick racemization of chiral compound. Meanwhile, a certain kind of alkali added in isomerization is the key to reducing light constituent byproduct. The whole process comes in good reaction selectivity, simple preparing technology, low production cost, and environment-friendly synthetic route.

The present invention discloses a metal complex catalyst, its preparing method and its application in preparing D,L-menthol, the metal complex catalyst includes weight percent elements as follows: 70-85% of Ni, 8-10% of Al, 5-10% of V, and 2-10% of Co. When this metal complex catalyst is applied in preparing D,L-menthol through thymol hydrogenation, it has the characteristics of high reaction activity and quick racemization of chiral compound. Meanwhile, a certain kind of alkali added in isomerization is the key to reducing light constituent byproduct. The whole process comes in good reaction selectivity, simple preparing technology, low production cost, and environment-friendly synthetic route.

The present invention relates to a process for the one-pot hydrogenation and dehydration or isomerization of an organic compound, and to a catalyst composition for this process comprising transition metal particles having particle size below 50 nm supported on a material comprising at least one fluorinated polymer (P), wherein polymer (P) bears SO.sub.2X functional groups, X being selected from X and OM, X being selected from the groups consisting of F, Cl, Br and I; and M being selected from the group consisting of H, and alkaline metal and NH.sub.4.

The present invention relates to a process for the one-pot hydrogenation and dehydration or isomerization of an organic compound, and to a catalyst composition for this process comprising transition metal particles having particle size below 50 nm supported on a material comprising at least one fluorinated polymer (P), wherein polymer (P) bears SO.sub.2X functional groups, X being selected from X and OM, X being selected from the groups consisting of F, Cl, Br and I; and M being selected from the group consisting of H, and alkaline metal and NH.sub.4.

Provided are a novel composition and others. The composition at least comprises caryophyllene, and menthol and/or a fat or oil.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an optically active carbonyl compound by asymmetric hydrogenation of a prochiral ,-unsaturated carbonyl compound with hydrogen in the presence of at least one optically active transition metal catalyst that is soluble in the reaction mixture and which has rhodium as catalytically active transition metal and a chiral, bidentate bisphosphine ligand, wherein the reaction mixture during the hydrogenation of the prochiral ,-unsaturated carbonyl compound additionally comprises at least one compound of the general formula (I):

##STR00001##

in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2: are identical or different and are C.sub.6- to C.sub.10-aryl which is unsubstituted or carries one or more, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, substituents which are selected from C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.3- to C.sub.6-cycloalkyl, C.sub.6- to C.sub.10-aryl, C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkoxy and amino; Z is a group CHR.sup.3R.sup.4 or aryl which is unsubstituted or carries one or more, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, substituents which are selected from C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.3- to C.sub.6-cycloalkyl, C.sub.6- to C.sub.10-aryl, C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkoxy and amino, wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are as defined in the claims and the description.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an optically active carbonyl compound by asymmetric hydrogenation of a prochiral ,-unsaturated carbonyl compound with hydrogen in the presence of at least one optically active transition metal catalyst that is soluble in the reaction mixture and which has rhodium as catalytically active transition metal and a chiral, bidentate bisphosphine ligand, wherein the reaction mixture during the hydrogenation of the prochiral ,-unsaturated carbonyl compound additionally comprises at least one compound of the general formula (I):

##STR00001##

in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2: are identical or different and are C.sub.6- to C.sub.10-aryl which is unsubstituted or carries one or more, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, substituents which are selected from C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.3- to C.sub.6-cycloalkyl, C.sub.6- to C.sub.10-aryl, C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkoxy and amino; Z is a group CHR.sup.3R.sup.4 or aryl which is unsubstituted or carries one or more, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, substituents which are selected from C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.3- to C.sub.6-cycloalkyl, C.sub.6- to C.sub.10-aryl, C.sub.1- to C.sub.6-alkoxy and amino, wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are as defined in the claims and the description.