A reactor for performing a gas/liquid biphasic high-pressure reaction with a foaming medium, comprising an interior formed by a cylindrical, vertically oriented elongate shell, a bottom and a cap, wherein the interior is divided by internals into a backmixed zone and a zone of limited backmixing, wherein the backmixed zone and the zone of limited backmixing are consecutively traversable by the reaction mixture, wherein the backmixed zone comprises means for introducing gas and liquid and a gas outlet and also comprises at least one mixing apparatus selected from a stirrer, a jet nozzle and means for injecting the gas, and the zone of limited backmixing comprises a reaction product outlet, a first cylindrical internal element which in the interior extends in the longitudinal direction of the reactor and which delimits the zone of limited backmixing from the backmixed zone, backmixing-preventing second internal elements in the form of random packings, structured packings or liquid-permeable trays arranged in the zone of limited backmixing and a riser tube whose lower end is arranged within the backmixed zone and whose upper end opens into the zone of limited backmixing so that liquid from the backmixed zone can ascend into the zone of limited backmixing via the riser tube, wherein flow into the zone of limited backmixing enters from below. The reactor is configured such that the high-pressure reaction space is optimally utilized and contamination of workup steps or subsequent reactions arranged downstream of the high-pressure reaction with foam is substantially avoided. The invention further relates to a process for performing a continuous gas/liquid biphasic high-pressure reaction in the reactor.

A reactor for performing a gas/liquid biphasic high-pressure reaction with a foaming medium, comprising an interior formed by a cylindrical, vertically oriented elongate shell, a bottom and a cap, wherein the interior is divided by internals into a backmixed zone and a zone of limited backmixing, wherein the backmixed zone and the zone of limited backmixing are consecutively traversable by the reaction mixture, wherein the backmixed zone comprises means for introducing gas and liquid and a gas outlet and also comprises at least one mixing apparatus selected from a stirrer, a jet nozzle and means for injecting the gas, and the zone of limited backmixing comprises a reaction product outlet, a first cylindrical internal element which in the interior extends in the longitudinal direction of the reactor and which delimits the zone of limited backmixing from the backmixed zone, backmixing-preventing second internal elements in the form of random packings, structured packings or liquid-permeable trays arranged in the zone of limited backmixing and a riser tube whose lower end is arranged within the backmixed zone and whose upper end opens into the zone of limited backmixing so that liquid from the backmixed zone can ascend into the zone of limited backmixing via the riser tube, wherein flow into the zone of limited backmixing enters from below. The reactor is configured such that the high-pressure reaction space is optimally utilized and contamination of workup steps or subsequent reactions arranged downstream of the high-pressure reaction with foam is substantially avoided. The invention further relates to a process for performing a continuous gas/liquid biphasic high-pressure reaction in the reactor.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an optically active carbonyl compound by asymmetric hydrogenation of a prochiral α,β-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 α,β-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 α,β-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 α,β-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.

A method for manufacturing isopulegol includes the step of diastereoselective ring-closing a citronellal using an aluminum compound of formula (1) below. In formula (1), X represents a halogen atom, Y represents a halogen atom or a hydrogen atom, and R.sub.1 represents a phenyl group or a cycloalkyl group of 5 to 12 carbons. ##STR00001##

A method for manufacturing isopulegol includes the step of diastereoselective ring-closing a citronellal using an aluminum compound of formula (1) below. In formula (1), X represents a halogen atom, Y represents a halogen atom or a hydrogen atom, and R.sub.1 represents a phenyl group or a cycloalkyl group of 5 to 12 carbons. ##STR00001##

A method for synthesizing 2-(1-cyclohexenyl)ethylamine. Cyclohexanone (II) is reacted with a Grignard reagent in a first organic solvent to produce 1-vinylcyclohexanol (III), which is then subjected to chlorination and rearrangement reaction with a chlorinating reagent in a second organic solvent in the presence of an organic base to synthesize (2-chloroethylmethylene)cyclolxane (IV). Then (2-chloroethylmethylene)cyclohexane (IV) and urotropine are subjected to quaternization in a third organic solvent to synthesize N-cyclohexylidene ethyl urotropine hydrochloride (V). Finally, the N-cyclohexylidene ethyl urotropine hydrochloride (V) undergoes hydrolysis and rearrangement reaction in a solvent in the presence of an inorganic mineral acid to synthesize 2-(1-cyclohexenyl)ethylamine (I).

A method for synthesizing 2-(1-cyclohexenyl)ethylamine. Cyclohexanone (II) is reacted with a Grignard reagent in a first organic solvent to produce 1-vinylcyclohexanol (III), which is then subjected to chlorination and rearrangement reaction with a chlorinating reagent in a second organic solvent in the presence of an organic base to synthesize (2-chloroethylmethylene)cyclolxane (IV). Then (2-chloroethylmethylene)cyclohexane (IV) and urotropine are subjected to quaternization in a third organic solvent to synthesize N-cyclohexylidene ethyl urotropine hydrochloride (V). Finally, the N-cyclohexylidene ethyl urotropine hydrochloride (V) undergoes hydrolysis and rearrangement reaction in a solvent in the presence of an inorganic mineral acid to synthesize 2-(1-cyclohexenyl)ethylamine (I).

A method for synthesizing 2-(1-cyclohexenyl)ethylamine. Cyclohexanone (II) is reacted with a Grignard reagent in a first organic solvent to produce 1-vinylcyclohexanol (III), which is then subjected to chlorination and rearrangement reaction with a chlorinating reagent in a second organic solvent in the presence of an organic base to synthesize (2-chloroethylmethylene)cyclolxane (IV). Then (2-chloroethylmethylene)cyclohexane (IV) and urotropine are subjected to quaternization in a third organic solvent to synthesize N-cyclohexylidene ethyl urotropine hydrochloride (V). Finally, the N-cyclohexylidene ethyl urotropine hydrochloride (V) undergoes hydrolysis and rearrangement reaction in a solvent in the presence of an inorganic mineral acid to synthesize 2-(1-cyclohexenyl)ethylamine (I).

A method for synthesizing 2-(1-cyclohexenyl)ethylamine. Cyclohexanone (II) is reacted with a Grignard reagent in a first organic solvent to produce 1-vinylcyclohexanol (III), which is then subjected to chlorination and rearrangement reaction with a chlorinating reagent in a second organic solvent in the presence of an organic base to synthesize (2-chloroethylmethylene)cyclolxane (IV). Then (2-chloroethylmethylene)cyclohexane (IV) and urotropine are subjected to quaternization in a third organic solvent to synthesize N-cyclohexylidene ethyl urotropine hydrochloride (V). Finally, the N-cyclohexylidene ethyl urotropine hydrochloride (V) undergoes hydrolysis and rearrangement reaction in a solvent in the presence of an inorganic mineral acid to synthesize 2-(1-cyclohexenyl)ethylamine (I).