A continuous process for converting carbohydrates to ethylene and propylene glycol. The carbohydrates are mixed with water and passed through a reactor at a temperature that hydrolyzes the carbohydrate mixture at least partially to monosaccharides. The reactor has a first zone comprising a retro-aldol catalyst and a second zone comprising a reducing catalyst. The aldose is converted in the first zone into glycolaldehyde by the retro-aldol catalyst and the glycolaldehyde, in the presence of hydrogen, is converted to ethylene glycol in the second zone of the reactor. The reaction products are removed from the reactor and the ethylene glycol is recovered. The selectivity to propylene glycol can be enhanced via feeding ketose as the carbohydrate.

A continuous process for converting carbohydrates to ethylene and propylene glycol. The carbohydrates are mixed with water and passed through a reactor at a temperature that hydrolyzes the carbohydrate mixture at least partially to monosaccharides. The reactor has a first zone comprising a retro-aldol catalyst and a second zone comprising a reducing catalyst. The aldose is converted in the first zone into glycolaldehyde by the retro-aldol catalyst and the glycolaldehyde, in the presence of hydrogen, is converted to ethylene glycol in the second zone of the reactor. The reaction products are removed from the reactor and the ethylene glycol is recovered. The selectivity to propylene glycol can be enhanced via feeding ketose as the carbohydrate.

The invention relates to a method for converting a precatalyst complex to an active catalyst complex, wherein the precatalyst complex and the active catalyst complex comprise a ruthenium atom and an optically active ligand that is insoluble in water, and the active catalyst complex furthermore comprises a monohydride and a water molecule. The method comprises the steps of providing water as an activation solvent system with a pH value equal or below 2, and solving said precatalyst complex, an acid, and hydrogen therein. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a catalyst composition, a method for hydrogenating a substrate molecule and a reaction mixture.

The invention relates to a method for converting a precatalyst complex to an active catalyst complex, wherein the precatalyst complex and the active catalyst complex comprise a ruthenium atom and an optically active ligand that is insoluble in water, and the active catalyst complex furthermore comprises a monohydride and a water molecule. The method comprises the steps of providing water as an activation solvent system with a pH value equal or below 2, and solving said precatalyst complex, an acid, and hydrogen therein. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a catalyst composition, a method for hydrogenating a substrate molecule and a reaction mixture.

The invention relates to a method for converting a precatalyst complex to an active catalyst complex, wherein the precatalyst complex and the active catalyst complex comprise a ruthenium atom and an optically active ligand that is insoluble in water, and the active catalyst complex furthermore comprises a monohydride and a water molecule. The method comprises the steps of providing water as an activation solvent system with a pH value equal or below 2, and solving said precatalyst complex, an acid, and hydrogen therein. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a catalyst composition, a method for hydrogenating a substrate molecule and a reaction mixture.

Described is a process for producing 1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethanol by reacting 1-(4-isobutyl-phenyl)ethanone with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising cop-per and one or more metals other than copper, and a use of a respective composition and/or of a pre-composition, the pre-composition comprising a mixture of oxides of copper and oxides of one or more metals other than copper, in a catalytic hydrogenation process for producing 1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethanol from 1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethanone.

Described is a process for producing 1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethanol by reacting 1-(4-isobutyl-phenyl)ethanone with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising cop-per and one or more metals other than copper, and a use of a respective composition and/or of a pre-composition, the pre-composition comprising a mixture of oxides of copper and oxides of one or more metals other than copper, in a catalytic hydrogenation process for producing 1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethanol from 1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethanone.

Described is a process for producing 1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethanol by reacting 1-(4-isobutyl-phenyl)ethanone with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising cop-per and one or more metals other than copper, and a use of a respective composition and/or of a pre-composition, the pre-composition comprising a mixture of oxides of copper and oxides of one or more metals other than copper, in a catalytic hydrogenation process for producing 1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethanol from 1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethanone.

A method of producing higher alkanones, preferably 6-undecanone, from ethanol and/or acetate, may include: (a) contacting the ethanol and/or acetate with at least one microorganism capable of carrying out carbon chain elongation to produce hexanoic acid and/or an ester thereof from the ethanol and/or acetate; (b) extracting the hexanoic acid and/or ester thereof from the contacting (a) using at least one extractant in an aqueous medium, the extractant including at least one alkyl-phosphine oxide and at least one C12+ alkane; or at least one trialkylamine and at least one C12+ alkane; and (c) contacting the extracted hexanoic acid and/or ester thereof from (b) with at least one ketonization catalyst and eventually a further C1 to C22 alkanoic acid under suitable reaction conditions for chemical ketonization of hexanoic acid and eventually the further alkanoic acid to a higher alkanone, preferably 6-undecanone.

A method of producing higher alkanones, preferably 6-undecanone, from ethanol and/or acetate, may include: (a) contacting the ethanol and/or acetate with at least one microorganism capable of carrying out carbon chain elongation to produce hexanoic acid and/or an ester thereof from the ethanol and/or acetate; (b) extracting the hexanoic acid and/or ester thereof from the contacting (a) using at least one extractant in an aqueous medium, the extractant including at least one alkyl-phosphine oxide and at least one C12+ alkane; or at least one trialkylamine and at least one C12+ alkane; and (c) contacting the extracted hexanoic acid and/or ester thereof from (b) with at least one ketonization catalyst and eventually a further C1 to C22 alkanoic acid under suitable reaction conditions for chemical ketonization of hexanoic acid and eventually the further alkanoic acid to a higher alkanone, preferably 6-undecanone.