Described is a process of making pseudoionone and hydroxy pseudoionone comprising the steps of (i) preparing a first aqueous mixture comprising first concentrations of acetone, citral and hydroxide, (ii) producing a second aqueous mixture by allowing to react for a reaction time the components of the first aqueous mixture and (iii) producing a third aqueous mixture by adding to the second aqueous mixture a second amount of hydroxide so that an additional amount of pseudoionone is formed in the third aqueous mixture. The invention further suggests an apparatus for making pseudoionone and hydroxy pseudoionone as well as to a respective process and use of said apparatus in making pseudoionone and hydroxy pseudoionone.

A (Z)-solanone has the steric formula of:

##STR00001##

with the name of (S,Z)-5-isopropyl-8-methyl-6,8-diene-2-one or (R,Z)-5-isopropyl-8-methyl-6,8-diene-2-one. A process for the preparation of the (Z)-type solanone and the use thereof in flavoring of cigarette shred are further disclosed. The process includes the following steps: (1) reacting isopentanal and methyl vinyl ketone, under the action of a catalyst and a co-catalyst, to give (S)-2-isopropyl-5-carbonylhexanal or (R)-2-isopropyl-5-carbonylhexanal; (2) reacting the (S)-2-isopropyl-5-carbonylhexanal or the (R)-2-isopropyl-5-carbonylhexanal obtained in step (1) with (iodomethyl)triphenylphosphonium iodide, to give (S,Z)-7-iodo-5-isopropyl-6-ene-2-one or (R,Z)-7-iodo-5-isopropyl-6-ene-2-one; and (3) reacting the (S,Z)-7-iodo-5-isopropyl-6-ene-2-one or the (R,Z)-7-iodo-5-isopropyl-6-ene-2-one obtained in step (2) with pinacol isopropenylborate in the presence of a catalyst to give the (Z)-solanone.

A (Z)-solanone has the steric formula of:

##STR00001##

with the name of (S,Z)-5-isopropyl-8-methyl-6,8-diene-2-one or (R,Z)-5-isopropyl-8-methyl-6,8-diene-2-one. A process for the preparation of the (Z)-type solanone and the use thereof in flavoring of cigarette shred are further disclosed. The process includes the following steps: (1) reacting isopentanal and methyl vinyl ketone, under the action of a catalyst and a co-catalyst, to give (S)-2-isopropyl-5-carbonylhexanal or (R)-2-isopropyl-5-carbonylhexanal; (2) reacting the (S)-2-isopropyl-5-carbonylhexanal or the (R)-2-isopropyl-5-carbonylhexanal obtained in step (1) with (iodomethyl)triphenylphosphonium iodide, to give (S,Z)-7-iodo-5-isopropyl-6-ene-2-one or (R,Z)-7-iodo-5-isopropyl-6-ene-2-one; and (3) reacting the (S,Z)-7-iodo-5-isopropyl-6-ene-2-one or the (R,Z)-7-iodo-5-isopropyl-6-ene-2-one obtained in step (2) with pinacol isopropenylborate in the presence of a catalyst to give the (Z)-solanone.

A process for producing branched aldehyde intermediates from alpha olefins, and further reacting said branched aldehyde intermediates via hydrogenation reactions, surfactant forming reactions and other chemical derivative forming reactions to produce branched alcohols, branched surfactants and other branched derivatives.

A process for producing isomerized olefins, branched aldehydes, branched alcohols, branched surfactants and other branched derivatives through isomerization, hydroformylation, hydrogenation, surfactant forming reactions and other derivative forming reactions.

A process for producing branched aldehyde intermediates from alpha olefins, and further reacting said branched aldehyde intermediates via hydrogenation reactions, surfactant forming reactions and other chemical derivative forming reactions to produce branched alcohols, branched surfactants and other branched derivatives.

A process for producing isomerized olefins, branched aldehydes, branched alcohols, branched surfactants and other branched derivatives through isomerization, hydroformylation, hydrogenation, surfactant forming reactions and other derivative forming reactions.

The invention relates to a process for preparing an α-methylene ketone comprising the step of reacting a ketone with formaldehyde in the presence of a catalyst which is an organic compound comprising at least one acid function or the corresponding salt, ester or amide thereof and at least one amine function or the corresponding ammonium salt, or a zwitterion thereof.

The invention relates to a process for preparing an α-methylene ketone comprising the step of reacting a ketone with formaldehyde in the presence of a catalyst which is an organic compound comprising at least one acid function or the corresponding salt, ester or amide thereof and at least one amine function or the corresponding ammonium salt, or a zwitterion thereof.

Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed in which the hydrocarbon reactant and either a supported chromium (VI) catalyst or a supported chromium (II) catalyst are contacted, optionally with UV-visible light irradiation, followed by exposure to an oxidizing atmosphere and then hydrolysis to form a reaction product containing the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The presence of oxygen significant increases the amount of alcohol/carbonyl product formed, as well as the formation of oxygenated dimers and trimers of certain hydrocarbon reactants.

Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed in which the hydrocarbon reactant and either a supported chromium (VI) catalyst or a supported chromium (II) catalyst are contacted, optionally with UV-visible light irradiation, followed by exposure to an oxidizing atmosphere and then hydrolysis to form a reaction product containing the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The presence of oxygen significant increases the amount of alcohol/carbonyl product formed, as well as the formation of oxygenated dimers and trimers of certain hydrocarbon reactants.

Described is a process of making pseudoionone and hydroxy pseudoionone comprising the steps of (i) preparing a first aqueous mixture comprising first concentrations of acetone, citral and hydroxide, (ii) producing a second aqueous mixture by allowing to react for a reaction time the components of the first aqueous mixture and (iii) producing a third aqueous mixture by adding to the second aqueous mixture a second amount of hydroxide so that an additional amount of pseudoionone is formed in the third aqueous mixture. The invention further suggests an apparatus for making pseudoionone and hydroxy pseudoionone as well as to a respective process and use of said apparatus in making pseudoionone and hydroxy pseudoionone.