A method for the reduction organic molecules comprising a Ruthenium-Triphosphine complex with aromatic ligands at the phosphors which are ortho or meta substituted.

A method for the reduction organic molecules comprising a Ruthenium-Triphosphine complex with aromatic ligands at the phosphors which are ortho or meta substituted.

Process for the continuous production of an optically active carbonyl compound by asymmetric hydrogenation of a prochiral α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound with hydrogen in the presence of a homogeneous rhodium catalyst that has at least one chiral ligand, wherein a liquid reaction mixture comprising the prochiral α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound is subjected in a first, backmixed reactor to a gas/liquid two-phase hydrogenation, and the liquid reaction mixture is then further hydrogenated in a second reactor, wherein the prochiral α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound is employed in the first reactor in a concentration from 3% to 20% by weight. The process allows a high total conversion to the prochiral α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound.

A hydrogenation catalyst includes copper oxide, an alkali metal, and an acid-stabilized silica, wherein hydrogenation catalyst has a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (“BET”) surface area of greater than or equal to about 15 m2/g. The hydrogenation catalysts are effective for converting aldehydes, ketones, and esters to alcohols and/or diesters to diols.

A hydrogenation catalyst includes copper oxide, an alkali metal, and an acid-stabilized silica, wherein hydrogenation catalyst has a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (“BET”) surface area of greater than or equal to about 15 m2/g. The hydrogenation catalysts are effective for converting aldehydes, ketones, and esters to alcohols and/or diesters to diols.

The present invention relates to the use of a transition metal catalyst TMC1, which comprises a transition metal M selected from metals of groups 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the periodic table of elements according to IUPAC and a tetradentate ligand of formula I wherein R.sup.1 are identical or different and are each an organic radical having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms, and R.sup.2 are identical or different and are each an organic radical having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms, as catalyst in processes for formation of compounds comprising at least one carboxylic acid ester functional group —O—C(═O)— starting from at least one primary alcohol and/or hydrogenation of compounds comprising at least one carboxylic acid ester functional group —O—C(═O)—. The present invention further relates to a process for hydrogenation of a compound comprising at least one carboxylic acid ester functional group —O—C(═O)—, to a process for the formation of a compound comprising at least one carboxylic acid ester functional group —O—C(═O)— by dehydrogenase coupling of at least one primary alcohol with a second alcoholic OH-group, to a transition metal complex comprising the tetradentate ligand of formula I and to a process for preparing said transition metal complex. ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to the use of a transition metal catalyst TMC1, which comprises a transition metal M selected from metals of groups 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the periodic table of elements according to IUPAC and a tetradentate ligand of formula I wherein R.sup.1 are identical or different and are each an organic radical having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms, and R.sup.2 are identical or different and are each an organic radical having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms, as catalyst in processes for formation of compounds comprising at least one carboxylic acid ester functional group —O—C(═O)— starting from at least one primary alcohol and/or hydrogenation of compounds comprising at least one carboxylic acid ester functional group —O—C(═O)—. The present invention further relates to a process for hydrogenation of a compound comprising at least one carboxylic acid ester functional group —O—C(═O)—, to a process for the formation of a compound comprising at least one carboxylic acid ester functional group —O—C(═O)— by dehydrogenase coupling of at least one primary alcohol with a second alcoholic OH-group, to a transition metal complex comprising the tetradentate ligand of formula I and to a process for preparing said transition metal complex. ##STR00001##

Provided is a method for preparing a lower unsaturated fatty acid ester, which comprises carrying out an aldol condensation reaction between dimethoxymethane (DMM) and a lower acid or ester with a molecular formula of R.sub.1CH.sub.2COOR.sub.2 on an acidic molecular sieve catalyst in an inert atmosphere to obtain a lower unsaturated fatty acid or ester(CH.sub.2C(R.sub.1)COOR.sub.2), wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are groups each independently selected from the group consisting of H and C.sub.1-C.sub.4 saturated alkyl group.

Provided is a method for preparing a lower unsaturated fatty acid ester, which comprises carrying out an aldol condensation reaction between dimethoxymethane (DMM) and a lower acid or ester with a molecular formula of R.sub.1CH.sub.2COOR.sub.2 on an acidic molecular sieve catalyst in an inert atmosphere to obtain a lower unsaturated fatty acid or ester(CH.sub.2C(R.sub.1)COOR.sub.2), wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are groups each independently selected from the group consisting of H and C.sub.1-C.sub.4 saturated alkyl group.

Process for the continuous production of an optically active carbonyl compound by asymmetric hydrogenation of a prochiral ,-unsaturated carbonyl compound with hydrogen in the presence of a homogeneous rhodium catalyst that has at least one chiral ligand, wherein a liquid reaction mixture comprising the prochiral ,-unsaturated carbonyl compound is subjected in a first, backmixed reactor to a gas/liquid two-phase hydrogenation, and the liquid reaction mixture is then further hydrogenated in a second reactor, wherein the prochiral ,-unsaturated carbonyl compound is employed in the first reactor in a concentration from 3% to 20% by weight. The process allows a high total conversion to the prochiral ,-unsaturated carbonyl compound.