Abstract:
Method for preparing a β-hydroxyketone having 4 to 8 carbon atoms by reacting formaldehyde with a branched or unbranched dialkyl ketone having 3 to 7 carbon atoms in the liquid phase in a reactor in the presence of a basic component at a temperature of 50 to 150° C. and a pressure of 0.2 to 10 MPa abs, in which (a) a trialkylamine having 1 to 4 carbon atoms per alkyl group is used as basic component and the reaction (b) is carried out in the presence of 1 to 25% by weight water, based on the liquid phase, and (c) at a molar ratio of trialkylamine to formaldehyde in the liquid phase of from 1 to 5.
Abstract:
Method for preparing 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-pentanone (I) by reacting formaldehyde with diethyl ketone in a reactor in the presence of water and a basic component at a temperature of 50 to 150° C. and a pressure of 0.2 to 10 MPa abs, in which the basic component used is a trialkylamine from the group comprising trimethylamine, N,N-dimethylethylamine, N,N-diethylmethylamine, triethylamine, N,N-dimethyl-n-propylamine, N-ethyl-N-methyl-n-propylamine, N,N-dimethylisopropylamine, N-ethyl-N-methylisopropylamine, N,N-dimethyl-n-butylamine, N,N-dimethylisobutylamine and N,N-dimethyl-sec-butylamine, and from the reaction mixture obtained, trialkylamine as low boiler and a bottom product comprising 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-pentanone (I) as high boiler are separated in a distillation apparatus, wherein the distillation apparatus is operated at a top pressure of 0.2 to 1 MPa abs.
Abstract:
Many optically active amines are valuable pharmaceuticals and intermediates for the preparation of active compounds. It is frequently the case that only one of the two enantiomers is active or not harmful, so that isolation of this enantiomer from the racemic mixture is necessary. Processes for racemate resolution make it possible to separate racemic mixtures into their enantiomers. Here, it is useful to once again racemize the enantiomer which is not required and recirculate it to racemate resolution and thus improve the yield of the desired enantiomer. The present invention relates to processes for the racemization of optically active amines, in particular arylalkylamines, in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation catalyst comprising nickel, cobalt and copper as active components at elevated temperature.