Ruthenium-on-charcoal and ruthenium-on-carbon black hydrogenation catalysts, their preparation and their use for selective hydrogenation of unsaturated carbonyl compounds

Abstract

Ruthenium-on-charcoal and ruthenium-on-carbon black catalysts, containing from 0.1 to 5% by weight of iron, for the preparation of olefinically unsaturated alcohols by selective hydrogenation of the corresponding .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in the liquid phase are prepared by modifying the catalyst with iron only after it has been impregnated with the ruthenium compound, and reducing the catalyst with hydrogen at from 400.degree. to 600.degree. C., with thorough mixing. The catalysts according to the invention are particularly useful for improving the industrially difficult hydrogenation of citral to give the sought-after fragrances geraniol and nerol.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.