Method for producing menthones from isopulegol in the gas phase

A process for making menthone comprising contacting a carrier gas that includes isopulegol in the gas phase with an activated oxidic copper catalyst, the copper catalyst activated with hydrogen, or with hydrogen and an alcohol, and optionally comprising at least one metal selected from aluminum, manganese, barium, chromium, calcium, or iron, each metal as an oxide, elemental form, or a mixture thereof, to provide a menthone-containing reaction product that includes menthone and isomenthone, each with at least 80% stereoselectivity of (R) configuration at the methyl carbon.

A method of producing a consumer product comprising menthone additive, wherein the menthone additive is produced by a process comprising contacting a carrier gas that includes isopulegol in the gas phase with an activated oxidic copper catalyst, the catalyst optionally comprising at least one element selected from aluminum, manganese, barium, chromium, calcium, or iron, isolating a menthone-containing reaction product (methone additive), and adding the menthone additive to the consumer product selected from the group consisting of foods, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, tobacco formulations, household products, and laundry care products.