Patent ID: 6124509
Filing Date: 2000-09-26
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for the catalytic hydrogenation of an organic compound which contains at least one reducible functional group selected from the group consisting of R(C.dbd.O)R' and R(C.dbd.O)H, wherein R and R' are selected from hydrogen (H) or ay alkyl or aryl group, said process comprising reacting said organic compound with a catalyst in the presence of hydrogen, wherein said catalyst comprises an organometallic complex comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten and molybdenum, and wherein said organometallic complex is represented by the formula:[CpM(CO).sub.2 (PR*.sub.3)L].sup.+ A.sup.-wherein Cp=.eta..sup.5 -R.sup..tangle-solidup..sub.m C.sub.5 H.sub.5-m and R.sup..tangle-solidup. represents an alkyl group or a halogen (F, Cl, Br, I) or R.sup..tangle-solidup. =OR' (where R'=H, an alkyl group or an aryl group) or R.sup..tangle-solidup. =CO.sub.2 R' (where R'=H, an alkyl group or an aryl group) and m=0 to 5; M represents a molybdenum atom or a tungsten atom; R*.sub.3 represents three hydrocarbon groups selected from a cyclohexyl group (C.sub.6 H.sub.11), a methyl group (CH.sub.3), and a phenyl group (C.sub.6 H.sub.5) and all three R* groups can be the same or different or two of the three groups can be the same; L represents a ligand; and A.sup.- represents an anion.