Patent ID: 6992226

Claim:
A process wherein 3,4,5-trimethoxytoluene is prepared in a single stage by reacting a benzoic acid, benzoic ester or benzoic anhydride corresponding to 3,4,5-trimethoxytoluene with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising (a) at least one metal and/or compound of a metal selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, ruthenium and/or palladium, and (b) from 0 to 30% by weight, based on the sum of the components (a)–(c), of each of one or more metals or compounds of metals selected from the group consisting of platinum, rhodium, iridium, osmium, copper, iron, silver, gold, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, rhenium, zinc, cadmium, lead, aluminum, zirconium, tin, phosphorus, silicon, arsenic, antimony, bismuth and rare earth metals, and also (c) from 0 to 5% by weight, based on the sum of the components (a)–(c), of each of one or more compounds of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals, where the sum of the components a) to c) is 100% by weight.