Patent ID: 8765975

Claim:
A process for preparing dihydronepetalactone comprising: (a) contacting in a reaction mixture a starting amount of trans-cis nepetalactone (Formula I) and a starting amount of cis-trans nepetalactone (Formula II) with hydrogen and a palladium on carbon catalyst at a first temperature or temperatures until the amount by weight of trans-cis nepetalactone in the reaction mixture is no more than about 50% of the starting amount thereof, to form a first product mixture; and (b) contacting the first product mixture with hydrogen and a palladium on carbon catalyst, at a second temperature or temperatures to form a dihydronepetalactone reaction product; wherein step (a) is performed at a temperature or temperatures in the range of from about 0° C. to 100° C., and step (b) is performed at a temperature or temperatures in the range of from 50° C. to 150° C.; and wherein the temperature or temperatures in step (b) are higher than the temperature or temperatures in step (a).