Patent ID: 8703994

Claim:
A process for preparing carboxylic acid derivatives of the general formula (Ia) H—(C═O)—R (Ia), where R is selected from the group consisting of OR 1 and NR 2 R 3 , where R 1 is unsubstituted or at least monosubstituted C 1 -C 15 -alkyl, C 5 -C 10 -cycloalkyl, C 5 -C 10 -heterocyclyl, C 5 -C 10 -aryl or C 5 -C 10 -heteroaryl, where the substituents are selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 15 -alkyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, C 5 -C 10 -cycloalkyl and C 5 -C 10 -aryl; R 2 and R 3 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, unsubstituted or at least monosubstituted C 1 -C 15 -alkyl, C 5 -C 10 -cycloalkyl, C 5 -C 10 -heterocyclyl, C 5 -C 10 -aryl or C 5 -C 10 -heteroaryl, where the substituents are selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 15 -alkyl, C 5 -C 10 -cycloalkyl and C 5 -C 10 -aryl or R 2 and R 3 together with the nitrogen atom form a five- or six-membered ring which optionally additionally comprises one or more heteroatoms selected from among O, S and N and bearing the substituent R 4 , where R 4 is hydrogen or C 1 -C 6 -alkyl; the process comprising: reacting a reaction mixture (Rm) comprising carbon dioxide, hydrogen and an alcohol of the general formula (Ib) R 1 —OH (Ib) where R 1 has the above meanings, or an amine of the general formula (Ic) NHR 2 R 3 (Ic) where R 2 and R 3 each independently have the above meanings, in the presence of a catalyst comprising gold at a pressure in the range from 0.2 to 30 MPa and a temperature in the range from 20 to 200° C. in a hydrogenation reactor; wherein the catalyst is a heterogeneous catalyst.