PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF 3,7-DIMETHYL-1-OCTEN-3-OL

摘要

The present invention is directed to a process for the manufacture of 3,7-dimethyl-l-octen-3-ol comprising the following steps: a) hydrogenation of 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-on to 6-methyl-2-heptanon in the presence of hydrogen and a palladium containing catalyst on a carrier selected from the group consisting of carbon, calcium carbonate and aluminum oxide. b) reaction of 6-methyl-2-heptanon with acetylene to 3,7-dimethyl-l-octin-3-ol in the presence of ammonia and potassium hydroxide and in the absence of any additional organic solvent; c) hydrogenation of 3,7-dimethyl-l -octin-3-ol to 3,7-dimethyl-l-octen-3-ol in the presence of hydrogen and a palladium containing catalyst on a carrier selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, aluminum oxide, silica, porous glass, carbon or graphite, and barium sulphate, with the proviso that the catalyst additionally contains lead when the carrier is calcium carbonate. The present invention is further directed to a process for the manufacture of isophytol and vitamin E, where a thus produced 3,7-dimethyl-l-octen-3-ol is used as starting material.