Process for preparing D,L-menthol from D-menthol

摘要

A process is described for preparing D,L-menthol by catalytic rearrangement of optically active D-menthol in the presence of hydrogen at temperatures of from 200 to 350 DEG C. and under pressures of from 50 to 350 bar over fixed-bed catalysts comprising support-free reduced shaped bodies of pressed powders of nickel, manganese, alkaline earth metal (hydr)oxides and optionally (hydr)oxides of elements of transition groups V and/or VI of the Periodic Table./!