Cyclopentanone → 2-(2-Methylpentyl)cyclopentan-1-one

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 126 g (1.5 moles) of cyclopentanone, 50 g (0.5 mole) of 2-methylpentanal and 10 g of a pulverulent catalyst containing 1% by weight of palladium, 94% by weight of alumina and 5% by weight of praseodymium oxide was initially taken in a 300 ml autoclave. The autoclave was flushed with nitrogen and hydrogen at 20° C., after which H2 was forced in to a pressure of 10 bar and the reaction mixture was then heated at 150° C. under a hydrogen pressure of 30 bar until the pressure remained constant. The catalyst was removed, after which the mixture discharged from the autoclave was fractionated. 74.9 g of pure 2-(2-methylpentyl)-cyclopentanone (bp. 125° C./20 mbar) were obtained, corresponding to a selectivity of 89.2%, based on 2-methylpentanal.

Provenance & Evidence