Citronellol → Menthone

Participants

Reaction Steps

In another embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a process for producing menthol in good yields which comprises dehydrogenating citronellol in a reaction system containing a catalyst at a temperature of about 150° to about 260° C in an atmosphere of hydrogen under a pressure of 0 to about 5 kg/cm2.G to produce menthone, and then, in the same reaction system without separating the catalyst or adding additional catalyst, hydrogenating the menthone produced by decreasing the temperature to about 110° to about 130° C and increasing the hydrogen pressure to about 10 to about 50 kg/cm2.G to produce menthol.

Provenance & Evidence