Stereoselective hydrogenation of a menthone-isomenthone mixture on heterogeneous nickel, nickel-cobalt, and cobalt catalysts

Abstract

A study was carried out on the effect of the nature of the catalysts, additives, and solvents on the stereoselectivity of the liquid-phase hydrogenation of an equilibrium menthone-isomenthone mixture to give menthols. Neoisomenthol, which is the least stable of all the menthol isomers, was predominantly formed on a cobalt catalyst modified by (+)-tartaric acid in ethyl acetate at 130°C and 10 MPa.