Selective hydrogenation of amp;agr;-pinene to cis-pinane

摘要

Disclosed is a process for the stereoselective hydrogenation of &agr; -pinene to cis-pinane in which the formation of trans-pinane is suppressed. The hydrogenation is carried out in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, under hydrogenation conditions, wherein to obtain increased stereoselectivity, an effective amount of the reactive surfaces of the hydrogenation catalyst is inactivated with a catalyst modifier.