| abstract |
PCT No. PCT/EP97/03303 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 7, 1999 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 7, 1999 PCT Filed Jun. 24, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98/01438 PCT Pub. Date Jan. 15, 1998The disclosure is a process for preparing a phthalide of the general formula I where R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each independently of the others hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl or C1-C4-alkoxy, by hydrogenation of a phthalic anhydride of the general formula II where R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each as defined above, with the aid of a hydrogenation catalyst, which comprises performing the hydrogenation with the aid of a nickel catalyst doped with metals of subgroup 1, subgroup 6 and/or subgroup 7 of the Periodic Table. |