The hydrogenation of methyl phthalate or methyl A'-cyclohexenedicarboxylate, in the presence of platinum oxide in acetic acid at room temperature yields only cis-methyl hexahydrophthalate. The result is independent of the pressure of hydrogen (1 to 200 atm.) and the concentration of the substrate (0.05 to 1.0 mole per liter). Methyl A*- cyclohexenedicarboxylate yields the same result at about 1 atm. of hydrogen, but some of ...
