MANUFACTURE OF ARALIPHATIC ALDEHYDE AND/OR AMINE

1. A process for the preparation of araliphatic aldehydes and/or araliphatic amines of the formula (I) see diagramm : EP0058326,P6,F1 where X is -CHO or -CH2 NR**5 R**6 , R**1 , R**2 and R**3 are identical or different and each can be hydrogen, an aliphatic radical of up to 8 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic radical of 4 to 7 carbon atoms, alkoxy of up to 5 carbon atoms, hydroxyl, tertiary amino, halogen or aryl which is unsubstituted or substituted by up to 5 carbon atoms, or any two radicals together can be a further ring system fused with the benzene ring, R**4 is hydrogen or an aliphatic radical of up to 10 carbon atoms, and R**5 and R**6 are each alkyl of up to 10 carbon atoms or, together with the nitrogen atom, are a five-membered, six-membered or seven-membered heterocyclic ring which may contain a further hetero-atom, eg. oxygen, as a chain member, and in turn is unsubstituted or monosubstituted or polysubstituted by alkyl of up to 4 carbon atoms, by aldol condensation of an unsubstituted or substituted benzaldehyde of the formula (II) with an alkanal of the formula (III) see diagramm : EP0058326,P6,F2 see diagramm : EP0058326,P6,F3 in the presence of a base, with or without partial or complete neutralization, and reaction with hydrogen (hydrogenation), in the presence or absence of a secondary amine of the formula NHR**5 R**6 , wherein the reaction products of the aldol condensation, with or without partial or complete neutralization, are immediately hydrogenated, optionally under aminating conditions, in the presence of a palladium catalyst.