Abstract: Coated articles having improved chemical resistance comprising an article formed from a moldable polymer coated on at least one surface with a coating composition comprising at least one vinyl ether oligomer compound, and at least one photoinitiator are disclosed. Coatings which also contain at least one acrylate compound and/or at least one epoxy compound are also disclosed. The articles are preferably made from polyesters. Methods for coating such articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the purification of a polyester precursor wherein a polyester oligomer derived from terephthalic acid and one or more glycols or diols is purified or decolorized by hydrogenating the oligomer to convert colored impurities to colorless compounds and thereby improve the color of the oligomer. The colored impurities are present in the terephthalic acid used to prepare the oligomers and are formed during the manufacture of terephthalic acid. The purified/decolorized oligomer obtained from the disclosed process may be used to prepare high molecular weight polyesters.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for the isoberization of epoxyalkenes to dihydrofurans by contacting an epovyalkene with a catalyst comprising a quaternary organic onium iodide compounds, optionally deposited on a non-acidic support and/or in combination with a Lewis acid co-catalyst. The catalyst may comprise a supported catalyst, an unsupported catalyst or a solution of the catalytically-active components in an inert, organic solvent.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for the isomerization of epoxyalkenes to dihydrofurans by contacting an epoxyalkene with a catalyst comprising a quaternary organic onium iodide compounds, optionally deposited on a non-acidic support and/or in combination with a Lewis acid co-catalyst. The catalyst may comprise a supported catalyst, an unsupported catalyst or a solution of the catalytically-active components in an inert, organic solvent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of aliphatic carbonyl compounds selected from aliphatic carboxylic acids, alkyl esters of aliphatic carboxylic acids and anhydrides of aliphatic carboxylic acids by the carbonylation of olefins in the presence of a catalyst system comprising (1) a primary component selected from at least one Group 6 metal, i.e., chromium, molybdenum, and/or tungsten and (2) a secondary component selected from at least one of certain halides and tertiary and quaternary compounds of a Group 15 element, i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus and/or arsenic. The process constitutes and improvement over known processes since it can be carried out at moderate carbonylation conditions without the necessity of using an expensive noble metal catalyst, volatile, toxic materials such as nickel tetracarbonyl, formic acid or a formate ester.

Abstract: A catalyst and process for preparation of dihydroxy esters from specified hydroxy aldehydes is disclosed. In one embodiment, a catalyst liquid is provided which comprises from 10 percent to 60 percent magnesium salt of a specified alkanoic acid or acids, and from 90 percent to 40 percent of a particular alkanoic acid or acids, the molar ratio of alkanoic acid to magnesium salt being from about 1.5 to 20.3. The catalyst solution or liquid contacts or is contacted with a specified hydroxy aldehyde under suitable reaction conditions to form the desired dihydroxy ester. In another embodiment, dihydroxy esters are derived from specified hydroxy aldehydes by first forming a magnesium catalyst containing liquid by reacting magnesium or magnesium oxide, under suitable conditions, with a suitable alkanoic acid or acids, the acid or acids being provided in excess in specified molar ratios.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acids and esters thereof which comprises contacting formaldehyde or a source of formaldehyde with a carboxylic acid, ester or anhydride in the presence of a catalyst comprising an oxide of niobium.

Abstract: A process for condensing aldehydes where an aldehyde having an a hydrogen and having the formula R.sub.1 CHO, wherein R.sub.1 is selected from alkyl having one to twelve carbon atoms and aralkyl having one to fourteen carbon atoms, is combined with hydrated MgO to form a reaction product comprising an aldol of said aldehyde, the unsaturated aldehyde derived by dehydration of said aldol, or mixtures thereof. In a second embodiment, a first composition selected from aldehydes containing an a hydrogen and having the formula R.sub.1 CHO, wherein R.sub.1 is as defined above, is combined with a second composition selected from aldehydes having the formula R.sub.2 CHO, wherein R.sub.2 is selected from H, alkyl having one to twelve carbon atoms, and aralkyl having one to fourteen carbon atoms, and with hydrated MgO, to form a reaction product mixture comprising an aldol of said aldehyde, the unsaturated aldehyde derived by dehydration of said aldol, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of 3,4-dichlorotetrahydrofuran, 3,4-dibromotetrahydrofuran, 2,3-dichlorotetrahydrofuran, and 2,3-dibromotetrahydrofuran by the reaction of 2,5- or 2,3-dihydrofuran with chlorine or bromine in the presence of a quaternary onium halide compound. The reaction preferably is carried out by the addition of the dihydrofuran and chlorine or bromine to an organic, halogenation solvent containing chlorine or bromine and the quaternary onium halide compound.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acids and anhydrides thereof which comprises contacting formaldehyde or a source of formaldehyde with a carboxylic anhydride in the presence of a catalyst comprising mixed oxides of vanadium, phosphorus and, optionally, a third component selected from titanium, aluminum or, preferably silicon.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for converting an iodine-free organotin (IV) compound resulting from the decomposition of an organotin (IV) iodide during the catalytic isomerization of .gamma.,.delta.-epoxyalkenes to 2,5-dihydrofurans to the corresponding, catalytically active organotin (IV) iodide by intimately contacting a catalyst mixture comprising (i) an organotin (IV) iodide, (ii) an iodine-free organotin (IV) compound resulting from the decomposition of the organotin (IV) iodide of component (i), and (iii) a solvent selected from hydrocarbons and chlorocarbons with aqueous hydrogen iodide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the continuous production and recovery of 2,3-dihydrofuran (2,3-DHF) by the isomerization of 2,5-dihydrofuran (2,5-DHF) which contains certain impurities to 2,3-dihydrofuran in yields exceeding 95%. The process utilizes, in order, an isomerization zone containing one or more beds of a supported, palladium or platinum catalyst, a product recovery zone comprising a distillation column, a high boiler removal zone and means for feeding the 2,5-DHF component of the bottoms stream from the product recovery zone to the isomerization zone.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of acetaldehyde by the hydrogenation of ketene in the presence of a transition metal hydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of 2,3-dihydrofurans from the corresponding isomeric 2,5-dihydrofurans wherein a 2,5-dihydrofuran compound is contacted with a supported, palladium or platinum catalyst in the presence of carbon monoxide to effect the isomerization of 2,5-dihyrofurans to 2,3-dihydrofurans.

Abstract: Disclosed is are the palmitate, stearate and 4-phenylbenzoate esters of D-.gamma.-tocotrienol which are the only known derivatives of D-.gamma.-tocotrienol which are crystalline solids and, therefore, may be utilized in the isolation and purification of D-.gamma.-tocotrienol by crystallization and recrystallization procedures.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of cyclopropanecarboxylic acid by the non-catalytic, oxidation of cyclopropanecarboxaldehyde using molecular oxygen as the oxidant. Also disclosed are processes for the preparation of amides, esters and acid chlorides from cyclopropanecarboxylic acid.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel polyether compounds obtained by the reaction or polymerization of 3,4-epoxy-1-butene in the presence of an onium iodide compound such as an ammonium or phosphonium iodide, an organotin compound such as a trihydrocarbyltin iodide, and a nucleophilic initiator compound. The polyether compounds comprise n units of residue (1) and m units of residue (2), wherein the total value of n+m is 2 to 70, m/(n+m) is greater than 0.75 and up to 0.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the conversion of off-color cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (CPC-Acid) to CPC-Acid having a color value (platinum-cobalt scale) of less than about 10 by the steps of (1) heating off-color CPC-Acid produced by the oxidation of cyclopropanecarboxaldehyde with molecular oxygen with a strong acid; and (2) distilling the mixture of step (1) to obtain CPC-Acid having a color value of less than about 10 as the distillate product.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of cyclopropanecarboxaldehyde by the isomerization of 2,3-dihydrofuran wherein 2,3-dihydrofuran is contacted with a catalyst selected from alumina, silica-alumina, silica, zirconia, titania and mixtures thereof having a nitrogen BET surface area of about 10 to 350 square meters per gram at elevated temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the removal of organic chlorides from furan and hydrogenated furans by contacting a crude product stream comprising (i) furan, 2,3-DHF, 2,5-DHF, THF or a mixture thereof and (ii) one or more organic chlorides with a copper-containing scavenger material.