Abstract: Solid catalysts suited for the fluidized/moving bed catalytic ammoxidation of alkanes comprise an active catalytic phase having the empirical formula (I): VSbaSnbTicFedEeOx  (I) in which E is an element which provides an oxide of rutile structure or an element which, in combination with V, Sb, Sn, Ti, Fe and/or with another element E, provides a phase of rutile or trirutile structure, or a solid solution of rutile structure, a is a whole or fractional number equal to or greater than 0.

Abstract: Mixed oxide vanadium/antimony/titanium ammoxidation catalysts, particularly suited for the ammoxidation of alkanes and exhibiting X-ray diffraction spectra which are characteristic of a crystallographic phase of rutile TiO.sub.2, are prepared by (a) dissolving respective soluble compounds of vanadium, of antimony and of titanium in at least one saturated alcohol, (b) contacting the alcoholic solution thus obtained with water and precipitating the mixed oxide therefrom, and (c) separating and calcining the mixed oxide thus precipitated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of diacids or mixtures of diacids from aqueous solutions derived from the washing of cyclohexane oxidation products. More specifically, the present invention provides a process for the preparation of aliphatic diacids from washing waters derived from a process for the oxidation of cyclohexane and containing peroxides, the process of the invention comprising successively:(a) at least partially deperoxidizing said washing waters by subjecting them to catalytic hydrogenation at a temperature of between about 0.degree. C. and about 100.degree. C., in the presence of at least one platinum group metal;(b) oxidizing with nitric acid the products contained in the washing waters after deperoxidation.

Abstract: Transition metal (0) or (1)/phosphine catalysts suited, e.g., for the hydrocyanation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds, are produced by reducing, via hydrogenation, aqueous solutions containing at least one transition metal compound and at least one monodentate or bidentate water-soluble phosphine, advantageously at least one phosphine having one of the following formulae (I) and/or (II):P(Ar1).sub.a (Ar2).sub.b (Ar3).sub.c (Q1).sub.d (Q2).sub.e (Q3).sub.f(I)(Ar1).sub.a (Ar2).sub.b (Ar3).sub.c (Q1).sub.d (Q2).sub.e P-L-P(Ar1).sub.g (Ar2).sub.h (Q1).sub.i (Q2).sub.j (II)In formulas (I) and (II), Ar1, Ar2 and Ar3 may be identical or different and are each an aryl radical or a substituted aryl radical. Q1, Q2 and Q3 may be identical or different and are each an alkyl radical, a cycloalkyl radical, a substituted alkyl radical, or a substituted cycloalkyl radical.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of processing reaction mixtures obtained from the oxidation reaction of cyclohexane to adipic acid. The processing of the reaction mixture obtained from the direct oxidation of cyclohexane to adipic acid with oxygen, in an organic solvent and in the presence of a catalyst, comprises:(a) a distillation which makes it possible to separate out, on the one hand, a distillate comprising at least some of the most volatile compounds such as the unconverted cyclohexane, the organic solvent, cyclohexanone, cyclohexanol, cyclohexyl esters, lactones and water, and, on the other hand, the distillation residue comprising the diacids formed and the catalyst;(b) the addition of water to the distillation residue in order to form an aqueous solution;(c) crystallization of the adipic acid from the aqueous solution of the distillation residue.

Abstract: Pentenoic acids are selectively prepared via hydroxycarbonylation of butadiene with carbon monoxide and water, at a temperature above 30.degree. C., under a partial pressure of carbon monoxide, measured at 25.degree. C., equal to or greater than 0.5 bar, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of an iridium-based catalyst and an iodine-containing or bromine-containing promoter therefor, in a solvent medium, wherein the iodine or bromine/iridium molar ratio is less than or equal to 20/1 and the concentration by weight of water in the reaction mixture is less than or equal to 8%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of lactams from dinitriles.It consists more precisely of a process for the preparation of lactam, linking two stages in series, one of hemihydrogenation of dinitrile to aminonitrile, the other of cyclizing hydrolysis of the aminonitrile after only one simple purification operation.Aliphatic lactams, such as especially epsilon-caprolactam, are base compounds for the preparation of polyamides (polyamide 6 from caprolactam).

Abstract: Catalyst compounds comprising at least one transition metal having an oxidation number of 0 or 1 and at least one sulfonated phosphine are electrochemically synthesized, by electrolyzing an aqueous solution catholyte (contained in the cathode compartment of any suitable electrolytic cell) comprising at least one transition metal compound and at least one sulfonated phosphine.

Abstract: Mixed oxide vanadium/antimony/titanium ammoxidation catalysts, particularly suited for the ammoxidation of alkanes and exhibiting X-ray diffraction spectra which are characteristic of a crystallographic phase of rutile TiO.sub.2, are prepared by (a) dissolving respective soluble compounds of vanadium, of antimony and of titanium in at least one saturated alcohol, (b) contacting the alcoholic solution thus obtained with water and precipitating the mixed oxide therefrom, and (c) separating and calcining the mixed oxide thus precipitated.