Abstract: The novel process for preparing dialkyl dicarbonates by reacting the corresponding alkyl haloformates with alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides and/or carbonates in the presence of water-immiscible organic solvents and in the presence of a catalyst is characterized in that the catalyst used is at least one tertiary alkylamine of the formula (I) NR1R2R3,??(I) where the substituents are each as defined in the description.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized system for more efficiently and economically producing terephthalic acid. The system includes an optimized post-digestion cooling stage that provides a TPA product having enhanced purity, while minimizing costs associated with removing impurities from recycled solvent.

Abstract: Process for the hydroformylation of an optionally substituted ethylenically unsaturated compound by reaction thereof with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a specific catalyst system which includes a source of Group VIII metal cations; a diphosphine ligand having the general formula (I): X1—R—X2 ??(I) wherein X1 and X2 each independently represent an optionally substituted cyclic group with at least 5 ring atoms, of which one is a phosphorus atom, and R represents a bivalent optionally substituted bridging group which is connected to each phosphorus atom by a sp2 hybridized carbon atom; an acid having a pKa<3; and a source of halide anions.

Abstract: There is provided stereoselective route to a compound of formula I: wherein R represents H or an alkali metal, Ar1 represents 4-chlorophenyl and Ar2 represents 2,5-difluorophenyl.

Abstract: Novel diphenylethylene compounds and derivatives thereof containing thiazolidinedione or oxazolidinedione moieties are provided which are effective in lowering blood glucose level, serum insulin, triglyceride and free fatty acid levels in animal models of Type II diabetes. The compounds are disclosed as useful for a variety of treatments including the treatment of inflammation, inflammatory and immunological diseases, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, cancer and multiple sclerosis.

Abstract: A process and catalyst blend for selectively producing mercaptans and sulfides from alcohols. The alcohol is reacted with hydrogen sulfide, in the presence of a catalyst blend containing a hydrotreating catalyst and a dehydration catalyst to convert the alcohol to mercaptan or sulfide in one-pass. The alcohols can include primary and secondary alcohols. The mercaptan or sulfide having less than about 30% unreacted alcohol contained therein.

Abstract: A process for stably operating a continuous preparation process for obtaining acrolein or acrylic acid or a mixture thereof from propane, in which the feed rate of fresh propane to the process is utilized as a correcting element for stable steady-state operation.

Abstract: To provide a fluorinated compound, which can readily form a thin film having a hydrophobic/hydrophilic pattern, by employing an ultraviolet light having a relatively low energy.

Abstract: A process for preparing acrolein or acrylic acid or a mixture thereof from propane, in which propane is dehydrogenated under heterogeneous catalysis in a reaction zone A and the propylene formed is partially oxidized heterogeneously in a reaction zone, reaction zone A being operated in loop mode and reaction gas mixture input stream A fed to the reaction zone A comprising added molecular hydrogen which is added to this input stream as late as possible.

Abstract: An improved alkaline earth metal stearate composition is disclosed and is prepared by reacting a fatty acid component including stearic acid and palmitic acid with an alkali hydroxide to form an alkaline soap. An aqueous metal salt solution is then added to the soap, and pH adjusted to less than about pH 8 to form the improved alkaline earth metal stearate. The improved alkaline earth metal stearate provides a substantially pure amount of the dihydrate form of the stearate.

Abstract: A continuous process and system for producing polyether polyols that allows for continuously adding an unreacted oxide to a loop reactor while adding at least one thermally deactivating catalyst capable of thermally deactivating prior to decomposition of polyether polyol which can allow for greater concentrations of unreacted oxides and/or a rate of reaction in the loop reactor is at a rate at least two times faster than a rate of reaction in a loop reactor containing less than 14 weight percent unreacted oxide. In a preferred embodiment, the catalyst is a double metal cyanide catalyst and a plug flow reactor is formed in series with the loop reactor wherein neither reactor contains a vapor space.

Abstract: A process for the synthesis of (per)fluorinated mono-functional carbonyl compounds having the following formula (I): F-A-RF—B—C(O)X1??(I) wherein: X1=F, CF3; A, B equal to or different from each other, are independently (per)fluoroalkylene or (per)fluorooxyalkylene groups; RF is —ORf1O— wherein Rf1=perfluoroalkylene or —ORf2, wherein Rf2 is a perfluorooxyalkylene chain; said process comprising the following steps: A) obtainment of the formula (II) mono-hypofluorite: FO—CFX2-A-RF—B—C(O)X1??(II) by partial fluorination with elemental fluorine of the carbonyl groups of the formula (III) compound: X2(O)C-A-RF—B—C(O)X1??(III) in the presence of a formula MeFy catalyst, Me being an alkaline or alkaline-earth metal or Ag, y=1 or 2; B) thermal decomposition of the compound (II) to give the compounds according to the following scheme: FO—CFX2-A-RF—B—C(O)X1 (II) - - - ?F-A-RF—B—C(O)X1 (I)+(O)CFX2.

Abstract: Provided is a preparation process of a diglyceride-rich fat or oil, which includes bringing a fat or oil containing diglycerides in an amount of 50 mass % or greater and having a transition metal content of 5 ppm or less into contact with steam while forming a thin film of the fat or oil. This process makes it possible to prepare a diglyceride-rich fat or oil having a reduced odor and good color efficiently.

Abstract: A description is given of a process for preparing aldehydes, carboxylic acids and/or carboxylic anhydrides, in particular phthalic anhydride, in which a gaseous stream comprising an aromatic hydrocarbon and molecular oxygen is passed at elevated temperature over a bed of a first catalyst and a bed which is made up of a second catalyst having a higher activity than the first catalyst and is located downstream of the first catalyst in the flow direction of the gaseous stream, wherein the catalytically active composition of the first catalyst comprises at least vanadium oxide, titanium dioxide and antimony oxide and the ratio of vanadium, calculated as V2O5, to antimony, calculated as Sb2O3, in the first catalyst is from 3.5:1 to 5:1. The source of antimony oxide used for the first catalyst is preferably particulate antimony trioxide having a mean particle size of from 0.5 to 5 ?m. The process allows the desired oxidation products to be obtained in high yield over longer periods of time.

Abstract: Tantalum precursors useful in depositing tantalum nitride or tantalum oxides materials on substrates, by processes such as chemical vapor deposition and atomic layer deposition. The precursors are useful in forming tantalum-based diffusion barrier layers on microelectronic device structures featuring copper metallization and/or ferroelectric thin films.

Abstract: The compound, bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane-3(4),7(8)-dicarboxylic acid and to a process for its preparation, wherein bicyclo[4.3.0]nona-3,7-diene is reacted with synthesis gas in an homogeneous organic phase in the presence of transition metal compounds of Group VIII of the Periodic Table containing complex-bound organophosphorus compounds, and of excess organophosphorus compound, at temperatures of 70 to 160° C. and pressures of 5 to 35 MPa, and the 3(4),7(8)-bisformylbicyclo[4.3.0]nonane thus obtained is oxidized, or is first hydrogenated to 3(4),7(8)-dihydroxymethylbicyclo[4.3.0]nonane and the diol thus obtained is reacted in an alkali melt.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method for preparing 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid from di-lower alkyl 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate, which is characterized in that hydrolyzing di-lower alkyl 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate in a specified amount of water in the presence of specified amount of hydrophobic organic solvent and an additive; that hydrolyzing di-lower alkyl 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate in a specific amount of a mixed solvent of non-water miscible alcohol and water; or in that di-lower alkyl 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate is hydrolyzed in two steps wherein the 1st step comprises hydrolyzing said ester in a water miscible organic solvent in the presence of a small amount of water, and the 2nd step comprises further hydrolyzing the reaction.

Abstract: A method for forming mineral granules can be accomplished with a granulation reaction of edible acids and mineral bases to form mineral salts. The reaction is carried out in a manner that produces granules without requiring a binder or requiring the use of extrusion and milling techniques to control particle size. The granulation reaction can be performed by introducing a solvent into reaction vessel and dissolving an edible acid into the solvent before adding a first portion of a total amount of a mineral base into the reaction vessel to form a first mixture. The reaction components are then mixed and maintained at an elevated temperature below the boiling point. A final portion of the mineral base is then added into the reaction vessel, and mixed at a final temperature below the boiling point so as to induce agglutination to form granules having a dimension of at least 40 microns.

Abstract: Carboxylic acid ester is produced by esterification of carboxylic acid and an alcohol in a catalytic reaction zone of a first column at a pressure not greater than ambient pressure. The resultant sump product is distilled in a reaction zone of a second column at a pressure greater than 1.5 bar to obtain a second liquid sump product containing carboxylic acid ester with an carboxylic acid content of less than 100 ppm by weight at a lower end of the column. Neutralization of the second liquid sump product with a base is not required.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized system for more efficiently and economically producing terephthalic acid. The system includes an novel method for heating the slurry and/or reaction medium subjected to oxidative digestion.