Abstract: A lower alkanol, such as methanol is oxycarbonylated with carbon monoxide and oxygen to yield e.g. dimethyl carbonate at 50.degree. C.-125.degree. C. and 300-1500 psig in the presence of as catalyst, a functionalized inorganic oxide substrate (such as silica gel) typically bearing on the surface thereof a ligand of ethyl formate and 3-aminopropyl triethoxy silane--which has been reacted with a metal salt such as CuCl.sub.2.

Abstract: A process for producing methacrylic acid which includes subjecting methacrolein to gaseous phase catalytic oxidation using molecular oxygen and a catalyst represented by the general formula:P.sub.a Mo.sub.b V.sub.c Fe.sub.d Ce.sub.e (NH.sub.4).sub.f X.sub.g Y.sub.h Z.sub.i O.sub.jwherein P, Mo, V, Fe, Ce, NH.sub.4 and O represent phosphorus, molybdenum, vanadium, iron, cerium, ammonium group and oxygen, respectively; X represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, bismuth, chromium, magnesium, silver, tantalum and lanthanum; Y represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of arsenic, antimony, zirconium, barium, manganese, germanium and tellurium; Z represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of potassium, rubidum, cesium and thallium; a, b, c, d, e, g, h, i and j each represents an atomic ratio of each element, and b is 12, a is in a range of 0.5-3, c is in a range of 0.01-3, d is in a range of 0.01-2, e is in a range of 0.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for forming alkyl 4-oxobutyrates and its acetals which comprises reacting under anhydrous conditions acrolein or its acetals with carbon monoxide and an alcohol of the formula R OH wherein R is lower alkyl in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst comprising palladium metal which is either unsupported or supported on an inert carrier and a promoting effective amount of hydrogen halide. An intermediate in the process, i.e., .beta.-halopropionaldehyde or acetal thereof can also be used in forming alkyl 4-oxobutyrates and acetals thereof by reacting under anhydrous conditions said .beta.-halopropionaldehyde or its acetals with carbon monoxide and an alcohol of the formula ROH wherein R is lower alkyl in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst comprising palladium metal which is either unsupported or supported on an inert carrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the catalytic oxidation of hydroxy containing aromatic compounds to form the respective quinone compounds comprising contacting a hydroxy containing aromatic compound of the formula: ##STR1## with a molecular oxygen containing gas in the presence of: (a) a catalytic amount of a cobalt (II) compound,(b) a primary aliphatic amine having the nitrogen atom attached to a tertiary carbon, and(c) an alcohol selected from the group consisting of methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol and benzyl alcohol,wherein X is of the formula ##STR2## wherein R is individually selected from the group of radicals consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl having from about 1 to about 18 carbon atoms, an alkoxy having from about 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a phenyl and an aralkyl having 7 to 12 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of glyoxylic acid by oxidizing an aqueous solution of glyoxal having a pH less than 1 with molecular oxygen in the presence of nitrogen monoxide as a catalyst.This process allows the practically total conversion of the starting glyoxal with a good yield of glyoxylic acid.

Abstract: In the oxidation of 2-hydroxy-3,3-dimethyl-butanoic acid in solution in the presence of a ruthenium oxide catalyst to produce 2-oxo-3,3-dimethyl-butanoic acid, the improvement wherein oxidation is effected with oxygen.

Abstract: The halogenotetrafluoropropionic acid 3-iodotetrafluoropropionic acid of the formula ICF.sub.2 CF.sub.2 COOH, it is prepared by reacting iodine, tetrafluoroethylene and ethylene in a one-pot reaction under specific conditions, reacting the resulting compound ICF.sub.2 CF.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 I with a base in order to eliminate hydrogen iodide and oxidizing the compound ICF.sub.2 CF.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 thus obtained to give 3-iodotetrafluoropropionic acid. The halogenotetrafluoropropionic acid is an advantageous starting compound for the preparation of valuable unsaturated compounds containing functional groups.

Abstract: A carboxylic acid of formula RCO.sub.2 H, for example acetic acid, is prepared from a formate ester of formula HCO.sub.2 R, for example methyl formate, by heating the ester at elevated temperature with an iridium catalyst, a halide promoter and a strong acid. The strong acid is one having a pKa of not greater than 0 in aqueous media for example a sulphonic acid. Addition of the strong acid to the reaction mixture causes an increase in the rate of conversion of formate ester to carboxylic acid.

Abstract: .beta.,.gamma.-Unsaturated carboxylic acids are facilely prepared by carbonylating a conjugated diene with carbon monoxide in the presence of (i) water, (ii) a halogenated hydracid, (iii) a palladium catalyst comprising palladium metal or supported palladium metal, a palladium oxide, or a complex salt of palladium, the anion coordinated to the palladium cation of which comprising a hard or borderline base, and (iv) a quaternary onium salt of nitrogen, phosphorus or arsenic, said N, P or As being tetra-coordinated to a carbon atom, the anion of which comprising a hard or borderline base.

Abstract: A process for producing cis-2-methyl-2-butenoic acid, which process is preferably based on technical 2-methyl-2-butene nitrile and leads to pure products preferably without costly rectification. The technical nitrile is hydrolyzed by concentrated sulfuric acid at temperatures of up to 130.degree. C. and, following dilution of the sulfuric acid to about 50%, at temperatures of up to 130.degree. C. It is treated by distilling and fractional crystallization.

Abstract: A method for producing an optically active 2-cyclopenten-4-one-1-ol ester useful as an intermediate for medicines, agricultural chemicals and represented by the general formula (I), ##STR1## wherein R represents a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon residue which may or may not be substituted with a halogen atom, and a mark * represents an asymmetric carbon,which comprises bringing a 2-cyclopenten-4-one-1-ol ester represented by the general formula ##STR2## wherein R represents a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon residue which may or may not be substituted with a halogen atom, into contact with an optically active 1,6-diphenyl-2,4-hexadiyne-1,6-diol derivative represented by the general formula (II), ##STR3## wherein R' represents a halogenated phenyl, lower alkylphenyl, naphthyl or tertiary lower alkyl group, and a mark * represents an asymmetric carbon,in an organic solvent to obtain an optically active cyclopentenone ester complex which is a bound product of the optically active 2-c

Abstract: Carbonyl halides I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl or halocycloalkyl,R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each alkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl or halocycloalkyl and may furthermore be bonded to one another to form a 5-membered to 7-membered ring andis halogen,are prepared by reacting an alkyl halide II ##STR2## with carbon monoxide under superatmospheric pressure in the presence of a catalytic amount ofa) aluminum bromide and in the presence or absence of a solvent orb) aluminum chloride or bromide and in the presence of a halohydrocarbon and a carbonyl halide of the formula IIIR.sup.4 --CH.sub.2 --CO--Hal (III)where R.sup.4 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl and Hal is halogen.

Abstract: A process for producing trifluoroacetic acid and trifluoroacetyl chloride from 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane, oxygen and water as starting materials, characterized in that the starting materials are reacted in a vapor phase in a reactor of perfect mixing type to avoid local heating, under a condition not to liquefy the starting materials and reaction products, while continuously supplying the starting materials and continuously withdrawing the reaction products, so as to obtain a reaction mixture comprising trifluoroacetyl chloride as the main product and trifluoroacetic acid as an accompanying product.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing purified trimesic acid prepared by a process involving the liquid-phase oxidation of mesitylene in a solvent consisting of an aliphatic C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 monocarboxylic acid, water or a mixture thereof in the presence of an oxidation catalyst comprising cobalt, manganese and bromine components, crystallizing crude trimesic acid by cooling to about 80.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C., separating crystallized trimesic acid from the mother liquor at a temperature in the range of 80.degree. C. to about 105.degree. C. and washing the separated crude trimesic acid crystals with water at a temperature of from about 10.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C.

Abstract: An alcohol such as methanol is reacted with carbon monoxide in a liquid reaction medium containing a rhodium catalyst stabilized with an iodide salt, especially lithium iodide, along with alkyl iodide such as methyl iodide and alkyl acetate such as methyl acetate in specified proportions. With a finite concentration of water in the reaction medium the product is the carboxylic acid instead of, for example, the anhydride. The present reaction system not only provides an acid product of unusually low water content at unexpectedly favorable reaction rates but also, whether the water content is low or, as in the case of prior-art acetic acid technology, relatively high, is characterized by unexpectedly high catalyst stability; i.e., it is resistant to catalyst precipitation out of the reaction medium.

Abstract: A process for the production of organic carboxylic acids and organic carboxylic acid anhydrides by the catalytic reaction of an alcohol of the formula ROH and carbon monoxide in contact with an organic ester source and a homogeneous catalyst system of rhodium metal atom, a phosphorus containing ligand in which there is present at least one oxo (.dbd.

Abstract: The nuclear hydroxylation of phenol can be carried out in an industrially very simple manner and with at least the yields obtained with the known methods as well as with very good selectivities by means of using aqueous hydrogen peroxide with the simultaneous addition of sulfur dioxide or selenium dioxide as catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the production of ethylidene diacetate by the catalytic reaction of dimethyl acetal, methyl acetate and carbon monoxide in contact with a homogeneous catalyst system containing rhodium metal atom and lithium iodide.

Abstract: A process for forming thioglycolic acid by contacting in a reaction zone at elevated pressure of at least 250 psig a mixture of monochloroacetic acid and dichloroacetic acid with a molar excess of an alkali metal hydrosulfide to form the alkali metal salt of thioglycolic acid, acidifying said salt and removing the free thioglycolic acid. A preferred process further requires separating any formed thiodiglycolic acid from the resultant liquid phase materials and recycling said acid to the reaction zone.

Abstract: Diesters of glycolic acid are effective yarn lubricants for use in the textile industry. These compounds also inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi.