Abstract: Aromatic bischloroformates are prepared by the reaction of a dihydroxyaromatic compound such as bisphenol A with phosgene in the presence of water, base and an organic liquid such as methylene chloride. Initially, a mixture of the bisphenol, organic liquid and about 5-15% of the total base is prepared, and phosgene is passed into said mixture. The remainder of the base is added initially at a constant rate, and then only when the measured pH of the aqueous mixture is below a targeted value in the range of about 8-11 and in about 5-10% excess with respect to the phosgene then being introduced. This method minimizes hydrolysis of phosgene and formation of such by-products as monochloroformates and hydroxy-terminated polycarbonate oligomers.

Abstract: Bischloroformate oligomer compositions are prepared by passing phosgene into a heterogeneous aqueous-organic mixture containing at least one dihydroxyaromatic compound, with simultaneous introduction of a base at a rate to maintain a specific pH range and to produce a specific volume ratio of aqueous to organic phase. By this method, it is possible to employ a minimum amount of phosgene. The reaction may be conducted batchwise or continuously. The bischloroformate composition may be employed for the preparation of cyclic polycarbonate oligomers or linear polycarbonate, and linear polycarbonate formation may be integrated with bischloroformate composition formation in a batch or continuous process.

Abstract: Activated olefinically unsaturated organic compounds such as esters, acids, ketones, nitriles, and the like, are reacted with hydrogen sulfide in the presence of at least one of magnesium oxide and anion exchange resins catalysts to produce saturated sulfur-containing compounds. In a specific embodiment, unsaturated carboxylates are converted in high yields to mercaptoalkanoates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing glycol monoesters by reacting carboxylic acid, olefin and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst containing (A) a palladium component, (B) an oxygen-containing nitrogen compound, and (C) a metal halide in the specified ratio of (A), (B), (C).According to the present invention, the regeneration of the catalyst through reduction is easy and the catalyst of high activity can be used repeatedly.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of dihydrocarbyl carbonates comprising contacting an alkanol such as methanol, carbon monoxide and oxygen with a heterogeneous catalyst which comprises a metal halide such as cupric chloride or a mixed metal halide such as cupric chloride/potassium chloride impregnated on an appropriate support such as activated carbon; and a process for reactivating metal halide catalysts supported on porous carrier materials comprising drying and then contacting the supported catalysts with a gaseous stream of hydrogen halide for a period of time which is sufficient to convert all of the metal present in whatever form to the corresponding metal halide.

Abstract: 5-Formylvaleric esters are prepared by a process which comprises the following steps:(a) Hydroformylation of a pentenoic ester by reaction with carbon monoxide and hydrogen at elevated temperatures and under superatmospheric pressure in the presence of a carbonyl complex of a metal of group 8 of the Periodic Table with formation of a mixture of 5-, 4- and 3-formylvaleric esters,(b) Isolation of the 5-formylvaleric ester from the resulting mixture of 5-, 4- and 3-formylvaleric esters, a mixture essentially consisting of 4- and 3-formylvaleric esters remaining,(c) Cleavage of the mixture essentially consisting of 4- and 3-formylvaleric esters at from 50.degree. to 400.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst to give pentenoic esters and(d) Recycling of the pentenoic esters to stage (a).

Abstract: An organic carbonate such as dimethyl carbonate is prepared by reacting an alcohol such as methanol with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst system containing Cu(OMe)Cl as catalyst and a urea or a mixture of ureas as a cosolvent for the catalyst system.

Abstract: Perfluorinated acid ion-exchange resins are highly effective catalysts for the isomerization of 3-pentenoic compounds to 4-pentenoic compounds, especially if the catalysts contain a group 8 metal in an oxidation state of at least +2.

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 polymerizing unsaturated dicarboxylic acids comprises heating the acids in the presence of a catalytic proportion of an unactivated clay and water. The product dimer is distilled to separate unreacted monomer acids. The product dimers of 36, 40 and 44 content are useful as corrosion inhibitors, epoxy resin curing agents, lubricants and intermediates for synthetic polymeric resins and polymeric resin plasticizers.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a new process for the preparation of carbinols of the general formula I ##STR1## by reaction chloral and olefins of the general formula ##STR2## and by optional acylation of the product comprising dissolving a catalyst of the general formula IIIFe.sub.n (NH.sub.4).sub.x Y.sub.m .multidot.A.sub.p IIIin chloral, then adding the olefin of the general formula II in order to produce a complex of the general formula IV ##STR3## from which a complex of the general formula V ##STR4## is formed, and from the reaction mixture a compound of the general formula I is obtained whereafter(a) the residual complex of the general formula V dissolved in the product is decomposed with an acidic solution and if desired the obtained product is distilled or(b) the product in the reaction mixture is acylated.The compounds prepared according to the invention can be utilized as intermediates when preparing e.g., permethrin and other pyrethroid insecticides.

Abstract: Tetrakis(dialkylamino)aromatics Ia to Ic ##STR1## where the radicals A may be identical or different and are n-C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl and the radicals R may be identical or different and are hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, and their charge transfer complexes with electron acceptors, and the preparation of Ia to Ic from the corresponding N-unsubstituted amines by alkylation with A'--CHO (where A'.dbd.H or N-C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkyl) and reduction with NaBH.sub.3 CN.The charge transfer complexes of Ia and Ic are used to prepare electrically conductive polymers.

Abstract: Alkyl carboxylates of the formula:R--CO--O--CH.sub.2 R'are prepared by hydrocarbonylating a compound of the formula:R--CO--O--R'in the simultaneous presence, in the reaction medium, of cobalt, ruthenium, an alkyl iodide and an ionic iodide, the atomic ratio Co/Ru being less than or equal to 1, and the total amount of iodine-containing promoters present in the medium being such that I/Ru is greater than or equal to 5.

Abstract: Fatty acid esters of oxalkylated alkylalkylenediamines, which may be quaternized:Esters of oxalkylated alkylalkylenediamines, which may be quaternized, of the formula ##STR1## where the individual symbols have the meaning given in the description, process for their production and their use as corrosion inhibitors, particularly in crude oil recovery plants and crude oil treatment plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for the preparation of dialkyl dichlorosuccinates by chlorination of a dialkyl maleate in the presence of a catalytic amount of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl alcohol in the absence of a solvent which are useful intermediates in the preparation of anilinofumarates. Anilinofumarates are, in turn, used in the preparation of 2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)quinoline-3-carboxylic acid herbicidal agents.

Abstract: Acetic acid is advantageously prepared from a starting material having a formic acid moiety and a methyl ester moiety by heating said starting material in the presence of (1) carbon monoxide, (2) at least one of (2-a) a metal accelerator selected from beryllium, a metal belonging to the group IIIA, IVB, VB, VIB or IIA of the Periodic Table, a lanthanide metal and an actinide metal and (2-b) an onium compound or a precursor for the onium compound, (3) a rhodium catalyst and (4) an iodine compound.

Abstract: Oligomeric carbonate dihydroxyaromatic-based chainstoppers are disclosed. One example of this type of chainstopper is a bisphenol A bischloroformate oligomer monocapped with phenol. These chainstoppers may be prepared by phosgenating a dihydroxyaromatic compound to terminate one or both of the terminal oxygen atoms with chlorocarbonyl groups, followed by reaction of the chlorocarbonyl-terminated material with a phenolic-type compound in the presence of an amine catalyst. The chainstoppers of the present invention are very useful in accurately controlling the molecular weight of polycarbonates formed by various processes, while also preventing the formation of undesirable by-products, such as diarylcarbonates.

Abstract: The carbonylation of an alcohol to produce a carboxylic acid, especially methanol to produce acetic acid, in a low water 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 is improved by the addition of hydrogen in the feed gas to the low water reaction medium to obtain a reactor hydrogen partial pressure of at least about 4 psi. The presence of hydrogen in the reaction medium increases significantly the carbonylation reaction rate and reduces formation of byproduct carbon dioxide. 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.

Abstract: A process for preparing trans-.beta.-benzoylacrylic acid ester having the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R is alkyl group or aralkyl group, which comprises dealcoholizing .beta.-benzoyl-.alpha.-alkoxypropionic acid ester having the general formula (II): ##STR2## wherein R is above, in the presence of an acid catalyst to give trans-.beta.-benzoylacrylic acid ester having the general formula (I).According to the process of the present invention, the by-product (II) produced in the esterification reaction of .beta.-benzoylacrylic acid (III) with the alcohol (V) by the dehydration reaction can be converted into the compound (I) by the dealcoholization reaction in the presence of the acid catalyst and thus trans-.beta.-benzoylacrylic acid ester (I) with a high purity can be produced in an industrially advantageous manner.

Abstract: Bischloroformate compositions are prepared from spirobiindane bisphenols by phosgenation in a substantially inert organic liquid in a two-step reaction. The pH during the first step is maintained in the range of about 8-14 by addition of aqueous base. In the second step, the pH is in the range of about 2-6. This method produces compositions containing a substantial amount of monomeric bischloroformate and avoids gelling problems.