Abstract: A novel peroxy aryl carbonate which has the both properties of polymerization-initiating and regulating abilities, can be used as a radical polymerization initiator to regulate the polymerization rate, the polymerization degree and molecular weight distribution of the polymer and the like, and therefore produce superior styrene resin and methyl methacrylate syrup.

Abstract: A dialkyl dicarbonate (dialkyl pyrocarbonate) is prepared by contacting an alkyl haloformate (such as ethyl chloroformate) with an alkali metal carbonate (such as potassium carbonate) in the presence of a catalytic amount of a crown ether (such as 18 crown 6) and a solvating amount of a solvent (such as acetonitrile). The process of the invention is easy to carry out, it does not employ particularly hazardous materials, and provides a high yield of dicarbonate.

Abstract: A process for the production of organic carboxylic acids by the catalytic reaction of organic formate esters in contact with carbon monoxide and a homogeneous catalyst system of rhodium metal atom, a phosphorus containing ligand in which there is present at least one oxo oxygen atom attached to a phosphorus atom or a carbon atom to form a Z group and the ##STR1## group in said Z group is located at least one carbon atom removed and preferably from 2-4 carbon atoms removed from the phosphorus atom of the molecules represented by the formulas ##STR2## and a halogen source, under mild reaction conditions, wherein R' is H, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl or alkyl, and wherein 1 or more of said R' groups can be substituted with a Z group but not more than 3 of said R' groups in the molecule are so substituted; a is an integer from 0-4; b is an integer from 0-3; and Z is P(O)R'R'; --C(O)OR" or C(O)R", wherein R" is R'.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing methacrylic acid by oxidizing methacrolein in vapor phase with molecular oxygen or a gas containing molecular oxygen, characterized in that the oxidation is carried out in the presence of a catalyst having a composition shown by the following formula:Mo.sub.a V.sub.b P.sub.c X.sub.d Y.sub.e O.sub.fwherein Mo, V, P and O respectively represent molybdenum, vanadium, phosphorus and oxygen; X represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of potassium, rubidium, cesium, and thallium; Y represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, tin, thorium, germanium, nickel, iron, cobalt, titanium, rhenium, chromium, cerium, antimony and magnesium; and a, b, c, d, e and f denote the atomic ratio of respective elements where, a is 10, b is a number of 6 or less than 6 excluding 0, preferably 0.5 to 3, c is a number of 0.5 to 6, preferably 0.5 to 3, d is a number of 0.5 or less than 0.

Abstract: Tertiary butyl alcohol is prepared by the catalytic decomposition of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, preferably in solution in tertiary butyl alcohol, in the presence of a borate-promoted metal phthalocyanine catalyst such as a Group IB, VIIB or VIIIB metal phthalocyanine and a Group IA, IIA or IIB metal borate, for example, chloroferric phthalocyanine and lithium borate, barium borate, zinc borate or sodium metaborate.

Abstract: Tertiary butyl alcohol is prepared by the catalytic decomposition of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, preferably in solution in tertiary butyl alcohol, in the presence of a metal phthalocyanine catalyst promoted with a C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 thiol and a free radical inhibitor, such as a phthalocyanine of a metal of Group IB, Group VIIB or Group VIIIB of the Periodic Table (e.g., chloroferric phthalocyanine, dodecane thiol and 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene).

Abstract: Tertiary butyl alcohol is prepared by the catalytic decomposition of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, preferably in solution in tertiary butyl alcohol, in the presence of a metal porphine catalyst, optionally promoted with a C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 alkyl thiol and an amine, such as an iron (III) or manganese (III) porphine and, optionally, a thiol such as dodecane thiol and an amine, such as a heterocyclic amine (e.g., pyridine, quinoline, isoquinoline, imidazole or a 1-alkyl or 2-alkyl imidazole).

Abstract: New chemical compounds are derivatives of certain substituted 1,4-naphthoquinones in which the keto oxygens at the 4-positions have been replaced by certain cyanoalkoxycarbonylmethylene groups, and the keto oxygens at the 1-positions have been replaced by cyanoimino groups. The new compounds have the structure ##STR1## wherein: J is alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and R is normal alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The compounds are useful as electron-transport agents in electrophotographic elements.

Abstract: A tertiary butyl hydroperoxide feedstock, such as one prepared by the reaction of isobutane with molecular oxygen comprising tertiary butyl hydroperoxide dissolved in tertiary butyl alcohol, is charged to a catalytic decomposition zone where the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide is catalytically decomposed in the presence of a soluble ruthenium catalyst compound promoted with a bidentate ligand to provide a decomposition reaction product characterized by a high conversion rate and a high selectivity of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to tertiary butyl alcohol.

Abstract: Preparation of acetic acid and methyl acetate by gas-phase carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a nickel-containing catalyst and in the presence of chlorine, bromine or iodine or a volatile compound of one of these halogens as a promoter, wherein the active material of the catalyst used consists of not less than 40% by weight of nickel and the catalyst contains 0.001-1 part by weight of palladium per part by weight of nickel, as well as supported catalysts whose active material contains Ni and Pd in the above ratio.

Abstract: Novel purine derivatives are described as agents for treating autoimmune diseases as well as a method of manufacture and pharmaceutical compositions as well as novel intermediates in the manufacture thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of pure cis- or trans-crotonic acid from a mixture of the two isomers by melt crystallization. To prepare trans-crotonic acid, an isomer mixture I containing at least 40% by weight of trans-crotonic acid is used as the starting material. On the other hand, if cis-crotonic acid is to be prepared, an isomer mixture II containing at least 80% by weight of cis-crotonic acid is used as the starting material. The particular isomer mixture is melted and then left to cool, trans-crotonic acid being allowed to crystrallize out of mixture I to a residual content of at least 35% by weight, and cis-crotonic acid being allowed to crystallize out of mixture II to a residual content of at least 75% by weight.

Abstract: An N-acetylglycine is manufactured by reacting paraformaldehyde with an acetamide and carbon monoxide in the present of a cobalt-containing catalyst promoted by a sulfoxide or dinitride compounds. The presence of sulfoxide or dinitrile ligands are essential for the high yield synthesis of N-acetylglycine and good cobalt recovery.

Abstract: A process for converting formic acid esters or transesterification products thereof to carboxylic acids comprising contacting a formic acid ester of the formula (HCOO).sub.n --R where R is aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aralkyl and n is 1 or 2 with a catalytically effective amount of a soluble iridium salt and an iodide promoter at a temperature of from about 100.degree. C. to about 300.degree. C. in the presence of an organic solvent containing at least one carboxylic acid.

Abstract: Paramethyl-substituted hindered phenols are selectively oxidized by contacting with an oxidizing agent at elevated temperatures in the presence of a heterogeneous oxidative coupling catalyst. In the absence of an optional nucleophile the products comprise carbon-carbon oxidative coupling products. In the presence of a nucleophile, addition products result that may be further oxidized by continued exposure to the oxidizing agent to yield substituted p-hydroxybenzaldehydes.

Abstract: High purity amino-1,3-benzenediols are prepared by (a) contacting a 1,3-bis(alkylcarbonato)benzene with a nitrating agent under rection conditions such that a 1,3-bis(alkylcarbonato)nitrobenzene is formed, (b) contacting the 1,3-bis(alkylcarbonato)nitrobenzene with a hydrolyzing agent under conditions such that a nitro-1,3-benzenediol is produced, and (c) contacting the nitro-1,3-benzenediol with a reducing agent under conditions such that an amino-1,3-benzenediol is produced. Of the amino-1,3-benzenediols, 4,6-diamino-1,3-benzenediol is particularly useful in the preparation of high molecular weight polybenzoxazoles.

Abstract: Tertiary butyl alcohol is prepared by the catalytic decomposition of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, preferably in solution in tertiary butyl alcohol, in the presence of a base-promoted metal phthalocyanine catalyst, such as a phthalocyanine of a metal of Group IB, Group VIIB or Group VIIIB of the Periodic Table (e.g., chloroferric phthalocyanine and a base having a pH greater than about 7.5 when 0.10 mole is dissolved in one liter of water, such as sodium carbonate, sodium acetate, sodium phosphate, ammonium hydrogen phosphate, lithium carbonate, etc.).

Abstract: In order to prepare a feedstock, isobutane is reacted with oxygen in an oxidation zone to provide an oxidation product comprising a solution of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide in unreacted isobutane. A catalyst may be present to catalyze the reaction of the oxygen with the isobutane if desired.The feedstock is charged to a catalytic decomposition zone wherein the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide is decomposed in the presence of an imidazole-promoted metal phthalocyanine catalyst to provide a decomposition reaction product characterized by a compartively high conversion rate and a compartively high selectively of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to tertiary butyl alcohol.

Abstract: Tertiary butyl alcohol is prepared by the catalytic decomposition of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, preferably in solution in tertiary butyl alcohol, in the presence of a metal phthalocyanine catalyst promoted with a rhenium compound, such as a phthalocyanine of a metal of Group IB, Group VIIB or Group VIIIB of the Periodic Table (e.g., chloroferric phthalocyanine and rhenium heptoxide-p-dioxane or oxotrichloro-bis-(triphenylphosphine) rhenium V).

Abstract: The life of a salcomine catalyst used in the oxidation of phenols to quinones (e.g., of o-phenylphenol to phenyl-p-benzoquinone) is increased by the presence of a water- or acid-removing substance, e.g., a non-acid-forming chemical water scavenger, a molecular sieve, a weak inorganic base, or a sterically hindered organic base, in the reaction medium. Suitable water- or acid-removing substances include carbodiimides, e.g., dicyclohexylcarbodiimide; a Type 3A or 4A molecular sieve; finely divided metal oxides or metal carbonates, e.g., barium carbonate; and 2,6-lutidine. These substances chemically transform by-product carboxylic acids, and/or prevent the formation of such acids, whereby the life of the salcomine catalyst is prolonged.