Abstract: A process for the transesterification of keto esters and alcohols in approximately stoichiometric amounts using a solid acid catalyst. Solid acid catalysts may be sulfated zirconia, sulfated tin oxide, sulfated titania, sulfated iron oxide, heteropoly acids, acidic clays, acidic zeolites, or any other solid acids with high acidity or super acidity, with or without dopants. One equivalent or more of keto ester, one equivalent or more of alcohol, the solid acid catalyst, and an appropriate solvent are mixed and heated to 70 to 120° C. at atmospheric or reduced pressure to furnish the keto transester in high yields.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of organic compounds through C--C bond forming reaction which comprises reacting a diene with a dienophile in the presence of solid acid based on either yttrium, scandium or lanthanum supported on metal oxide supports such as oxides of zirconium or tin or titanium or iron oxide modified by sulphation as catalysts for a period ranging from 5 to 48 hours and recovering the reaction products from the reaction mixture by filtration and removal of the solvent by evaporation followed by column chromatography.

Abstract: A process for the production of methyl ethyl ketone by means of oxidative dehydrogenation of secondary butyl alcohol using an amorphous copper-silica catalyst prepared by a sol-gel route, in which an alkoxide or other suitable salt or complex of copper is reacted with an alkoxide of silicon in the absence of base, but in the presence of water or an alcohol; the resultant product is dried and calcined.