Abstract: Electrolytic dehydrodimeric coupling of malonate esters at elevated temperatures yields ethane-1,1,2,2-tetracarboxylate esters. Similar intramolecular coupling of bismalonate esters yields related cyclic tetracarboxylate esters in which the ethane-1,1,2,2-ethanetetracarboxylate moiety is incorporated into a ring.

Abstract: A fire detector and alarm is provided with means to mount it on a Christmas tree so as to be activated by the rapid buildup and intense heat of a Christmas tree fire. The power may be derived from a battery or the standard socket of a string of Christmas tree lights or from the electrical circuit with any Christmas tree decoration. The decorative shape of the alarm housing has a plurality of openings consistent with such decorative shape for passing the sound therethrough, and further is provided with a resonance chamber. With closure of a bimetallic switch, the heat of the fire will melt the solder of the switch contacts so that with subsequent cooling, the solder will harden prior to opening of the bimetallic contacts, so that they will remain closed even after cooling.

Abstract: Electrolytic carboxylation of carbon acids via electrogenerated bases leads to carboxylated carbon acids.

Abstract: Visibility to the interior of a microwave oven is improved through a microwave shield that can be driven with periodic motion to increase the visibility through the shield, with such driving being accomplished by an electromechanical vibrator, a manual impulse given to the shield that is spring mounted, a power take-off from a conventional motor driven microwaver mixer, a separately motor driven cam, or the like. Such periodic motion may be oscillation such as reciprocation, or rotary with constant, decreasing or increasing amplitude, which amplitude may be the distance between adjacent apertures in the shield. Such periodic movement of the shield will scatter the microwave energy striking it and improve the distribution of microwave energy within the oven, which scattering may be enhanced by a three-dimensional mechanical texture given to the interior face of the shield, a coating with crystalline or metallic particles, or the like that will randomly scatter microwave energy striking it.

Abstract: Elemental phosphorus is oxidized via indirect electrolytic oxidation in an electrolysis medium containing elemental phosphorus, an aqueous solution of hydrogen halide, and a non-aqueous solvent to produce phosphorous acid, (HO).sub.2 HPO.