Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing synthetic lubricant base stocks having improved properties. Synthetic lubricant base stocks may be prepared in good yield by oligomerizing linear olefins using certain acidic calcium montmorillonite clay catalysts. When a mixture of alpha and internal-olefins having up to 50 wt. % internal-olefin is used, and the oligomers prepared therefrom are hydrogenated, a synthetic lubricant base stock having a higher viscosity index and a lower pour point is prepared.

Abstract: An extractive distillation agent consisting essentially of ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate or a mixture thereof is fed to an extractive distillation column used for the distillation of propylene oxide contaminated with water to obtain an overhead distillate fraction consisting of essentially anhydrous propylene oxide, and a heavier bottoms distillation fraction containing substantially all of the extraction distillation solvent and water introduced into the distillation column.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for preparing synthetic lubricant base stocks. Synthetic lubricant base stocks are prepared in good yield by oligomerizing linear olefins using cation-exchangeable layered clays that have been treated with a non-halogenated titanium salt or non-halogenated zirconium salt.

Abstract: An extractive distillation agent consisting essentially of triethylene glycol is fed to an extractive distillation column used for the distillation of propylene oxide contaminated with water, acetone and methanol to obtain an overhead distillate fraction consisting of essentially anhydrous propylene oxide contaminated with reduced quantities of acetone and methanol, and a heavier bottoms distillation fraction containing substantially all of the triethylene glycol, water and acetone and some of the methanol introduced into the distillation column.

Abstract: Primary alcohols may be oxidized to the corresponding aldehydes using non-toxic oxidizing agents such as tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) in the presence of a transition metal phthalocyanine catalyst. Representative catalysts include ferrous phthalocyanine and chloroferric phthalocyanine. Under some conditions, 1,1-dialkoxyalkanes may be co-produced with the aldehydes. 1,1-Dialkoxyalkanes are protected aldehydes and find utility in solvents.

Abstract: An epoxidation reaction product formed by the molybdenum catalyzed reaction of propylene with tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to provide propylene oxide and tertiary butyl alcohol is separated by distillation into a propylene fraction, a propylene oxide fraction, a tertiary butyl alcohol fraction and a heavy liquid distillation fraction composed primarily of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, tertiary butyl alcohol, dissolved molybdenum catalyst, and impurities including lower aliphatic C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 carboxylic acids, and the heavy liquid distillation fraction is saturated with hydrogen to precipitate the molybdenum therefrom for recovery.

Abstract: Polyoxypropylene diketones are prepared by initially adding predetermined amounts of a mono- or dicarboxylic acid having a pK<4.5 and a water solubility at 25.degree. C. of >1%, a polyoxypropylene glycol and, optionally, water, to a reaction zone and thereafter adding an aqueous solution of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal hypochlorite oxidant to the reaction zone with agitation under reaction conditions including a temperature of about 10.degree. to about 50.degree. C., a pressure of about 0 to 1,000 psig. and a total reaction time of about 0.5 to 20 hours, whereby said polyoxypropylene glycol will be substantially selectively converted to the said corresponding diketone, and recovering said diketone.

Abstract: An extractive distillation agent consisting essentially of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone is fed to an extractive distillation column used for the distillation of propylene oxide contaminated with water, acetone and methanol to obtain an overhead distillate fraction consisting of essentially anhydrous propylene oxide contaminated with reduced quantities of acetone and methanol, and a heavier bottoms distillation fraction containing substantially all of the 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, water and acetone and some of the methanol introduced into the distillation column.

Abstract: An extractive distillation agent consisting essentially of sulfolane is fed to an extractive distillation column used for the distillation of propylene oxide contaminated with water to obtain an overhead distillate fraction consisting of essentially anhydrous propylene oxide, and a heavier bottoms distillation fraction containing substantially all of the sulfolane and water introduced into the distillation column.

Abstract: An extractive distillation agent consisting essentially of 2-hydroxyethyl 2-hydroxyethylcarbamate, and is fed to an extractive distillation column used for the distillation of propylene oxide contaminated with water to obtain an overhead distillate fraction consisting of essentially anhydrous propylene oxide, and a heavier bottoms distillation fraction containing substantially all of the 2-hydroxyethyl 2-hydroxyethycarbamate, and water introduced into the disillation column.

Abstract: Complexes made by reacting an ammonium-containing molybdenum compound with an alkylene glycol in the presence of water at an elevated temperature are described. Mild stripping of the water subsequent to complex formation is preferred. If some of the water is left in the complex, it may serve as an excellent olefin epoxidation catalyst. The ratio of moles of alkylene glycol to gram atoms of molybdenum in the complex forming reaction ranges from 7:1 to 20:1. Ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are the particularly preferred alkylene glycols.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing synthetic lubricant base stocks having improved properties. Synthetic lubricant base stocks may be prepared in good yield by oligomerizing linear olefins using certain acidic calcium montmorillonite clay catalysts. When a mixture of propylene and long-chain alpha-olefin is used, in which up to about 20 wt. % of the mixture comprises propylene, and the co-oligomers prepared therefrom are hydrogenated, a synthetic lubricant base stock having a lower pour point and a higher viscosity index is prepared.

Abstract: An epoxidation reaction product formed by the molybdenum catalyzed reaction of propylene with tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to provide propylene oxide and tertiary butyl alcohol is separated by distillation into a propylene fraction, a propylene oxide fraction, a tertiary butyl alcohol fraction and a heavy liquid distillation fraction composed primarily of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, tertiary butyl alcohol, dissolved molybdenum catalyst, and impurities including lower aliphatic C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 carboxylic acids, and the heavy liquid distillation fraction is saturated with ammonia to precipitate the molybdenum therefrom for recovery.

Abstract: An epoxidation reaction product formed by the molybdenum catalyzed reaction of propylene with tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to provide propylene oxide and tertiary butyl alcohol is separated by distillation into a propylene fraction, a propylene oxide fraction, a tertiary butyl alcohol fraction and a heavy liquid distillation fraction composed primarily of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, tertiary butyl alcohol, dissolved molybdenum catalyst, and impurities including lower aliphatic C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 carboxylic acids, and the dissolved molybdenum content of the heavy distillation fraction is adjusted to about 300 to 500 ppm of dissolved molybdenum, if necessary, by treatment with a precipitating agent and contacted with a solid adsorbent consisting essentially of a synthetic, porous, high surface area amorphous magnesium silicate.

Abstract: The distillation product fraction obtained from an isobutane oxidation reaction product after the removal of unreacted isobutane will contain tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, tertiary butyl alcohol and carboxylic acid contaminants such as formic acid, acetic acid and isobutyric acid. It has been discovered that when the distillation product fraction is treated with about 1/2 to 1 equivalents of calcium oxide and/or calcium hydroxide based on the carboxylic acid content of the distillate product fraction, a portion of the carboxylic acid contaminants will precipitate thus partially purifying the distillation product fraction so that, thereafter, molybdenum precipitation will be substantially inhibited when the thus-treated distillation product fraction is used as a feedstock for an epoxidation reaction wherein tertiary butyl hydroperoxide is reacted with an olefin in the presence of a soluble molybdenum catalyst to provide an olefin epoxide and additional tertiary butyl hydroperoxide.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of branched primary alcohols comprises reacting a normal alkane with formaldehyde in non-aqueous media in the presence of a free radical initiator. The reaction involves the preferential addition of formaldeyhde to internal carbon atoms of the normal alkane, resulting in a branched primary alcohol containing one carbon more than the alkane reactant. The product alcohols are obtained as mixtures of positional isomers.

Abstract: Mono-, di- and tri-ketones of polyoxyalkylene compounds prepared by a method whereby the terminal hydroxyl groups of polyoxyalkylene compounds are oxidized to ketone groups with an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal hypochlorite oxidant in the presence of acetic acid are disclosed. These compounds are useful for preparing surface active agents or they may be reacted with amines to provide fuel additives.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of isobutylene oxide and isobutyric acid from isobutylene and isobutyraldehyde, respectively, by a co-oxidation process conducted in the presence of oxygen and a cobalt salt catalyst at a temperature of about 20.degree. to about 180.degree. C. is disclosed.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing synthetic lubricant base stocks. Synthetic lubricant base stocks may be prepared in good yield by oligomerizing linear olefins using certain acidic calcium montmorillonite clay catalysts. When the oligomers are hydrogenated, they provide a synthetic lubricant base stock having excellent properties.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement in a process for polymerizing 1,3-butadiene selectively to form relatively low molecular weight hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene oligomers in the presence of an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide which comprises the use of a glycol ether solvent to produce butadiene oligomers having a high degree of OH functionality and suppression of formation of solid or gel-type insoluble rubber by-products.