Abstract: Described is a process for preparing mixtures of mixed-alkylated methylolated 4,5-dihydroxyimidazolidin-2-ones by reaction of methylolated 4,5-dihydroxyimidazolidin-2-one (DMDHEU) with a monohydric C1-5 alcohol and a polyol selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,2-butylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, 1,4-butylene glycol, glycerol and polyethylene glycols of the formula HO(CH2CH2O)nH where 3≦n≦20, the monohydric C1-5 alcohol and the polyol each being used in an amount of from 0.1 to 2.0 mol equivalents, based on DMDHEU, and the reaction being carried out at temperatures from 20° C. to 70° C. and at a pH of from 1 to 2.5, and the pH being set to a value of from 4 to 8 after the reaction.

Abstract: 3-Pentenoic esters are prepared by carbonylation of alkoxybutenes in the presence of a catalyst and a solvent at elevated temperature and elevated pressure, by reacting at least one C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 -alkoxybutene in which the alkoxy group is in the allyl position relative to the double bond with carbon monoxide at from 60 to 140.degree. C. and a carbon monoxide partial pressure in the range from 3 to 30 MPa in the presence of a catalyst based on palladium.

Abstract: Polymers are obtained by polymerising olefinically unsaturated monomers in the presence of a metal complex having the general formula (I), in which the substituents and indexes have the following meanings: M is a metal of group VIIIB of the periodic table of elements; E.sup.1, E.sup.2 stand for an element of group VA of the periodic table of elements; Z is a bridging structural unit made of one, two or three substructural units of elements of groups IVA, VA, VIA of the periodic table of elements; R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 stand for substituents selected in the group that consists of C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 organic carbon residues and C.sub.3 -C.sub.30 organic silicium residues which may contain one or several elements of groups IVA, VA, VIA and VIIA of the periodic table of elements; L.sup.1, L.sup.2 stand for formally charged or neutral ligands; X stands for monovalent or polyvalent anions; p equals 0, 1 or 2; m, n equal 0, 1 or 2, whereas p=m.times.n.

Abstract: Polymers are obtainable by polymerizing olefinically unsaturated monomers in the presence of a catalyst system which comprises as active constituentsa) a salt of a metal of group VIII B of the Periodic Table of the Elements,b) one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of protic acids and Lewis acids,c) a chelating compound of the formula (I)R.sup.1 R.sup.2 E.sup.1 --Z--E.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4 (I)where the substituents and indices have the following meanings:E.sup.1, E.sup.2 are each an element from group VA of the Periodic Table of the Elements,Z is a bridging structural unit comprising one, two or three substructural units of elements of groups IVA, VA and VIA of the Periodic Table of the Elements,R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 are substituents selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -organic and C.sub.3 -C.sub.30 -organosilicon radicals, where the radicals may contain one or more elements of groups IVA, VA, VIA and VIIA of the Periodic Table of the Elements.

Abstract: Polymeric polyamines obtainable by reacting linear, alternating carbon monoxide/1-alkene copolymers with ammonia or amines of the formula (I)R--NH.sub.2 (I)where R is --NH.sub.2, --OH, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 -alkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 -aryl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.20 -arylalkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.20 -alkylaryl or an organosilicon radical having 3 to 30 carbon atoms,or with a reagent which releases ammonia or the amine (I), and subsequent hydrogenation.

Abstract: In a process for the continuous preparation of methyl formate by reaction of carbon monoxide and methanol under elevated pressure and elevated temperature in the presence of an alkali metal methoxide, the reaction is carried out at a pressure of from 210 to 250 bar in the presence of from 0.05 to 0.2% by weight of alkali metal methoxide, based on methanol used.

Abstract: Copolymers of carbon monoxide and olefinically unsaturated compounds are obtainable by polymerization of the monomers in the presence of a metal complex of the formula (I) ##STR1## where the substituents and indices have the following meanings: M is a metal from group VIIIB of the Periodic Table of the Elements,E.sup.1, E.sup.2 are each an element from group VA of the Periodic Table of the Elements,Z is a structural unit having a bridging atom selected from among the elements of groups IVA, VA and VIA of the Periodic Table of the Elements,R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 are substituents selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -organic and C.sub.3 -C.sub.30 -organosilicon radicals, where at least one of the four radicals is a nonaromatic radical,L.sup.1, L.sup.2 are formally charged or uncharged ligandsX are formally monovalent or polyvalent anionsp is 0, 1 or 2m, n are 0, 1 or 2where p=m.times.n.

Abstract: A process for selectively preparing a carboxylic acid by reacting an olefin with carbon monoxide in the presence of at least an equimolar amount of water with respect to the olefin at a temperature of from 50.degree. to 150.degree. C.

Abstract: The process for carbonylating olefins with carbon monoxide in the presence of water, an alcohol or a carboxylic acid and a halogen-free catalyst comprises using a catalyst comprising nickel or a nickel compound and at least one of the metals of the group consisting of chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, rhenium, ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, iridium, palladium, platinum, silver and gold, or a compound of these metals.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of formic acid by the reaction of carbon monoxide with water at temperatures of from 100.degree. to 250.degree. C. and absolute from 100 to 350 bar, in which tertiary amines of the general formula I ##STR1## in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 individually denote C.sub.1 -C.sub.14 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl, aryl, and C.sub.7 -C.sub.16 aralkyl or together denote a 1,4-alkylene group or 1,5-alkylene group optionally mono- to tetra-substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, provided that the total number of carbon atoms in R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 is from 3 to 40,are added to the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A process for preparing formic acid by thermal cleavage of quaternary ammonium formates of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are C.sub.1 - to C.sub.14 -alkyl, C.sub.3 - to C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, aryl or C.sub.7 - to C.sub.16 -aralkyl, or together are 1,4- or 1,5-alkylene which is unsubstituted or substituted one to four times by C.sub.1 -to C.sub.4 -alkyl, with the proviso that the sum of the carbon atoms of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 in the quaternary ammonium formates I is 7 to 40,comprises carrying out the cleavage in the presence of secondary formamides of the general formula II ##STR2## where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are C.sub.2 - to C.sub.10 -alkyl, C.sub.3 - to C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, aryl or C.sub.7 - to C.sub.16 -aralkyl, or together are 1,4- or 1,5-alkylene which is unsubstituted or substituted one to four times by C.sub.1 - to C.sub.4 -alkyl,which formamides boil 30.degree. to 150.degree. C. lower than the tertiary amine of the general formula III ##STR3## where R.sup.1, R.