Abstract: In a process for oxidizing a feed comprising cyclohexylbenzene, the feed is contacted with oxygen and an oxidation catalyst in a plurality of reaction zones connected in series, the contacting being conducted under conditions being effective to oxidize part of the cyclohexylbenzene in the feed to cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide in each reaction zone. At least one of the plurality of reaction zones has a reaction condition that is different from another of the plurality of reaction zones. The different reaction conditions may include one or more of (a) a progressively decreasing temperature and (b) a progressively increasing oxidation catalyst concentration as the feed flows from one reaction zone to subsequent reaction zones in the series.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for dehydrogenating a saturated cyclic hydrocarbon and/or 5-membered ring compound with a dehydrogenation catalyst. The dehydrogenation catalyst comprises: (i) 0.05 wt % to 5 wt % of a metal selected from Group 14 of the Periodic Table of Elements; and (ii) 0.1 wt % to 10 wt % of a metal selected from Groups 6 to 10 of the Periodic Table of Elements. The process is conducted under dehydrogenation conditions effective to dehydrogenate at least a portion saturated cyclic hydrocarbon and/or 5-membered ring compound.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for producing phenol. The processes include oxidizing cyclohexylbenzene to produce an oxidation composition comprising cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide. The cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide in the oxidation composition may undergo a cleavage reaction to produce a cleavage reaction mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone and at least one contaminant. The cleavage reaction mixture may be contacted with a basic material to convert at least a portion of the contaminant to a converted contaminant, thereby producing a modified reaction mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing phenol. The process includes oxidizing at least a portion of a feed comprising cyclohexylbenzene to produce an oxidation composition comprising cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide. The oxidation composition may then be cleaved in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce a cleavage reaction mixture comprising the acid catalyst, phenol and cyclohexanone. At least a portion of the cleavage reaction mixture may be neutralized with a basic material to form a treated cleavage reaction mixture. In various embodiments, the cleavage reaction mixture contains 1 wt % to 30 wt % phenol, 1 wt % to 30 wt % cyclohexanone and a complexation product.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for dehydrogenating a saturated cyclic hydrocarbon and/or 5-membered ring compound with a dehydrogenation catalyst. The dehydrogenation catalyst comprises: (i) 0.05 wt % to 5 wt % of a metal selected from Group 14 of the Periodic Table of Elements; and (ii) 0.1 wt % to 10 wt % of a metal selected from Groups 6 to 10 of the Periodic Table of Elements. The process is conducted under dehydrogenation conditions effective to dehydrogenate at least a portion saturated cyclic hydrocarbon and/or 5-membered ring compound.

Abstract: In a process for oxidizing a feed comprising cyclohexylbenzene, the feed is contacted with oxygen and an oxidation catalyst in a plurality of reaction zones connected in series, the contacting being conducted under conditions being effective to oxidize part of the cyclohexylbenzene in the feed to cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide in each reaction zone. At least one of the plurality of reaction zones has a reaction condition that is different from another of the plurality of reaction zones. The different reaction conditions may include one or more of (a) a progressively decreasing temperature and (b) a progressively increasing oxidation catalyst concentration as the feed flows from one reaction zone to subsequent reaction zones in the series.

Abstract: Provided are compositions, processes for making, and processes for using neoalkyl polyol esters and triglycerides as plasticizers. In one form, a neoalkylester triglyceride plasticizers can be produced by (i) drying a polyol feedstream; (ii) contacting in a reactor the dried polyol feedstream with a neoacid feedstream under effective temperature, pressure and time to form a neoalkylester plasticizer effluent stream, and (iii) purifying the neoalkylester plasticizer effluent stream to remove unreacted polyol and unreacted neoacid to form a neoalkylester plasticizer. Such plasticizers can be phthalate-free and provide outstanding properties including a suitable melting or pour point, glass transition temperature, low volatility, increased compatibility, increased hydrolytic stability, and excellent low temperature properties in a range of polymeric resins.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing phenol. The process includes oxidizing at least a portion of a feed comprising cyclohexylbenzene to produce an oxidation composition comprising cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide. The oxidation composition may then be cleaved in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce a cleavage reaction mixture comprising the acid catalyst, phenol and cyclohexanone. At least a portion of the cleavage reaction mixture may be neutralized with a basic material to form a treated cleavage reaction mixture. In various embodiments, the cleavage reaction mixture contains 1 wt % to 30 wt % phenol, 1 wt % to 30 wt % cyclohexanone and a complexation product.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for producing phenol. The processes include oxidizing cyclohexylbenzene to produce an oxidation composition comprising cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide. The cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide in the oxidation composition may undergo a cleavage reaction to produce a cleavage reaction mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone and at least one contaminant. The cleavage reaction mixture may be contacted with a basic material to convert at least a portion of the contaminant to a converted contaminant, thereby producing a modified reaction mixture.

Abstract: In a process for producing phenol and cyclohexanone, a feed comprising cyclohexylbenzene is oxidized to produce an oxidation reaction product comprising cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide. At least a portion of the oxidation reaction product is then cleaved to produce a cleavage reaction product comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and at least one contaminant. At least a portion of the cleavage reaction product is contacted with an acidic material to convert at least a portion of the at least one contaminant to a converted contaminant and thereby produce a modified reaction product. The cleavage reaction product may comprise 1 wt %-30 wt % phenol; 1 wt %-30 wt % cyclohexanone; and 0.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions having (a) at least 99 wt % cyclohexanone; and (b) 0.1 wppm to 1000 wppm of at least one of cyclohexanedione and hydroxycyclohexanone. The wt % and wppm are based upon the total weight of the composition. The compositions may further comprise 0.1 wppm to 1000 wppm of cyclohexanol.

Abstract: Mono- or diester plasticizers of the formula: wherein A is either —OC(O)R? or ?O, and X is either —COC(O)R or —C(O)OR, and R and R? are C3 to C13 alkyl, which are the same or different, formed from cyclohexylbenzene and processes of making them.

Abstract: A process for making non-phthalate, 1,2-phenylene oxo-diester plasticizers for polymer compositions, by selectively hydrogenating naphthalene to form a partially hydrogenated naphthalene, oxygenating said partially hydrogenated naphthalene to form phenylene diacids, and esterifying said phenylene diacids with oxo-alcohols to form 1,2-phenylene oxo-diesters. Also a process for making phenylene oxo-diester plasticizers by selectively brominating xylenes to form bisbromomethylbenzene, catalytic carboalkoxylation of the bromo-compound to form phenylene diacetate, followed by transesterification to form the phenylene oxo-diester.

Abstract: Provided are compositions, processes for making, and processes for using neoalkyl polyol esters and triglycerides as plasticizers. In one form, a neoalkylester triglyceride plasticizers can be produced by (i) drying a polyol feedstream; (ii) contacting in a reactor the dried polyol feedstream with a neoacid feedstream under effective temperature, pressure and time to form a neoalkylester plasticizer effluent stream, and (iii) purifying the neoalkylester plasticizer effluent stream to remove unreacted polyol and unreacted neoacid to form a neoalkylester plasticizer. Such plasticizers can be phthalate-free and provide outstanding properties including a suitable melting or pour point, glass transition temperature, low volatility, increased compatibility, increased hydrolytic stability, and excellent low temperature properties in a range of polymeric resins.

Abstract: In a process for producing phenol and methyl ethyl ketone, benzene and a C4 olefin are contacted under alkylation conditions and in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce sec-butylbenzene. The sec-butylbenzene is then oxidized to produce an oxidation effluent comprising sec-butylbenzene hydroperoxide and acetophenone. At least part of the sec-butylbenzene hydroperoxide in the oxidation effluent is cleaved to produce phenol and methyl ethyl ketone, while at least part of the acetophenone is hydrogenated to produce at least one of methyl benzyl alcohol, styrene and ethylbenzene.

Abstract: In a process for producing phenol and methyl ethyl ketone, benzene and a C4 olefin are contacted under alkylation conditions and in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce sec-butylbenzene. The sec-butylbenzene is then oxidized to produce an oxidation effluent comprising sec-butylbenzene hydroperoxide and acetophenone. At least part of the sec-butylbenzene hydroperoxide in the oxidation effluent is cleaved to produce phenol and methyl ethyl ketone, while at least part of the acetophenone is hydrogenated to produce at least one of methyl benzyl alcohol, styrene and ethylbenzene.