Abstract: A process for making the known fungicide intermediate 2-(4-chlorophenyl ethyl)-2-tert.-butyloxirane of the formula ##STR1## comprising (a) mixing a solution of trimethylsulphonium bromide of the formula(CH.sub.3).sub.3 S.sup..sym. Br.sup..crclbar. (II)in a methanol/toluene mixture with preheated toluene and simultaneously distilling off a methanol/toluene mixture at a temperature between 65.degree. and 110.degree. C. until a suspension having a solids content between 10 and 70% by weight is formed, and(b) reacting the suspension of trimethylsulphonium bromide in toluene thus obtained with 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethylpentan-3-one of the formula ##STR2## in the presence of solid potassium hydroxide, diethylene glycol and water at a temperature between 20.degree. and 120.degree. C.

Abstract: In a process for the continuous preparation of pure organic solutions of percarboxylic acids having 2 to 5 carbon atoms, by(a) contacting aqueous hydrogen peroxide with a carboxylic acid containing 2 to 5 carbon atoms in the presence of an acid catalyst at a feed molar ratio of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 to carboxylic acid of 0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of .epsilon.-caprolactone having a purity of 99.9% and increased color and storage stability which comprises feeding .epsilon.-caprolactone, which has been made by reacting cyclohexanone with a solution of a percarboxylic acid, into a first distillation unit, operating at 0.1 to 500 mbars and drawing off as the top product a mixture consisting of .epsilon.-caprolactone and lower-boiling impurities, feeding the bottom product of said first distillation unit into a second distillation unit, operating at 0.1 to 500 mbars and then drawing off the pure .epsilon.-caprolactone as the top product. The .epsilon.-caprolactone is useful as an intermediate for the production of known useful compounds such as polyesterols which are subsequently converted to polyurethanes.

Abstract: Process for continuous production of substantially anhydrous solutions of percarboxylic acid in solvent. Aqueous hydrogen peroxide is first reacted with the corresponding carboxylic acid in the presence of acid catalyst to form percarboxylic acid and water (1). The percarboxylic acid is extracted with solvent (5), to provide a solvent phase containing the percarboxylic acid (11) and an aqueous raffinate (7). The solvent phase is subjected to distillation (12) to provide the anhydrous solution (13). In this distillation (12) the hydrogen peroxide remaining in the solvent phase produced in the extraction (5), is distilled off together with water and some solvent, and the hydrogen peroxide is recovered as an aqueous phase and recycled (14). The aqueous raffinate, which contains hydrogen peroxide, is distilled to remove water (8) and the resulting concentrate is recycled (2) for use in the reaction (1).

Abstract: A process for the continuous preparation of organic solutions of percarboxylic acids by reaction of an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide with the corresponding carboxylic acid in the presence of an acid, water-soluble catalyst which boils above 160.degree. C., extraction of the percarboxylic acid from the resulting reaction mixture using an organic solvent which is immiscible with water, reconcentration of the raffinate, which essentially contains hydrogen peroxide and the acid catalyst, by distilling off water in a distillation column and recycle of the raffinate, concentrated in this way, into the reaction with the carboxylic acid. The raffinate is divided into two partial streams in a ratio of 1 to 25:1.