Abstract: 5-Hydroxymethylthiazole is prepared in an improved manner by reducing 5-formylthiazole using a borane compound. Particularly advantageous in this case is the use of 5-formylthiazole which has been obtained by reaction of a 2-halomalonaldehyde compound with thioformamide in the presence of less than 5% by weight of water (based on the reaction mixture).

Abstract: A process for separating off poorly soluble by-products from reaction mixtures which are produced in the oxidation of p-cresol with oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in methanol as solvent in the presence of alkali metal hydroxide and in the presence of metal compounds as catalyst, is characterized in that, after the oxidation, excess alkali is neutralized to the extent that a salt precipitate forms and this salt precipitate is separated off together with the poorly soluble by-products.

Abstract: Diphenylamine can be dehydrocyclized on noble metal catalysts in the liquid phase at temperatures of 200.degree. to 340.degree. C. The reaction proceeds with a surprisingly high selectivity.

Abstract: (2RS,3RS)-3-(2'-aminophenylthio)-2-hydroxy-3-(4"-methoxyphenyl)-propionic acid methyl ester, an important precursor for the preparation of the pharmaceutical active substance diltiazem, is obtained in a particularly high stereoselectivity and yield by addition of o-aminothiophenol onto 3-(4'-methoxyphenyl)-glycidic acid methyl ester if the reaction is carried out in the presence of alkali metal salts of weak acids in the presence of catalytic amounts of iron compounds.

Abstract: 3-Chloro-3'-nitro-4'-methoxybenzophenone with substantially lower contents of dinitro derivatives than hitherto is obtained if 3-chloro-4'-methoxybenzophenone is nitrated in from 65 to 85% strength by weight sulfuric acid with nitric acid at temperatures in the range from -20.degree. to +60.degree. C.

Abstract: 3-Fluoro-4,6-dichlorotoluene can be prepared in a particularly favourable manner by first chlorinating 3-fluorotoluene at low temperature in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst and a heterocyclic cocatalyst to give a mixture containing 3-fluoro-4-chlorobenzene and 3-fluoro-6-chlorobenzene, and subsequently, without intermediate isolation, further chlorinating this mixture, at higher temperature, after addition of further Friedel-Crafts catalyst and further heterocyclic cocatalyst, to give 3-fluoro-4,6-dichlorotoluene.

Abstract: 2-Chloroacrylonitrile is prepared in a particularly advantageous and readily industrially practicable manner by chlorinating acrylonitrile and then thermally cleaving the 2,3-diehloropropionitrile formed, by chlorinating acrylonitrile in the presence of a catalyst system comprising dimethylformamide and pyridine and/or pyridine derivatives and subjecting the resulting crude 2,3-dichloropropionitrile to thermal cleavage in the presence of the same catalyst system without the addition of further catalysts.

Abstract: N-arylaminoacrylic acid derivatives are obtained in good yields and in high purities when benzoylacetic acid derivatives are reacted with N-arylimino ethers. The products thus prepared are used, in particular, for the preparation of 4-quinolone-3-carboxylic acid derivatives, which have an outstanding bactericidal action.

Abstract: Isobenzofurandiones are obtained in particularly advantageous manner by the dehydrogenation of tetrahydroisobenzofurandiones in the presence of catalysts at elevated temperature by a process in which distilled tetrahydro-isobenzofurandiones are heated to temperatures of between 120.degree. and 300.degree. C. in the presence of supported palladium and/or platinum catalysts and in the presence of maleic acid derivatives in a trickle-phase or liquid-phase procedure, the temperature in the liquid-phase procedure being increased at a rate of 0.6.degree. to 3.degree. C. per minute above 80.degree. to 110.degree. C.

Abstract: A mixture of 2,4-dichloro-5-fluorotoluene and 2,6-dichloro-3-fluorotoluene which cannot be separated in an economically efficient manner and can be reacted individually to give the corresponding benzonitriles is subjected according to the invention to ammoxidation in the form of this mixture and then separated at the stage of the benzonitriles by methods known to the person skilled in the art.

Abstract: 4-Fluorothiophenol is obtained in outstanding purifies and yields if 4-fluorobenzenesulphonyl chloride is reacted with sodium hydrogen sulphite solution to give a solution of sodium 4-fluorobenzenesulphinate, this solution is reduced with sulphur dioxide to give 4,4'-difluorodiphenyl disulphide and finally this is reacted with sodium borohydride in a water-miscible inert organic solvent to give 4-fluorothiophenol (sodium salt). Free 4-fluorothiophenol can be isolated from the sodium salt solution by acidification.

Abstract: 2-Chloro-6-nitrophenyl alkyl sulphides of the formula ##STR1## in which the substituents are as defined in the description, can be prepared by reacting 2,3-dichloro-nitrobenzenes of the formula ##STR2## with mercaptans of the formulaHS-R.sup.1 (III)in the presence of 1-1.2 equivalents of a base per mole of mercaptan and in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst, at a temperature of 0.degree.-100.degree. C., in an aqueous or aqueous-organic medium. The majority of the 2-chloro- 6-nitrophenyl alkyl sulphides obtainable in this way are novel.

Abstract: 2-(Arylimino-methyl)-3-dialkylaminoacrylonitriles can be obtained by reaction of .beta.-anilino-acrylonitriles with ortho-formamides. They are suitable as starting substances for the preparation of 4-amino-5-iminiummethylene-2-pyrimidines or 4-amino-5-formyl-2-pyrimidines.

Abstract: Methylene compounds are preferably prepared by reducing an aluminum halide complex of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 represents a C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 -aryl radical which is optionally substituted by 1 to 4 C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl radicals, 1 to 4 fluorine, chlorine and/or bromine atoms, one C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy group and/or one acetoxy group, or represents a heteroaryl radical which is optionally substituted by one C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl radical and/or one fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom and contains 5 to 10 C atoms and one O or S atom andR.sup.2 represents a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkyl radical which is optionally substituted by 1 to 5 fluorine, chlorine and/or bromine atoms, independently of R.sup.1 represents a radical as defined for R.sup.1 and, in the case where R.sup.1 =a C.sub.6 -C.sub.

Abstract: Alkylhydrazine salts are prepared on an industrial scale and with good results by reacting together hydrazine, an alkene and a strong protonic acid in the presence of water, hydrazine and the protonic acid being introduced, the alkene being added, the liquid and gaseous phases present in the reaction vessel being intensively mixed together at 75.degree. to 150.degree. C., then the reaction mixture being cooled to temperatures below 60.degree. C., the precipitated alkylhydrazine salt being separated off, hydrazine and strong protonic acid being again added to the mother liquor, then alkene being added again and the next reaction cycle being thus carried out.

Abstract: The new process for the preparation of 2-nitrobenzaldehydes of the general formula ##STR1## in which X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 either independently of one another represent hydrogen or halogen or one of the substituents represents nitro and the other substituent then represents hydrogen,by oxidation of 2-nitrotoluenes of the general formula ##STR2## in which X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 have the meaning indicated above is characterized in that the oxidation with oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas is carried out in the presence of at least one alkoxyalkylamine as a solvent and in the presence of strong bases.

Abstract: 4,6-diaminoresorcinol can be prepared in a plurality of steps in such a way thata) 1,3-dichlorobenzene is nitrated with a mixed acid of HNO.sub.3, H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and SO.sub.3 at 0 to 40.degree. C. in anhydrous H.sub.2 SO.sub.4,b) the resulting 1,3-dichloro-4,6/2,4-dinitrobenzene isomeric mixture is first reacted with benzyl alcohol in the presence of a strong base at -15.degree. C. to +15.degree. C. and then at 20.degree. to 40.degree. C. to give the dibenzyloxy compound andc) the 1,3-dibenzyloxy-4,6-dinitrobenzene isomer arising in pure form in b) is converted to the 4,6-diaminoresorcinol by catalytic hydrogenation.

Abstract: Halogenated benzenes are hydrodehalogenated in a particularly advantageous manner and at low temperatures by contacting them at temperatures of between 100.degree. and 250.degree. C. together with hydrogen with a catalyst prepared by application of one or more salts of palladium and/or platinum and, if desired, of copper to an alumina or titanium dioxide support.

Abstract: Dialkyl dicarbonates are obtained particularly advantageously from halogenoformic esters by reaction with alkalis in the presence of water-immiscible organic solvents and in the presence of a catalyst, if the catalyst used is benzylalkyldimethylammonium halides. The catalyst is then particularly easy to separate off and to recycle from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: 2,2'-Dinitrodiphenyl disulphide is obtained in particularly good yields and purities in a simple manner by reacting 2-chloronitrobenzene with an aqueous alkali metal disulphide solution in the presence of phase transfer catalysts and an organic solvent.