Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of saturated C3-C20-alcohols in which a liquid hydrogenation feed comprising at least one C3-C20-aldehyde is passed over a bed of a hydrogenation catalyst in the presence of a hydrogen-containing gas, which comprises adding to the hydrogenation feed an amount, homogeneously soluble therein, of a salt-like base. The addition of base suppresses side reactions, such as acetalization, aldolization, Tischtschenko reaction or ether formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of saturated C3-C20-alcohols in which a liquid hydrogenation feed comprising at least one C3-C20-aldehyde is passed over a bed of a hydrogenation catalyst in the presence of a hydrogen-containing gas, which comprises adding to the hydrogenation feed an amount, homogeneously soluble therein, of a salt-like base. The addition of base suppresses side reactions, such as acetalization, aldolization, Tischtschenko reaction or ether formation.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of polyisobutene from isobutene and/or hydrocarbons containing isobutene in the presence of a complex of BF.sub.3 and an alcohol, wherein the free BF.sub.3 is substantially removed from the complex solution and/or from the reaction chamber.

Abstract: Motor fuel compositions contain alkoxylation products of oxo oils or their fractions or esters thereof, which are alkoxylated with propene oxide and/or butene oxides and/or not more than minor aomunts of ethene oxide.

Abstract: Olefinically unsaturated compounds are hydroformylated continuously, the olefin being passed into the lower region of the reactor, under from 1 to 40 bar and at from 50.degree. to 140.degree. C. with the aid of a rhodium complex as a catalyst in a hydroformylation reactor having a liquid reaction zone which occupies about 60-85% of the reactor volume, the gaseous products and reactants being removed from the hydroformylation reactor, the products being isolated and the major part of the remaining gas being recycled to the reactor by the cycle gas method, by a process in which from 20 to 80% by volume of the cycle gas is fed into the hydroformylation reactor above the liquid reaction zone and/or below the liquid surface in the top fourth of the liquid reaction zone.

Abstract: Preparation of C.sub.3 - to C.sub.25 -alkanols by catalytic hydrogenation of corresponding crude C.sub.3 - to C.sub.25 -alkanols, as obtained in the cobalt-catalyzed hydroformylation of C.sub.2 - to C.sub.24 -olefins, by partial 80-95% hydrogenation conversion in a first stage using a silica supported nickel and molybdenum oxide catalyst and then completing the conversion in a second stage using a cobalt catalyst containing copper, manganese, molybdenum and,optionally other activating additives. The process is especially adapted to the economic preparation of C.sub.9 -C.sub.11 - and C.sub.13 -C.sub.15 -alkanols which are used to prepare high-grade plasticizer esters.

Abstract: Formamide is prepared continuously from methyl formate and ammonia, pure methanol being recovered, by a process wherein(a) the reaction of methyl formate and ammonia is carried out predominantly in the liquid phase in the upper region of a reaction column R having a total of from 15 to 30 theoretical plates,(b) the methanol formed in this reaction is removed, together with small amounts of formamide, from the column or the evaporator in vaporus form at the level of plates 1-5 (counted from the bottom),(c) the formamide is removed from this methanol/formamide mixture, together with small amounts of methanol, in a distillation column D1 and recycled to R, and(d) the small amounts of methanol contained in the bottom product from R, which substantially consists of formamide and in this column should be at from 110.degree. to 130.degree. C., are separated off in a distillation column D2.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of acetic acid esters CH.sub.3 --CO--O--R.sup.1 (I, R.sup.1 =an organic radical other than methyl and ethyl) by alkali-catalyzed trans-esterification of an acetic acid ester CH.sub.3 --CO--O--R.sup.2 (II, R.sup.2 =methyl or ethyl) with an alcohol R.sup.1 --OH (III), accompanied by elimination of the alcohol R.sup.2 --OH (IV), wherein(a) the trans-esterification reaction is carried out in the middle section K.sub.M of a distillation column K, the alcohol III being fed as liquid into the upper zone and the ester II into the lower zone of K.sub.M,(b) the alkaline catalyst is introduced into the upper part K.sub.U of K,(c) the alcohol IV, or a mixture of IV and the ester II, is taken off the top of the column,(d) the mixture obtained from (c) (unless the alcohol IV alone is obtained) is separated in the column section K.sub.U or in a stripper column K.sub.S into IV and the azeotrope of II and IV, and the latter is recycled to the lower zone of K.sub.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of phthalic anhydride (PA) of catalytic oxidation of naphthalene or o-xylene with air, a preheated mixture of air and naphthalene or o-xylene being passed into a reactor charged with the catalyst, and the reaction gas leaving the reactor being passed through a separator in which the PA is separated out as a solid, in which process the air fed to the reactor is preheated, before or after the admixture of naphthalene or of o-xylene, by using it to cool the reaction gas in the PA separator.

Abstract: Process for carrying out exothermic reactions between a gas and a liquid in the presence of a solid catalyst by passing the gas and the liquid cocurrently through a packed reaction vessel, preferably of elongated shape, wherein the gas and liquid pass through the packed reaction vessel in transition flow.

Abstract: A process for the production of anhydrous or substantially anhydrous formic acid by hydrolysis of methyl formate which is carried out in a column having an upper fractionating section, a middle hydrolysis section and a lower extraction section and in which(a) the hydrolysis is carried out in the middle section of the columm, with water and methyl formate in countercurrent,(b) the resulting formic acid is extracted, in the lower section of the column, by means of a carboxylic acid amide which is fed into the lower end of the middle section of the column,(c) the extract phase, consisting in the main of formic acid and the carboxylic acid amide, is distillatively dehydrated, or substantially dehydrated, in the lower section of the column,(d) the methanol and uncovered methyl formate are removed by fractional distillation in the upper section of the column and(e) the pure formic acid or concentrated aqueous formic acid is distilled from the anhydrous or substantially anhydrous extract phase in a second column, le

Abstract: Polytetramethylene ether glycols with molecular weights of from 300 to 4500 are produced by polymerizing tetrahydrofuran with an adduct of antimony pentachloride with carboxylic acids or carboxylic acid esters as the catalyst in the presence of a carboxylic acid anhydride, e.g., acetic anhydride, as the promoter. Esterified, e.g., acetylated, polytetramethylene ether glycols produced are subsequently converted to polytetramethylene ether glycols by saponification or transesterification. The process causes substantially less environmental pollution than do prior art methods, yet it is both economical and flexible.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of polybutylene glycol carboxylic acid diesters of the formulaR--CO--O--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --O).sub.n CO--R.sup.1by polymerizing pretreated tetrahydrofuran in the presence of one or more carboxylic acids and/or carboxylic acid anhydrides and of a polymerization catalyst, especially antimony pentachloride or a bleaching earth containing less than 3% by weight of water, wherein the tetrahydrofuran is treated with a strong mineral acid, an organic sulfonic acid, silica gel and/or a bleaching earth prior to the polymerization.

Abstract: Hexamethylenimine (azocycloheptane) is produced from hexamethylenediamine by elimination of ammonia in a high-boiling solvent at a low concentration of hexamethyleneimine.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of secondary amines, especially fatty amines, from alcohols and ammonia over a hydrogenating catalyst in the presence of hydrogen, in which the reaction mixture essentially consists of alcohol and the amine formed, with only little ammonia, the latter being added progressively and the water formed in the reaction being removed progressively.

Abstract: The manufacture of N-disubstituted 1-aminoalk-2-yn-4-ols by reacting a secondary amine, e.g. a dialkylamine, formaldehyde and an acetylene-alcohol by a Mannich reaction, using a copper catalyst, takes place with better yield and at a higher rate if carried out in the presence of iodine or of a bromide or iodide.

Abstract: Cyclic ethers are manufactured by eliminating water from corresponding diols in the presence of aluminum oxide which has been obtained by precipitating aluminum hydroxide from an alkali metal aluminate solution by means of an acid and calcining the hydroxide at from 300.degree. to 1,000.degree. C.

Abstract: N-Alkylanilines are obtained by alkylating anilines with alcohols in the absence of hydrogen under a pressure substantially higher than the autogenous pressure of the reaction mixture, at from 50.degree. to 250.degree. C., preferably in the presence of a fixed catalyst containing cobalt, nickel and copper.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of polybutylene glycol carboxylic acid diesters of the formulaR-CO-O--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -O).sub.n CO-R.sup.1by polymerizing pretreated tetrahydrofuran in the presence of one or more carboxylic acids and/or carboxylic acid anhydrides and of a polymerization catalyst, especially antimony pentachloride or a bleaching earth containing less than 3% by weight of water, wherein the tetrahydrofuran is treated with a strong mineral acid, an organic sulfonic acid, silica gel and/or a bleaching earth prior to the polymerization.