Abstract: Bis-hydroxyphenyl-n-alkanes are prepared by contacting dicarboxylic acids or dicarboxylic acid derivatives with fluorine-containing organic sulphonic acids, where appropriate with the addition of a phenolic compound, and converting the alkanediones, which are thus obtainable, into bis-hydroxyphenyl-n-alkanes by hydrogenation and, where appropriate, an additional ether cleavage. The invention also relates to new bis-hydroxyphenyl-n-alkanes and to new alkanediones.

Abstract: Insecticidally, arachnicidally and fungicidally active novel isoxazolidines of the formula ##STR1## in which n is 2 or 3,R.sup.1 is H or alkyl,R.sup.2 is optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, aryl or a heterocyclic radical which is optionally substituted, andA is a di- or trivalent aryl or heteroaryl radical which is optionally substituted by alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, aryloxy, arylthio, halogen, CN, OH, halogenoalkyl, halogenoalkoxy, halogenoalkylthio, alkoxyalkyl, optionally halogen-substituted methylenedioxy or ethylenedioxy.Some of the intermediates are also new.

Abstract: The invention relates to SO.sub.3 adducts with imides, which are sparingly soluble or insoluble in water, of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R have the meaning indicated in the description, a process for the preparation of the adducts and their use as sulphonating agents.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of hexahydrophthalic acid anhydride which comprises hydrogenation .DELTA..sup.4 -tetrahydrophthalic acid anhydride in the liquid phase at a temperature of from 70.degree. to 150.degree. C. and at a pressure of from 30 to 200 bar in the presence of a catalyst selected from palladium, ruthenium, nickel or mixtures thereof arranged in a fixed bed, wherein the catalyst is applied to a carrier of alumina of which at least 20% by weight has been converted into lithium aluminium spinel and the liquid phase is a mixture of .DELTA..sup.4 -tetrahydrophthalic acid anhydride and hexahydrophthalic anhydride in a proportion by weight of from 1:1 to 1:100.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons by gas phase hydrogenation of aromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of palladium catalyst, characterized in that palladium catalyst is used which contains the palladium applied to a support which comprises aluminium oxide of which at least 20% by weight, relative to the weight of the support, has been converted to lithium-aluminium spinel. The gas phase hydrogenation can be carried out at atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: 2-Methylpropane-1,3-diol is prepared by reacting 2-methylenepropane-1,3-diol diacetate with a monohydric, lower aliphatic alcohol in the presence of a base. Thereafter the resulting 2-methylenepropane-1,3 diol is catalytically hydrogenated to form 2-methylpropane-1,3-diol.

Abstract: In the preparation of isoprene by reacting isobutene with formaldehyde to produce 4,4-dimethyl-m-dioxane in a first stage, and decomposing the dioxane to isoprene and formaldehyde in a second stage, formaldehyde in the effluent streams of either or both of said stages is recovered. The formaldehyde-containing liquids are distilled to separate high boilers; the overhead, which is formaldehyde-rich, is extracted with isobutene feed to the process, whereby the isobutene extracts low boilers from the formaldehyde-containing liquid; and the formaldehyde-containing liquid, having at some point after said distillation been treated with an alkaline material, is subjected to rectification to produce as head product, the recovered formaldehyde.

Abstract: A palladium catalyst on an aluminum spinel carrier is used to selectively hydrogenate phenol to cyclohexanone.