Abstract: A process for producing ethanol which comprises reacting methanol, carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a cobalt phosphine carbonyl complex having the formula:Co(CO).sub.3.R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 P.R.sub.4 R.sub.5 POwherein each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 is independently hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.20 cycloalkyl or aryl, and the alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl may contain a member selected from N, O, S, halogen and mixtures thereof is disclosed.

Abstract: A process for producing ethanol which comprises reacting methanol, carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a catalyst comprising cobalt or a cobalt compound and a tertiary phosphine as an effective component is disclosed. A gaseous mixture obtained by burning heavy oil or coal having a relatively high content of carbon can be used as a raw material for producing ethanol.

Abstract: A process for producing ethanol which comprises reacting methanol, carbon noxide and hydrogen in the presence of (a) a catalyst containing a cobalt component, an iron component, a ruthenium component and an iodine component, (b) at least one organic solvent and (c) water, said catalyst comprising the cobalt component in amount of 0.1-500 milligram atom (mg-atom) in terms of cobalt per 1 mol of methanol, an iron component in amount of 0.01-4 atoms per 1 atom of cobalt in terms of metal, a ruthenium component in amount of 0.01-4 atoms per 1 atom of cobalt in terms of metal and an iodine component in amount of 0.05-20 atoms per 1 atom of cobalt is disclosed. According to the present invention, selectivity to ethanol is high and ethanol can be obtained under mild conditions.

Abstract: A process for producing ethanol which comprises reacting methanol, carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of (a) a catalyst comprising cobalt or a cobalt compound and a tertiary phosphine as an effective component and (b) promoter comprising an aromatic carboxylic acid, an ester thereof, or a cobalt salt of aromatic carboxylic acid is disclosed. According to the present invention, formation of by-products becomes less and selectivity to realizable ethanol becomes higher.

Abstract: Ethanol is prepared with high selectivity from methanol, carbon monoxide and hydrogen by using cobalt phosphate as main catalyst in combination with a platinum group element as co-catalyst or without using such co-catalyst, and further with or without a phosphorus compound. Recovery of the catalyst can be carried out easily.

Abstract: A process for producing ethanol which comprises reacting methanol, carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of (a) a catalyst comprising cobalt or a cobalt compound and an alkyl phosphine as an effective component and (b) a co-catalyst comprising hydrochloric acid and in the absence of an iodide is disclosed. According to the present invention, formation of by-products becomes less and selectivity to realizable ethanol becomes higher.

Abstract: A process for producing ethanol which comprises reacting methanol, carbon monoxide and hydrogen, characterized in that the reaction is carried out in the presence of (a) a solvent selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, and ethers and (b) a catalyst comprising a cobalt compound, a ruthenium compound and a tertiary phosphine in the absence of iodine, bromine, an iodine compound or a bromine compound is disclosed. According to this invention, ethanol can be produced from methanol, carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a high selectivity to neat ethanol.

Abstract: A process for producing ethanol which comprises reacting methanol, carbon monoxide and hydrogen, characterized in that the reaction is carried out in the presence of (a) an inert solvent and (b) a catalyst containing cobalt compound, a manganese compound and a tertiary phosphine. According to the present invention, amount of by-products formed is small.

Abstract: In a process for producing acetaldehyde which comprises reacting a mixture of methanol and methyl acetate with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a cobalt-iodine catalyst, the improvement wherein methyl acetate is used in an amount of 0.4 to 9 parts by weight per part by weight of methanol, cobalt and iodine are used in an amount of 2 to 100 milligram-atoms and 8 to 200 milligram-atoms, respectively, per mole of the entire methyl groups in the methanol and methyl acetate, 1 to 4 iodine atoms being present per cobalt atom, and the reaction is carried out at a temperature lower than 160.degree. C. and a pressure of not more than 300 kg/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: A process for producing adipic acid diester which comprises the first step of reacting butadiene, carbon monoxide and an alcohol in the present of cobalt carbonyl catalyst at a temperature of from 80.degree. to 160.degree. C. to form a 3-pentenoic acid ester, andthe second step of reacting the 3-pentenoic acid ester in the reaction mixture, carbon monoxide and an alcohol at a temperature of from 160.degree. to 220.degree. C., characterized in that the first and second reactions are carried out in an amine solvent is disclosed.

Abstract: A commercially acceptable and advantageous process for the preparation of an alkyl carboxylate having the formula R.sup.1 COOCH.sub.2 R.sup.2 by reacting an alkyl carboxylate having the formula R.sup.1 COOR.sup.2, carbon monoxide and hydrogen is disclosed (R.sup.1 is hydrogen, alkyl group or aromatic group and R.sup.2 is alkyl group). The reaction is conducted by the concurrent use of manganese and ruthenium as catalyst in the presence of iodine or bromine as the promoter. The reaction proceeds smoothly under milder condition in high yield and high selectivity.

Abstract: In a process for producing a 3-pentenoic ester which comprises reacting butadiene, carbon monoxide and an alcohol in the presence of a solvent and a catalyst selected from cobalt carbonyl or cobalt carbonyl complex, the improvement which comprises distilling the reaction mixture to remove organic volatile components comprised of the 3-pentenoic ester and the unreacted raw materials and the solvent and contacting the distillation residue with an organic solvent to dissolve and/or disperse the residue in the solvent and contacting the resulting organic solution with an aqueous acid solution to extract any cobalt component from the organic solution with the aqueous acid solution, and separating the aqueous acid solution containing the cobalt component from the organic solution, and neutralizing the aqueous acid solution with an alkaline solution to precipitate a cobalt component is disclosed.

Abstract: A process for producing a 2-pentenoic ester which comprises contacting the corresponding 3-pentenoic ester with a composite catalyst composed of magnesia and alumina is disclosed.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a 3-pentenoic ester which comprises reacting butadiene, carbon monoxide and an alcohol in the presence of cobalt carbonyl catalyst, characterized in that the reaction is carried out in a reaction medium composed of at least two solvents selected from the group consisting of pyridine, quinoline, isoquinoline and substituted pyridine, substituted quinoline and substituted isoquinoline in which substituent or substituents are selected from the group consisting of alkyl having 1-6 carbon atoms, alkenyl having 1-6 carbon atoms, aryl, alkylaryl having 7-10 carbon atoms and aralkyl having 7-10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for producing a 2-pentenoic ester which comprises isomerizing the corresponding 3-pentenoic ester in the presence of a dicyclized amidine is disclosed.

Abstract: Phthalonitrile is produced in a good yield by contacting a xylylenediamine condensate with an oxide catalyst of silica or alumina system in the presence of a molecular oxygen-containing gas or a mixture of a molecular oxygen-containing gas and ammonia.