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: To isolate naphthoquinone and phthalic anhydride from the gas obtained in the gas phase oxidation of naphthalene, the gas product at 250.degree. to 500.degree. C is first quenched with a counter-current liquid stream of naphthalene, naphthoquinone and phthalic anhydride. The liquid is raised to at most 200.degree. C, cooled and partly recycled, the coolant temperature being within 70.degree. C of the temperature of the liquid being cooled. The portion of the quench liquid which is not recycled is the product, viz. a solution of naphthoquinone and phthalic anhydride in naphthalene. The quenched gas is scrubbed with liquid naphthalene and most of the liquid product is cooled and re-cycled, the balance of the liquid product being passed to the quencher. The gas which leaves the scrubber is substantially free from naphthoquinone and phthalic anhydride. The initial gas may have been pre-cooled by evaporative cooling.

Abstract: A process for the production of an .omega.-formyl carboxylic acid ester, comprising reacting an enol ether of a cyclic ketone with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of at least one catalyst selected from the group consisting of a compound of boron or of a metal of the Fifth or Sixth Secondary Group of the Periodic Table. Advantageously the enol ether has the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is alkyl of 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 5 or 6 carbon atoms or phenyl optionally substituted by fluorine, chlorine, alkoxy of 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, cyano or phenyl,n is an integer of about 3 to 10, andR.sub.

Abstract: Aldehydes are prepared by reacting an oxirane compound with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of one or more compounds of a metal of Groups IIIa-VIIa or Group VIII of the Mendeleev period table.

Abstract: A process for the production of an .omega.-formyl carboxylic acid ester, comprising reacting an enol ether of a cyclic ketone with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of at least one catalyst selected from the group consisting of a compound of boron or of a metal of the Fifth or Sixth Secondary Group of the Periodic Table. Advantageously the enol ether has the formula ##EQU1## wherein R.sub.1 is alkyl of 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 5 or 6 carbon atoms or phenyl optionally substituted by fluorine, chlorine, alkoxy of 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, cyano or phenyl,n is an integer of about 3 to 10, andR.sub.

Abstract: Aldehydes are prepared by reacting an oxirane compound with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a boron compound.

Abstract: Aldehydes are prepared by reacting an olefin with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of at least one boron compound and at least one compound of one of the metals of the fifth and/or sixth Secondary Group of the Periodic Table.

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: Allyl alcohol is produced in simple and economical fashion from propylene and oxygen by reacting propylene, oxygen and acetic acid over a palladium-containing catalyst in the presence of water; condensing the reaction product to form a condensate containing allyl acetate, acetic acid and water; treating the condensate with an acid catalyst and separating the resulting product by distillation into a head product consisting essentially of an allyl acetate/allyl alcohol/water azeotrope and into a sump product consisting essentially of acetic acid, allyl alcohol and water; recycling the head product to the acid catalyst stage; separating the sump product in a second distillation into an allyl alcohol/water head product and into a second sump product consisting essentially of acetic acid and water and recycling this sump product to the initial reaction.

Abstract: A process for the production of ketazine corresponding to the general formula ##EQU1## in which: R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently linear or branched alkyl radicals of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms or a phenyl radical, or taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached represent a carbocyclic ring with 5 to 8 carbon atoms or a cyclic alkyl radical with 5 to 8 carbon atoms, comprising reacting ammonia, hydrogen peroxide and a ketone of the general formulaR.sub.1 - CO - R.sub.2in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are as defined above, in the presence of hydrocyanic acid.

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