Abstract: Process P1 for the manufacture of a secondary fatty alcohol, said process P1 comprising synthesizing an internal ketone K1 by a process P0 comprising the decarboxylative ketonization reaction of a fatty acid or the like in a liquid phase with a metal compound as catalyst in a reaction medium, wherein a ketone K2 at liquid state, which is identical or similar to the internal ketone K1, is introduced into the reaction medium, and subjecting the internal ketone K1 to a hydrogenation reaction with hydrogen gas as hydrogenating agent to form the secondary fatty alcohol. Use of the secondary fatty alcohol manufactured by the process P1 for the manufacture of an internal olefin or of an internal olefin sulfonate.

Abstract: New process for the preparation of prostaglandin E1 of formula (I) starting from the compound of formula (II).

Abstract: Methods of sulfonating a polymer are provided. One method of sulfonating a polymer includes exposing sulfur dioxide and oxygen to free radical producing energy and contacting the polymer with the product of preceding step. Desirably, the steps of exposing sulfur dioxide and oxygen to free radical producing energy and contacting the polymer with this product are performed in a reduced pressure environment. Another method of sulfonating a polymer includes contacting the polymer with sulfur dioxide and oxygen and exposing the contacted polymer to free radical producing energy. The polymer may be contacted with a mixture of sulfur dioxide and oxygen or the polymer may be separately contacted with sulfur dioxide and oxygen. When the polymer is separately contacted with sulfur dioxide and oxygen, the polymer may first be contacted with sulfur dioxide and then contacted with oxygen.

Abstract: Process for obtaining sulfonated paraffins containing more than 50% of polysulfonates, by weight, by causing essentially linear C.sub.12 -C.sub.20 paraffins to react with SO.sub.2 and O.sub.2, at a temperature comprised within the range of from 55 to 100.degree. C. and in the presence of a peroxide belonging to the class of peroxy dicarbonates.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an improved process for preparing paraffin-sulfonic acids containing from 10 to 20 carbon atoms, as well as their salts. The process comprises the initial reaction of sulfo-oxidation of the concerned mixture of n-paraffins, the removal of unreacted n-paraffins from the reaction mixture, the removal of the excess of SO.sub.2 from said mixture, and the removal from the reaction mixture of the therein formed sulfuric acid, with the simultaneous recovery of the end product.After the removal of SO.sub.2, to the reaction mixture hydrogen peroxide is added and the so obtained solution is submitted to one treatment selected from among the following treatments:(a) addition of an alcohol with a number of carbon atoms comprised within the range of from 4 to 8;(b) heating up to a temperature comprised within the range of from 50.degree. to 150.degree. C. and vacuum distillation under a residual pressure comprised within the range of from 5 to 500 mm.sub.

Abstract: Aliphatic sulphonic acids can be prepared by reacting n-paraffins with SO.sub.2 and O.sub.2 under UV irradiation with high selectivity even at conversions of up to 12 mol % if an amount of water is added which is appropriate to ensure that after the reaction has commenced and the stationary state has been reached, the sulphoxidation proceeds in homogeneous phase.