Abstract: A process for the selective carbonylation of toluene to p-tolualdehyde which comprises mixing an N-alkylpyridinium halide and an anhydrous aluminum halide melt catalyst with toluene, at room temperature of higher and at superatmospheric pressure until the desired tolualdehyde is formed, and separating the desired product.

Abstract: Aryl halides are formylated with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a noble metal catalyst, tertiary organic nitrogen compounds and phosphanes or phosphites.

Abstract: Saturated aliphatic aldehydes are prepared by contacting diesters of carbonic acid with synthesis gas and a Group VIII compound, preferably a cobalt compound, a halogen, and optionally a Group V trivalent ligand.

Abstract: Alkylbenzaldehyde is continuously produced in high yield from alkylbenzene by formylation with carbon monoxide in the presence of HF--BF.sub.3, where the alkylbenzene, HF--BF.sub.3 and carbon monoxide under a carbon monoxide partial pressure of at least 5 kg/cm.sup.2 absolute are introduced into the reactor to continuously carry out complexing of the alkylbenzene with HF--BF.sub.3 and formylation with the carbon monoxide successively in one and same reactor.

Abstract: Alkyl carboxylates are hydrocarbonylated and/or carbonylated with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, in an aqueous medium, and in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst system comprising (i) ruthenium, (ii) cobalt, (iii) at least one iodine-containing promoter, and (iv) chromium. The subject hydrocarbonylation/carbonylation is admirably well suited, e.g., for the preparation of acetaldehyde, ethanol, ethyl acetate and acetic acid, especially from a methyl carboxylate.

Abstract: Alkyl carboxylates are hydrocarbonylated and/or carbonylated with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, in an aqueous medium, and in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst system comprising (i) ruthenium, (ii) cobalt, (iii) at least one iodine-containing promoter, and (iv) vanadium. The subject hydrocarbonylation/carbonylation is admirably well suited, e.g., for the preparation of acetaldehyde, ethanol, ethyl acetate and acetic acid, especially from a methyl carboxylate.

Abstract: A xylene mixture containing at least one of m-xylene and o-xylene is formylated by carbon monoxide in the presence of hydrogen fluoride and boron trifluoride at a molar ratio of boron trifluoride to sum total of m-xylene and o-xylene in the xylene mixture of not more than 1.5 to selectively and correspondingly produce at least one of 2,4-dimethylbenzaldehyde and 3,4-dimethylbenzaldehyde.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with novel dioxolane derivatives of the formula: ##STR1## in which R.sub.a is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl and R.sub.b is (1-4C)alkyl or phenyl optionally bearing a halogeno substituent; their production; and their use for the manufacture of certain known anti-arthritic acids of the formula: ##STR2## and, in particular, those acids in which R.sub.a =R.sub.b =methyl or R.sub.a =ethyl and R.sub.b =phenyl, by a novel reduction process. The preferred reduction procedures involve the use of an alkali metal borohydride or cyanoborohydride in the presence of a noble metal catalyst, or the use of an .alpha.-branched alkyl or cycloalkyl Grignard agent.The use of the derivatives of formula I avoids the need for potentially toxic reagents and reactive intermediates in the previously known processes for the production of the acids of formula V.

Abstract: A process for preparing an arylacetaldehyde by reacting the corresponding arylmethyl halide with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a cobalt compound and a basic reagent in a liquid medium, characterized in that the basic reagent is an alkali metal compound and the liquid medium is a solvent system chosen from nitriles and their mixtures with hydrocarbons, whereby the arylacetaldehyde can be produced in a good yield by the use of a small amount of the cobalt compound as the catalyst.

Abstract: Covers a method for preparing a para-alkyl substituted phenyl aldehyde by reacting carbon monoxide and an alkyl mono-substituted benzene in presence of a tantalum, niobium or antimony pentafluoride-hydrogen fluoride catalyst.