Abstract: 2-Alkyl-4,4-diacyloxybut-2-enals of the formula ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is alkyl and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each hydrogen or an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic radical, are prepared by a process in which a 2-alkyl-1,4-diacyloxybuta-1,3-diene of the formula ##STR2## is reacted with oxygen or an oxygen donor, in the presence of a carboxylic acid of the formulaR.sup.3 -COOH III.

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: Vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate are hydrocarboxylated with tertiary organo-phosphine stabilized palladium catalysts utilizing low water concentration; the ready hydrolysis of the .alpha.-acetoxypropionic acid affords a convenient route to lactic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of the conversion of tert-butyl alkanoates to methacrolein or methacrylonitrile, and more particularly to a process for the conversion of tert-butyl acetate to methacrolein or methacrylonitrile.

Abstract: Acetaldehyde is produced by reacting acetic anhydride with hydrogen in the presence of a supported Group VIII noble metal catalyst wherein the reaction is carried out in the liquid phase.

Abstract: A process for producing acetaldehyde is disclosed, which comprises reacting acetic anhydride with hydrogen in gaseous phase in the presence of a supported catalyst comprising a palladium, a platinum or a rhodium component.

Abstract: Acetaldehyde is produced by reacting acetic anhydride with hydrogen in the presence of a Group VIII noble metal catalyst wherein the reaction is carried out in the liquid phase but the reaction is maintained under boiling conditions and the entire reaction effluent is in vapor form.

Abstract: An improved vapor phase process for producing aldehydes from corresponding carboxylic acids and esters of said carboxylic acids by contacting the acid or ester at temperatures from about 300.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C. with hydrogen, in the presence of a catalyst selected from certain metal oxides.

Abstract: Acetic anhydride is reacted with hydrogen to produce ethylidene diacetate by carrying out the reaction in the presence of a catalyst comprising a molybdenum-nickel or a tungsten-nickel co-catalyst component and in the presence of an iodide and a promoter comprising an organo-phosphorus compound or an organo-nitrogen compound wherein the phosphorus and the nitrogen are trivalent.

Abstract: Ethylidene diacetate is prepared by treating methyl acetate and/or dimethyl ether with carbon monoxide and hydrogen by the use of a molybdenum-nickel or tungsten-nickel co-catalyst, in the presence of an iodide and in the presence of a promoter comprising an organo-phosphorus compound or an organo-nitrogen compound wherein the phosphorus and nitrogen are trivalent and in the presence of an iodide.

Abstract: Aliphatic aldehydes are prepared from carboxylic acid esters of primary alcohols by contacting the latter with a wide variety of oxidized elements selected from V, Sb, Mo, and W as well as oxidized element from groups I, III-B, IV, VII-A, and VIII of the periodic system of elements.

Abstract: Acetaldehyde is prepared by reacting methyl acetate and/or dimethyl ether with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a palladium catalyst and an iodine moiety in a reaction zone wherein the reaction mixture is in a continuous boiling state.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of vincadifformine and related derivatives which are useful as starting material for the synthesis of among other alkaloids vincamine and other similar compounds possessing interesting psychopharmacologic properties.A tetrahydro-.beta.-carboline (II) is reacted with benzoyl chloride to provide a 2-benzoyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9H-pyrido-(3,4-b)-indole (III). Then compound (III) is reduced to give a 2-benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9H-pyrido-(3,4-b)-indole (IV). Thereafter, compound (IV) is transformed by t-butyl hypochlorite into a chloroindolenine derivative (V) which is immediately treated with a metal dialkylmalonate such as thallium t-butyl methyl malonate to give a dialkyl 3-benzyl-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydroazepino-(4,5-b)-indole-5,5-dicarboxylate (VI). Compound (VI) is then partly decarboxylated into a alkyl 3-benzyl-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydro-(4,5-b) indole-5-carboxylate (VII).

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of vincadifformine and related derivatives which are useful as starting material for the synthesis of vincamine and other related compounds possessing interesting psychopharmacologic properties.A N-benzyl-tetrahydro-.gamma.-carboline compound (III) is halogenated with t-butyl hypochlorite to obtain a haloindolenine compound which is directly treated with a metal dialkyl malonate such as thallium dialkyl malonate to provide a dialkyl 3-benzyl-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydroazepino (4,5-b) indole-5,5-dicarboxylate compound, said latter compound being hydrogenated to provide a dialkyl 1,2,3,4,5,6 hexahydroazepino (4,5-b) indole-5,5-dicarboxylate, said latter compound being condensed with a functionalized aldehyde, typically a haloaldehyde, to provide vincadifformine or a related derivative by passing through an intermediate compound being a salt of a dialkyl 3,3-(alkenyl)-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydroazepino(4,5-b) indolinium-(5,5)-dicarboxylate.

Abstract: Equimolar amounts of phenol and formaldehyde may be prepared from oxygen and toluene. The catalytic oxidation of toluene, when carried out in the presence of acetic anhydride, forms phenyl acetate and methylene diacetate. Pyrolysis of these two intermediates yields phenol and formaldehyde.Significant improvements in this process are achieved when the first stage of the reaction is carried out in the presence of MoO.sub.3.In a further embodiment of this invention it has been found that Group VIII dithiosemibenzil compounds, particularly nickel dithiosemibenzil, serves as a superior promoter for the toluene oxidation reaction.In still a further embodiment of this invention it has been found that persulfate promoters such as potassium persulfate, persulfuric acid, or Caro's dry acid are particularly effective promoters for the toluene oxidation reaction.In a like manner, hydroquinone or resorcinol may be obtained from cresyl acetates.

Abstract: In the carbonylation of alkyl esters in the presence of a Group VIII noble metal catalyst to produce a reaction mixture comprising volatile components and the non-volatile Group VIII noble metal catalyst, and the volatile components are separated from the catalyst, catalyst activity is maintained by providing a partial pressure of hydrogen of at least 10 psi during the separation of the volatile products. A partial pressure of at least 15 psi of carbon monoxide is also preferably provided, particularly when a metal promoter for the Group VIII noble metal catalyst is present, during such separation.

Abstract: Certain C.sub.4 to C.sub.9 saturated acids, esters and aldehydes are oxidatively dehydrogenated catalytically and exothermically to the corresponding .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated acids, esters and/or aldehydes with certain calcined catalysts containing the elements Mo and V.

Abstract: Carbonylation products of methyl acetate such as acetic anhydride are purified with respect to iodine contaminants by treatment with cesium acetate, potassium acetate or sodium acetate.

Abstract: Crotonaldehydes are prepared by reacting 1,4-diacyloxy-but-2-enes with water in the presence of a cation exchanger. The products are starting materials for the preparation of dyes, crop protection agents, polymerization inhibitors and vulcanization accelerators.