Abstract: A process for producing primary alcohols from terminal epoxides having a mono-substituted epoxy ring and having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms per molecule which process comprises contacting the epoxide and hydrogen gas with Raney cobalt catalyst under vapor phase conditions in a hydrogenation zone.

Abstract: Allyl methyl ethers are transetherified with alcohols by use of a catalyst of a solid acid that contains no mercury or cuprous salt catalyst.

Abstract: A process for producing a lower aliphatic alcohol by splitting ethers whereby ethers are reacted at an elevated temperature and pressure with an excess of water in the presence of acidic hydration catalysts is disclosed.

Abstract: Ethers such as isobutyl tertiary butyl ether are dissociated into their component alcohols and isolefins by heat stabilized catalyst compositions prepared from nuclear sulfonic acid, for example, macroporous crosslinked polyvinyl aromatic compounds containing sulfonic acid groups are neutralized with a metal of Al, Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni, ions or mixtures and alkali, alkaline earth metals or ammonium ions by contacting the resin containing the sulfonic acid with aqueous solutions of the metals salts and alkali, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salts. The catalysts have at least 50% of the sulfonic acid groups neutralized with metal ions and the balance of the sulfonic acid groups neutralized with alkali, alkaline earth ions or ammonium ions.

Abstract: A process for the selective, thermally-induced hydrolysis of acetals to the corresponding aldehydes and alcohols is disclosed, involving heating and pressurizing a substantially acid-free acetal containing solution to effect the rapid hydrolysis of the acetals without significant harm to the remaining reaction system components, and removing the treated solution from the reaction zone as product.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a membrane solvent extraction and reaction system. More particularly it pertains to an improvement in the membrane solvent extraction system wherein a solute is extracted through a polymeric membrane from one solvent liquid phase to an extracting solvent liquid without direct contact between the liquid phases which are separated by the membrane and in which the extracting solvent has no greater solubility and usually substantially less solubility for the solute than the feed solvent. The impovement comprises converting the solute permeating across the membrane to a different chemical compound, whereby a high concentration gradient for the solute across the membrane is maintained to improve the separation of the solute from the feed solvent liquid phase.

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 alcohols by the direct hydration of olefins in which the ether by-product is hydrated with a large molar excess of water in a reaction zone which precedes a propylene hydration reaction zone.

Abstract: Alcohols may be obtained by an indirect hydration of olefinic hydrocarbons in which said olefinic hydrocarbon is esterified by treatment with an inorganic acid to form dialkyl and alkyl hydrogen salts. The esters are then hydrolyzed with water, the reconstituted acid is stripped by means of a stripping agent such as nitrogen gas, and the resulting alcohols and ethers are recovered. The alcohol production is separated from the dialkyl ether, the latter then being subjected to further treatment such as thermal decomposition and hydrolysis to form an additional amount of the desired alcohol. The reconstituted inorganic acid may be recycled for use as an esterifying agent without having to reconstitute the acid.

Abstract: Alcohols may be obtained by the indirect hydration of olefinic hydrocarbons in which the olefinic hydrocarbon is esterified by treatment with an organic acid such as acetic acid. The organic esters may then be hydrolyzed by treatment with water to form hydrolysis products comprising alcohols and ethers which may be separated from the reconstituted organic acid. The alcohol products are then separated from the ether product, the latter which may then be further treated by thermal cracking, decomposition, or hydrolysis to form an additional amount of the desired alcohol.

Abstract: Alcohols may be obtained by an indirect hydration of olefinic hydrocarbons in which the olefinic hydrocarbon is first esterified by treatment with an inorganic acid to form dialkyl and alkyl hydrogen salts. These salts are then trans-esterified by treatment with an organic acid to form an organic ester. The reconstituted inorganic acid is separated from this mixture by stripping and recycled, while the organic esters are then treated with water in a hydrolysis step to reconstitute the organic acid and form the desired alcohol and ether. The alcohol product is separated from the ether which may then be further treated by thermal decomposition or hydrolysis to form an additional amount of the desired alcohol.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of tertiary olefins by catalytic cleavage of their n-alkyl ethers at elevated temperature and with simultaneously recovery of the corresponding n-alkanols, characterized in that the cleavage is carried out in the presence of acidic molecular sieves, which have been activated, if necessary, by a treatment with hydrogen, at temperatures of from 100.degree. to 300.degree. C.

Abstract: A process is described for converting glycol dialkyl ether without substantial formation of olefin oligomers by reaction with water, comprising reacting a feed glycol di-tertiary alkyl ether represented by structural formula (A) with water using a strongly acidic cation-exchange resin as a catalyst and a reaction temperature of from 40.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. under a pressure of from 1 to 70 kg/cm.sup.2 (absolute pressure) in a molar ratio of water/feed glycol di-tertiary alkyl ether represented by the structural formula (A) of from 0.

Abstract: A process for conjointly preparing methyl tert.-butyl ether and obtaining isobutene from an isobutene-containing C.sub.4 -hydrocarbon mixture. In the process the C.sub.4 -hydrocarbon mixture is reacted, in one or more etherification stages, with methanol and a primary C.sub.3 - or C.sub.4 -alcohol in the presence of an acid condensing agent, the resulting reaction mixture or mixtures are then separated into a fraction containing the unconverted hydrocarbons, the methyl tert.-butyl ether and a fraction containing the C.sub.3 - or C.sub.4 -alkyl tert.-butyl ether. Thereafter, the C.sub.3 - or C.sub.4 -alkyl tert.-butyl ether is decomposed at an elevated temperature, in the presence of an acid catalyst, into isobutene and primary C.sub.3 - or C.sub.4 -alcohol.

Abstract: A process for hydrolysing allylethers of the general formula:R.sub.6 CH.dbd.CR.sub.5 --CR.sub.4 --O--CR.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, which may be the same or different, represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms or one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 or R.sub.3 and R.sub.6 together represent a covalent bond, with water in the presence of a supported Group VIII metal catalyst. Methyl sec-butenyl ether can be hydrolysed in high yield to methyl ethyl ketone.

Abstract: Described is a method of O-demethylating a fortimicin compound using hydriodic acid or tri-methylsilyiodide as an O-demethylating agent.

Abstract: A method for obtaining dialkyl dithiodialkanoates in which mercaptoalkyl esters are contacted with a halogen in an inert hydrocarbon solvent to produce a heavy liquid phase of dialkyl dithiodialkanoate and a separate liquid phase of hydrocarbon solvent. These phases are easily separated into the product dialkyl dithiodialkanoate and hydrocarbon solvent which can be recycled without further treatment. In an embodiment of the invention the dialkyl dithiodialkanoate is further contacted with alkylene oxide to neutralize residual acidic by-products in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing esters having the general formulae:RCOOCH.sub.2 R'andR'COOCH.sub.2 Rwherein R and R' are linear or branched alkyl radicals either like or unlike each other, and containing from 1 to 16 carbon atoms, or considered together, forming a cycloaliphatic ring having up to 7 carbon atoms, wherein carbon monoxide and hydrogen are reacted, at temperatures ranging from 150.degree. to 350.degree. C. and at pressures ranging from 50 to 1000 atmospheres, with an ether of formula R O R' or esters of formula RCOOR' and R'COOR, in which R and R' have the same meanings as specified hereinabove, and in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a ruthenium carbonyl and a promoter selected from the class consisting of hydroiodic acid, carboxylic acid solutions of inorganic or tetraalkylammonium bromides and iodides, and mixtures of these promoters.

Abstract: Cyclic acetals are rearranged to form isomeric carboxylic acid esters according to the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl, alkenyl, or aromatic moiety containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms;AndR' is an alkyl or alkenyl moiety containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms;In the presence of a catalyst consisting of a metal selected from the group Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir or Pt supported on carbon.

Abstract: A method for increasing the hydrogen:carbon ratio of an organic compound is disclosed. The organic compound can be one having any of the following functions: hydroxyl, carbonyl, epoxide, acetal, ketal, hemiacetal and hemiketal. The method involves introducing the organic compound and a silicon hydride into a liquid which is either chemically inert or acidic and introducing BF.sub.3 into the liquid to produce a reaction product having a higher hydrogen:carbon ratio than the starting organic compound. Examples of organic compound starting materials disclosed include undecanal, benzaldehyde, p-methylbenzaldehyde, p-chlorobenzaldehyde, p-methoxybenzaldehyde, p-cyanobenzaldehyde, p-nitrobenzaldehyde, 2-undecanone, cyclohexanone, 2-methylcyclohexanone, adamantanone, p-cyanoacetophenone, fluorenone, 1-naphthaldehyde, p-nitroacetophenone, fructose and cotton.