Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for the preparation of styrene, stilbene, and/or substituted derivatives thereof. The process involves the reaction of an aryl sulfonyl chloride with an olefinic compound in the presence of a catalytic amount of a metal catalyst consisting essentially of palladium.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for the purification of crude terephthalic acid which has been produced by the oxidation of para-xylene. The process comprises contacting the crude terephthalic acid with oxygen-containing gas at a temperature of about 190.degree. to 230.degree. C. and a pressure of about 1500 to 3600 kPa in the presence of a solvent comprising an alkanoic acid which is preferably acetic acid. The process further comprises the use of a novel and surprisingly effective catalyst system. The catalyst system comprises cobalt, a bromine source, and pyridine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the selective production of ketones under hydroformylation conditions. In particular, the process comprises the hydroformylation of at least one olefin in the presence of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and a catalyst which consists essentially of triruthenium dodecacarbonyl. The olefin preferably comprises propylene. The reaction is conducted under conditions such that the ratio of olefin:ruthenium is about 200:1 to 3000:1, the ratio of carbon monoxide:hydrogen:olefin to about 1:1.4:4 to 1:6:100, the total pressure is about 500 to 10,000 psig, the carbon monoxide partial pressure is about 50 to 500 psig, and the reaction temperature is about 60.degree. to 250.degree. C.

Abstract: The present invention provides polymer blend compositions which are useful in the formation of containers having improved resistance to gas permeability. The polymer blend compositions comprise about 5 to 50 percent by weight of a first polyester comprising polyglycolic acid and correspondingly about 50 to 95 percent by weight of a second polyester. The second polyester comprises units derived from a diacid component comprising terephthalic acid and units derived from a diol component which preferably comprises ethylene glycol. The containers which are provided by the present invention may be in the form of sheet, film, molded articles, such as bottles, and other such structures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel unsaturated polyester compositions and to a process for the preparation thereof. The composition comprises an unsaturated polyester, a reactive solvent for the unsaturated polyester, and at least about 0.5% by weight of a carboxylated cellulose ester. The unsaturated polyester comprises the reaction product of a diacid component which comprises at least about 50% by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid and a diol component. The process of the present invention comprises reacting a diacid component with a diol component so as to form an unsaturated polyester resin, dissolving the unsaturated polyester resin in a solvating quantity of a reactive solvent, the resulting solution further comprising at least about 0.5% by weight of a carboxylated cellulose ester, and curing the solution in the substantial absence of additional initiator so as to form a substantially clear, solid unsaturated polyester composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for preparing specified amorphous polycarbonate polyols. The process comprises reacting phosgene, a branched-chain polyhydric alcohol, and a straight chain polyhydric alcohol in the presence of a solvent and in the absence of a catalyst at a temperature of about 60.degree. to 100.degree. C., and then contacting the amorphous polycarbonate product in the reaction mixture with a catalytic amount of a tertiary amine at reflux temperature for a period of time of at least about 30 minutes. The straight chain polyhydric alcohol is employed in an amount of about 3 to 40 mole percent, based upon the total amount of polyhydric alcohol present in the reaction system. A preferred branched-chain polyhydric alcohol is neopentyl glycol, and a preferred straight chain polyhydric alcohol is 1,6-hexanediol. Preferred solvents are xylene and toluene, and preferred tertiary amines are triethylamine and pyridine.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement in processes for the selective production of .alpha.-olefins from synthesis gas. The improvement embodied in the process of the present invention comprises the use of a catalyst system which comprises palladium, iron, and zinc. The zinc component of the catalyst system is preferably provided in the form of a zinc oxide support onto which the remaining catalyst components are deposited. The reaction is conducted under conventional conditions of temperature and pressure, preferably at about 220.degree. to 350.degree. C. and about 50 to 500 psig.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of aryl carboxylic acids and derivatives thereof by the carbonylation of aryl sulfonyl chlorides. The aryl sulfonyl chlorides are reacted with carbon monoxide and water or an alcohol or amine in the presence of a zero-valent metal catalyst consisting essentially of palladium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of aryl carboxylic acids and derivatives thereof by the carbonylation of triaryl sulfonium salts. The triaryl sulfonium salts are reacted with carbon monoxide and water or an alcohol or amine in the presence of a triaryl phosphine and a zero-valent metal catalyst selected from palladium or rhodium.

Abstract: The present invention provides substantially difunctional hydroxyl-terminated polyether-esters and a process for preparing the same. The process comprises reacting ethylene carbonate with a substituted or unsubstituted epsilon-caprolactone in the presence of a catalytic amount of a specified catalyst at a temperature of at least about 200.degree. C. The catalyst comprises an alkali metal salt, a quaternary ammonium salt, or a mixture thereof. The products of the invention are pourable liquid urethane-forming polyols at room temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel polyesteramides and containers having improved gas barrier properties formed therefrom. The novel polyesteramides comprise the reaction product of a diamine having 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, a diol containing up to about 24 carbon atoms, and a dicarboxylic acid component. The dicarboxylic acid component consists essentially of about 5 to 100 mole % of a specified first, heteroatom-containing dicarboxylic acid, and 0 to about 95 mole % of a second dicarboxylic acid containing up to about 24 carbon atoms. In the polyesteramide, the diamine component comprises about 10 to 90 mole % of the total diamine and diol components. The present invention further provides containers, such as molded containers, films, coextruded articles, laminated articles, etc., formed from the polyesteramides of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel coating composition which contains a coalescent. The coating composition comprises a latex of a normally solid organic addition polymer and a coalescing amount of an ether-ester solvent having formula (I) or (II) ##STR1## where R represents hydrogen or an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R' represents a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group, and n is 1 or 2. Preferred coalescents include 2-ethoxyethyl p-toluate, 2-ethoxyethyl benzoate, 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl p-toluate, 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl benzoate, 2-propoxyethyl o-toluate, 2-propoxyethyl benzoate, 2-ethoxyethyl o-toluate, 2-methoxy-1-methylethyl benzoate and mixtures thereof. In preferred embodiments, the organic addition polymer comprises an acrylic homopolymer or copolymer. The coating composition preferably comprises about 5-50 parts by weight of the ether-ester solvent per 100 parts of the organic addition polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalytic process for the preparation of tetrahydropyran by the homologation of tetrahydrofuran. The process comprises reacting tetrahydrofuran with synthesis gas in the presence of a catalyst system comprising ruthenium, rhodium, and, preferably, a halide promoter.

Abstract: The present invention provides containers having unexpectedly superior gas barrier properties. The containers are formed from specified polyamides which comprise an aliphatic diamine and a diacid component which comprises a dicarboxylic acid containing a hetero atom.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement in methods for preparing and processing readily polymerizable acrylate monomers. The improvement comprises employing phenyl-para-benzoquinone, 2,5-di-phenyl-para-benzoquinone, and mixtures thereof as process inhibitors. The process inhibitors are present in a concentration of about 50 to 3000 ppm, preferably about 250 to 2000 ppm, and most preferably about 500 ppm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of ethyl acetate by hydrogenating acetic anhydride, or mixtures of acetic anhydride and ethylidene diacetate, in the presence of a Raney nickel catalyst and an organic sulfonic acid to produce ethyl acetate.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of ethyl acetate by hydrogenating acetic anhydride in the presence of a Raney nickel catalyst. The process can also be utilized to hydrogenate mixtures of acetic anhydride and ethylidene diacetate to produce ethyl acetate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for the purification of crude terephthalic acid which has been produced by the oxidation of para-xylene. The process comprises contacting the crude terephthalic acid with oxygen-containing gas at a temperature of about 190.degree. to 230.degree. C. and a pressure of about 1,850 to 3,600 kPa in the presence of a solvent comprising an alkanoic acid which is preferably acetic acid. The process further comprises the use of a novel and surprisingly effective catalyst system. The catalyst system comprises cobalt, a bromide compound, and samarium, with the samarium being employed at a concentration of about 0.005 to 500 ppm.

Abstract: The present invention provides imide-containing and amide-containing polyester resins which are useful in the formulation of coating compositions and inks. The resins comprise the reaction product of an imide or amide, a polyester-forming polyol. a polyester-forming multifunctional acid or derivative thereof, and, optionally, a fatty oil or an unsaturated fatty acid derived from a fatty oil. The imide or amide is derived from a specified alkanolamine and an imide-forming or amide-forming reactant. The alkanolamine is a primary branched alkanolamine wherein the branched alkyl group preferably contains about 2 to 10 carbon atoms. A preferred alkanolamine is 2,2-dimethyl-3-amino-1-propanol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel metallurgical coating system which provides corrosion resistance and non-stick properties to metallic components which are subjected to unusually severe operating conditions. The coating system comprises a first layer comprising tantalum which is deposited upon a substrate and a second layer comprising molybdenum disilicide which is deposited upon the first layer.