Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the preparation of a benzophenone, which process comprises contacting a feed comprising a 3-cyclohexene carboxylic acid in the vapor phase and under suitable conditions with a ketonic decarboxylative coupling catalyst to convert said carboxylic acid into a bis (3-cyclohexene) ketone and contacting said bis (3-cyclohexene) ketone with a dehydrogenation catalyst to dehydrogenate said bis (3-cyclohexene) ketone to provide said benzophenone. Suitably, the coupling catalyst comprises an oxide of manganese. A Group VIII metal-containing catalyst is a typical dehydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of polycarboxylic acids having at least three carboxylic acid groups for each benzene ring is disclosed. In this novel process, water is used in the last third of the reaction to improve the yield of cobalt-manganese-bromine or oxidation system and eliminate catalyst deactivation. Polycarboxylic acids such as durene are converted to pyromellitic acid which is used to manufacture a polyimide ring used as molding compounds for replacement of metals.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of novel phosphorus-vanadium and phosphorus-vanadium co-metal catalysts having a characteristic X-ray diffraction pattern suitable for use in the manufacture of maleic anhydride from benzene, butane and other C.sub.4 hydrocarbons which process comprises reacting at a temperature of about 0.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. a vanadium compound in an organic ether solvent having about 2 to about 10 carbon atoms with a phosphoryl halide in the presence of water or an aliphatic alcohol having from about 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, eliminating the solvent and activating the catalyst by the addition of the hydrocarbon feedstock and water and a phosphorus compound at a temperature of about 300.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C. wherein the amount of water added is about 1000 parts per million to about 40,000 parts per million by weight of the reactor feed gas stream is disclosed. The catalysts are useful for the manufacture of maleic anhydride from benzene, butane and other C.sub.

Abstract: A process for the reactivation of a vanadium-phosphorus-oxygen catalyst promoted by metals selected from the group consisting of zinc, molybdenum, niobium, tungsten, uranium, cobalt and tin with alkyl esters of phosphoric acid and water is disclosed. The catalysts are useful for the manufacture of maleic anhydride from butane, butene, butadiene or benzene feedstock.

Abstract: The recovery of an acetic acid product of low brominated organics content can be made from the liquid effluent from n-butane oxidation with oxygen gas in the presence of an acetic acid solution containing ion of bromine in combination with ions of cobalt or with ions of manganese and cobalt. Such recovery is made not by the use of a series of separate fractionation towers but rather by the use of a single fractionation tower having a top rectification zone, an intermediate stripping zone with a feed inlet at the top thereof and a bottom reboiler zone below the stripping zone wherein the acetic acid product is removed as a vapor product from said stripping zone below said feed inlet but above the reboiler zone.

Abstract: A process for incorporating continuous graphite fiber reinforcement impregnated with polyamide-imide polymer onto injection molded polyamide-imide parts. These impregnated parts are useful as automotive parts such as push rods or rocker arms, and for aircraft parts such as fittings and secondary structural parts.

Abstract: A process for the oxidation of pseudocumene to trimellitic acid anhydride is disclosed which comprises catalytic oxidation of pseudocumene with air in the presence of acetic acid in an oxidation zone in the liquid phase wherein the weight ratio of acetic acid to pseudocumene is in the range of about 0.5-4.0:1.0 and the catalyst comprises one or more heavy metal oxidation catalysts comprising zirconium, cobalt, and manganese to provide about 0.1 to about 0.4 weight percent total metals based on pseudocumene and a source of bromine. The addition of the bromine component is controlled to provide a total of about 0.10 to about 0.30 weight percent total bromine based on pseudocumene. The total weight ratio of bromine ions to total metals ions is about 0.5 to about 2.0. The zirconium content is about 1 to about 5% and the manganese content is about 14 to about 60% each by weight of the total metals. The reaction temperature is about 100.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a phosphorus-vanadium oxide and a phosphorus-vanadium-co-metal catalyst suitable for the oxidation of butane to maleic anhydride is disclosed. The catalyst is prepared by reacting, in an aqueous medium, a vanadium compound, inorganic acid and, if used, a metal oxide. Ortho-phosphoric acid is then added to form a soluble vanadium-phosphorus or a vanadium-phosphorus-metal catalyst. The acidified water is removed and aliphatic alcohols and either aromatic acids or aromatic anhydrides, or a mixture of these, are added and the alcohols are removed. The solid phosphorus-vanadium, or phosphorus-vanadium-metal oxide is recovered under vacuum.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of cobalt and manganese from solid aromatic acid oxidation incinerator ash, pyrolysis sand and pyrolysis char is disclosed. The process comprises heating the solid residue at a temperature of about 120.degree. to about 300.degree. C. and a pressure of about 3 atmospheres to about 30 atmospheres. The recovered catalyst is useful for the oxidation of alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons to their corresponding di- or tricarboxylic acids which are used for the manufacture of fibers, films and molded products.

Abstract: A process for the oxidation of pseudocumene to trimellitic acid anhydride which comprises catalytic oxidation of pseudocumene with air in the presence of acetic acid in an oxidation zone in the liquid phase and wherein the weight ratio of acetic acid to pseudocumene is in the range of about 1.0-2.5:1.0 and the catalyst comprises one or more heavy metal oxidation catalysts comprising zirconium, cobalt and manganese to provide about 0.2 to about 0.4 weight percent total metals based on pseudocumene and a source of bromine. The addition of the bromine component is controlled to provide a total of about 0.10 to about 0.30 weight percent total bromine based on pseudocumene. The total weight ratio of bromide ions to total metals ions is about 0.7 to about 2.0. The zirconium content is about 1 to about 5% and manganese content is about 14 to about 24% each by weight of the total metals. The reaction temperature is about 100.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of 1,4-bis[2-(4'-carbomethoxystyrenyl)] benzene is disclosed. This process comprises reacting, at a temperature of about 0.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C., in a highly polar anhydrous organic solvent or solvent mixture, or in liquid ammonia, a p-xylylene-bis-(trialkylphosphonium halide) or p-xylylene-bis-(triarylphosphonium halide) with 4-carbomethoxybenzaldehyde, initiated by the slow introduction of an organometallic compound or an inorganic base. Polyesters, such as polyethylene terephthalate, are copolymerized with about 5 to about 20 parts per million of 1,4-bis[2-(4'-carbomethoxystyrenyl)] benzene. 1,4-bis[2-(4'-carbomethoxystyrenyl)] benzene is useful to provide permanent whiteness to polyesters and polyamides and other synthetic or natural polymers. Polyesters are useful for the manufacture of fibers, films, and related industrial products.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a phosphorus-vanadium and phosphorus-vanadium-co-metal catalysts suitable for use in the manufacture of maleic anhydride from butane which process comprises reacting at a temperature of about 0.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. a vanadium compound in an organic ether solvent having about 2 to about 10 carbon atoms with a phosphoryl halide in the presence of water or an aliphatic alcohol having from about 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, eliminating the solvent and activating the catalyst by the addition of butane or other hydrocarbon feedstock and a phosphorus compound at a temperature of about 300.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C. The catalysts are useful for the manufacture of maleic anhydride from butane feedstock.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a phosphorus-vanadium oxide and a phosphorus-vanadium-co-metal catalyst suitable for the oxidation of butane to maleic anhydride is disclosed. The catalyst is prepared by reacting, in an aqueous medium, a vanadium compound, inorganic acid and, if used, a metal oxide. Ortho-phosphoric acid is then added to form a soluble vanadium-phosphorus or a vanadium-phosphorus-metal catalyst. The acidified water is removed and aliphatic alcohols and either aromatic acids or aromatic anhydrides, or a mixture of these, are added and the alcohols are removed. The solid phosphorus-vanadium, or phosphorus-vanadium-metal oxide is recovered under vacuum.

Abstract: Novel polyimides and molding compositions are prepared from novel tricyclo[4.2.1.0.sup.2,5 ] nonane-3,4-dimethyl-3,4,7,8-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride. The dianhydride is useful for the manufacture of polyimides which are useful as engineering plastics.

Abstract: Novel polyimides, copolyimides and molding compositions are prepared from novel dianhydrides such as bicyclo[4.2.0]octane-2,5 diphenyl-7,8-dimethyl,3,4,7,8-tetracarboxylic dianhydride and bicyclo[4.2.0] octane-7,8-dimethyl-3,4,7,8-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride. The novel polyimides are useful as engineering plastics. The novel dianhydrides are useful for the preparation of the polyimides.

Abstract: Novel copolyoxadiazole-imides are disclosed. These copolyoxadiazole-imides are useful for the manufacture of fibers, films, felts, coatings and molded objects.

Abstract: Co-polyoxadiazoles prepared from 5-t-butylisophthalic acid and common organic diacids are disclosed. They are useful as fibers, films, coatings, felts, laminates and molded objects.

Abstract: A process for the removal of para-toluic acid from purified terephthalic acid is disclosed. This process comprises extracting the para-toluic acid with paraxylene from the aqueous terephthalic acid-water phase and recycling the para-toluic acid and paraxylene to the paraxylene oxidation reactor. The process improves the overall yield of purified terephthalic acid recovered. Purified terephthalic acid is used as a basic raw material in the manufacture of polyester fibers and films.

Abstract: Crystalline copolyamides from terephthalic acid and mixtures of hexamethylenediamine and trimethylhexamethylenediamine and filled molding compositions prepared therefrom are disclosed. The injection moldable crystalline copolyamides in molded form are useful in engineering resin applications such as the hood of an automobile, a shroud for a lawn mower, chain saw guard, etc.

Abstract: A novel polyoxadiazole from 5-t-butylisophthalic acid is disclosed. Also, fibers, films, coatings and molded objects made therefrom.