Abstract: Carbonate compounds are prepared by equilibrium interchange of carbonate functionality between lower alkyl carbonates especially dimethyl carbonate and alkyl halides such as allyl chloride at about 50.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C. in the presence of an initiator such as homogeneous or heterogeneous amines, phosphines, and ammonium or phosphonium quaternary salts.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a process for preparing aliphatic anhydrides comprising contacting a divinyl ether with carboxylic acid in the presence of a catalytic amount of a strong acid. The invention is further a process for preparing alkylidene dicarboxylates, which are intermediates in the above preparation of aliphatic anhydride.

Abstract: The invention is a process for the preparation of N-substituted imidazolidinones and N-substituted 2-thionimidazolidinones which comprises contacting an oxazolidinone with a compound containing a nitrogen directly bonded to a carbonyl or a thiocarbonyl group in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst or the hydrate of a Lewis acid catalyst under conditions such that an N-substituted imidazolidinone or N-substituted 2-thionimidazolidinone is prepared. The compound containing a nitrogen directly bonded to a carbonyl or a thiocarbonyl group is an isocyanate or isothiocyanate or a compound wherein the nitrogen is reactive and the carbonyl or thiocarbonyl group is further bonded to a substituent by a bond which is clevable under the reaction conditions. The Lewis acid catalyst corresponds to the formulaMX.sub.nwhereinM is a group IB-VIIIB, IIIA or IVA element with the proviso that M is not C or Si;X is a halogen; andn is 2, 3 or 4.