Abstract: 2-Benzoylcyclohexane-1,3-diones of formula I : where: R1 and R2 are each hydrogen, mercapto, nitro, halogen, cyano, thiocyanato, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, —OR3, —OCOR3, —OSO2R3, —S(O)nR3 (n=0, 1, 2), —SO2OR3, —SO2N(R3)2, —NR3SO2R3 or —NR3COR3; R3 is hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl or phenylalkyl; Q is optionally substituted cyclohexane-2-yl-1,3-dione; X1 is optionally substituted alkylene, propenylene, alkenylene or alkynylene; R4 is hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, phenylalkyl; Het is a three- to six-membered, optionally substituted heterocyclic or heteroaromatic group; and agriculturally useful salts thereof, processes and intermediates for preparing compounds of formula I, compositions comprising them, and the use of the compounds of formula I and the compositions comprising them for controlling harmful plants are described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of acid chlorides by reaction of carboxylic acids, carboxylic anhydrides, cyclic carboxylic esters or sulfonic acids with phosgene in the presence of a catalytic amount of a compound from the group consisting of N,N,N′,N′-tetrasubstituted amidinium halides (I), N,N,N′-trisubstituted amidinium hydrohalides (II) and N,N,N′-trisubstituted amidines (III).

Abstract: Propene and, if desired, 1-butene are prepared by first reacting 1-butene and 2-butene to give propene and 2-pentene in the presence of a metathesis catalyst containing at least one compound of a metal of transition group VIb, VIIb or VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements. The propene and 2-pentene formed are subsequently separated, and the 2-pentene is then reacted to give propene and 1-butene in the presence of a metathesis catalyst containing at least one compound of a metal of transition group VIb, VIIb or VIII. The propene and 1-butene formed are subsequently separated, and at least some of the 1-butene is discharged or at least partly isomerized to give 2-butene in the presence of an isomerization catalyst. Undischarged 1-butene and the 2-butene formed are subsequently returned to the initial reaction step, together with that part of the C4 fraction which was not reacted in the initial reaction step.

Abstract: In a process for reacting an organic compound in the presence of a catalyst comprising, as active metal, at least one metal of transition group VIII of the Periodic Table, either alone or together with at least one metal of transition group I or VII of the Periodic Table, in an amount of from 0.01 to 30% by weight, based on the total weight of the catalyst, applied to a support containing macropores, the support comprises, as a support component, boron(III) oxide in an amount of from 10 to 100% by weight, based on the total weight of the support.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the oxidation of substituted trimethylcyclohexenyl compounds in the presence of microorganisms of the order Actinomycetales and to the use of microorganisms in oxidation reactions.

Abstract: The aromatic polyurethane elastomers of the present invention are particularly suited for methods of making objects in a mold cavity. The objects generally include an elastomeric layer formed from an aromatic polyurethane and a foam layer which is subsequently applied to the elastomer. The aromatic elastomer of the present invention lends itself to being precoated with an in-mold coating or being painted after demolding the resulting part.

Abstract: In a process for preparing 1,4-butanediol, tetrahydrofuran and &ggr;-butyrolactone by oxidation of butane to give a product stream comprising maleic anhydride, absorption of maleic anhydride from the product stream using a high-boiling alcohol to give a liquid absorption product comprising monoesters and diesters of maleic acid and also high-boiling alcohol, after-esterification of the liquid absorption product and subsequent hydrogenation of the after-esterified product in the liquid phase, the high-boiling alcohol is a polyhydric alcohol having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of above 233° C. and the after-esterified product has an acid number of less than 30 mg KOH/g and a water content of less than 1% by weight.

Abstract: A process for the stereoselective preparation of Grignard compounds of the formula I and polymer-bonded compounds of the formula Ia is described. The process can be used for producing substance reference libraries and the compounds of the formulae I and Ia can be used in stereoselective chemical synthesis.

Abstract: Phosphonium salts are prepared by reacting an alkanol with triarylphosphine and sulfonic acids in a solvent.

Abstract: Preparation of cyclic, &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated ketones of formula II by dehydrogenation of cyclic ketones which conform to formula I in which n denotes an integer from 1 to 10, and which may be substituted, at elevated temperature in the presence of catalysts in the vapor phase, wherein the reaction is carried out in the absence of oxygen or in the presence of less than 0.5 mol of oxygen per mol of compound I at temperatures ranging from 250° to 600° C. and using catalysts having a surface area (BET) of more than 0.5 m2/g.

Abstract: A process for production of tetrahydrofuran and gamma butyrolactone by hydrogenation of maleic anhydride recovered from a process of conversion of a n-butane.

Abstract: A mixture comprises an amino resin and a polymer which consists to the extent of at least 80% by weight of C2- to C3 alkylene oxide groups.

Abstract: A structured packing for heat exchange and mass transfer between a liquid and a gas in a column having at least one packing layer with a first, lower end and a second, upper end is described, the packing layer having an internal geometry which varies over its height so that by suitably setting the liquid and gas flow rates in a first, in particular lower, region of the packing layer a bubbling layer having a predominantly disperse gas phase forms in a targeted manner and simultaneously in a second, in particular upper, region of the packing layer a film flow of the liquid having a predominantly continuous gas phase forms in a targeted manner.

Abstract: A reactor for chemical reactions, especially polymerization reactions, and in particular a reactor for emulsion, suspension, solution, bulk and/or precipitation polymerizations, which has a stirring mechanism, incoming and outgoing lines and a removable lid, and where both the stirring mechanism and incoming and outgoing lines are installed on the reactor floor. The novel reactor is quick and easy to open and clean and permits simple and rapid changeover of the installed stirring elements.

Abstract: Pigment preparations including as essential blending components A) an inorganic pigment from the group of the bismuth vanadate pigments and rutile pigments and B) a phosphate, are produced and used for coloring polymeric materials.

Abstract: A process for preparing cyclopentanone by reacting adipic esters of the formula R1OOC—(CH2)4—COOR2  I where R1 and R2 are each alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, aralkyl or aryl and R2 may additionally be hydrogen, in the presence of oxidic catalysts comprises reacting adipic esters of the formula I having less than 5% by weight of by-products other than adipic esters in the gas phase in the presence of water, a carrier gas and a) from 0.01 to 10% by weight of at least one metal oxide selected from the first or second main group of the periodic table or from the group of the rare earth metals on titanium dioxide or zirconium dioxide as catalyst support, or b) from 0.01 to 50% by weight of at least one metal oxide selected from the second main group of the periodic table on zink oxide as catalyst support.

Abstract: The disclosure is a process for preparing polyamides by concentrating the wash water extract from the extraction of polyamide to an extractables content of not more than 85% by weight, adding fresh lactam down to a water content of from 0.5 to 13% by weight, and effecting at least one adiabatic expansion during the polymerization.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for identifying active substances in order to determine the formation of complexes between reactants. According to the inventive method, at least two reactants are mixed and made to react to form a complex. The infrared spectrum of the individual reactants which have not yet been reacted in the mixture is measured during a first time interval and at least a second infrared measurement is conducted to measure the complex formed by the reactants during a second interval. The difference between the two spectra measured during different moments is then determined. The reactants whose differential spectrum exhibits a band structure are selected as active substances.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 1,6-hexanediol and 6-hydroxycaproic acid or esters thereof by catalytic hydrogenation of adipic acid, adipic acid monoesters or adipic acid diesters or streams of starting material which contain adipic acid or esters thereof as essential constituents, in which the bottom product obtained in the distillation of the hydrogenation product, following removal of the hexanediol and hydroxycaproic acid or esters thereof, and essentially comprises oligomeric esters of 6-hydroxycaproic acid, is recycled to the hydrogenation, and the resulting mixture of starting material and recycle stream is reacted at from 100 to 300°C., at from 10 to 300 bar in the liquid phase and at a molar ratio of carboxyl groups to be hydrogenated to hydrogen in the reactor of from 1:5 to 1:100 on hydrogenation catalysts is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate provided with a multilayer coating. The invention additionally relates to a process for its preparation, in which the body to be coated passes via the entry 1 into the pretreatment stage 2. This is followed by electrodeposition coating 3 and the baking 4 of the electrodeposition coat. In stage 5 preparation takes place for coating with powder coating material (stage 6). In stage 7 drying is carried out with IR irradiation. This is followed by the cooling stage 7. The powder coating material is applied to the powder coat in stage 9. Following passage through the intermediate drying stage 10 a protective coat is applied in stage 11 and then is baked in stage 12. The body is transported out of the unit via the exit 11.