Abstract: Polyoxoanions are converted to the corresponding heteropolyacids by conversion to their tetrabutylammonium salt followed by pyrolysis.

Abstract: Hydrocarbons, and particularly lower molecular weight alkanes and cycloalkanes, may readily be oxidized with air or O.sub.2 to form such products as alcohols, ketones, and the like selectively high yields when there is employed as the catalyst a coordination complex containing an iron center and a halogenated ligand having the structure ##STR1## where Fe is iron; " .circle. " is a ligand; X is a halogen substituent of the ligand; and A is an anion.

Abstract: Alkanes are catalytically oxidized using site-specific framework substituted heteropolyacid or a polyoxoanion thereof.

Abstract: Ruthenium cobalt- or cobalt-containing catalysts which have been promoted with phosphonites or phosphinites effectively catalyze the dealkoxyhydroxymethylation of aldehyde acetals to form glycol monoethers. Methylal, for example, may be reacted with syngas, i.e., CO and H.sub.2, in the presence of these phosphonite- or phosphinite-promoted cobalt or ruthenium- cobalt catalysts to form the monomethyl ether of ethylene glycol. In a like manner acetaldehyde may be converted to the corresponding propylene glycol monoether. The process may advantageously be carried out with high yields and selectivities in the presence of a polar or non-polar organic solvent in combination with the catalyst system of this invention.The invention is also directed to the phosphonite- or phosphinite-promoted cobalt and ruthenium-cobalt catalyst systems per se.

Abstract: Ruthenium-cobalt- or cobalt-containing catalysts which have been promoted with phosphonites or phosphinites effectively catalyze the dealkoxyhydroxymethylation of aldehyde acetals to form glycol monoethers. Methylal, for example, may be reacted with syngas, i.e., CO and H.sub.2, in the presence of these phosphonite- or phosphinite-promoted cobalt or ruthenium- cobalt catalysts to form the monomethyl ether of ethylene glycol. In a like manner acetaldehyde may be converted to the corresponding propylene glycol monoether. The process may advantageously be carried out with high yields and selectivities in the presence of a polar or non-polar organic solvent in combination with the catalyst system of this invention.The invention is also directed to the phosphonite- or phosphonite-promoted cobalt and ruthenium-cobalt catalyst system per se.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon, and particularly lower molecular weight alkanes and cycloalkanes, may readily be oxidized with air or O.sub.2 to form such products as alcohols, ketones, and the like in high yields when there is employed as the catalyst a highly active nitride-activated metal coordination complex having the structure ##STR1## where M is a transition metal; " " is a ligand; and X is a nitride. Certain dimeric forms of the above catalyst are also employed herein. It has also been discovered that Group IV through VIII transition metal nitrides are also highly effective oxidation catalysts for lower molecular weight hydrocarbons such as alkanes.

Abstract: A process for removing arsenic contaminants from a hydrocarbon fluid by contacting the fluid with copper oxide supported on activated carbon.

Abstract: Alkanes are oxidized in the liquid phase at relatively low temperatures using heteropolyacids or polyoxoanions promoted with azide or certain metals. Such azide catalysts are also part of the invention.

Abstract: In the process of preparing esters of cinnamic acid by reacting a styrene compound with carbon monoxide, oxygen, and an aliphatic alcohol in the presence of a catalyst, the improvement comprising using less than a stoichiometric amount of a dehydrating agent to increase the yield and selectivity of the reaction products.

Abstract: The invention discloses an improvement to the selective production of dialkyl succinates by the known process of oxidative carbonylation of an olefin with carbon monoxide, oxygen, and an alkyl alochol in the presence of a catalyst wherein the improvement comprises using a sulfone as the reaction solvent. The use of a sulfone, of which sulfolane is a preferred example, results in fast reaction rates and high selectivity to dialkyl succinates even in the absence of a dehydrating agent.

Abstract: Heteropolyacids or polyoxoanions promoted with azide, such as K.sub.6 PW.sub.11 VO.sub.40 N.sub.3, useful in the liquid phase oxidation of alkanes.

Abstract: The process for the acid-catalyzed reaction of acetone with methanol to form 2,2-dimethoxypropane may be significantly improved if a stoichiometric ratio of methanol/acetone is employed in the initial reaction.Of particular advantage is the use of stoichiometric amounts of reactants in order to (1) avoid the expense of using an excess of either reactant, and (2) facilitate the removal of the 2,2-dimethoxypropane as an azeotrope with the methanol, thereby avoiding costly and complex product recovery methods.

Abstract: There is provided herein a process and composition for the enhanced recovery of oil from subterranean formations comprising injecting in combination with steam a composition comprising (a) an anionic surfactant (b) a hydrotrope, and (c) an alkali metal silicate.In a further embodiment, the anionic surfactant and alkali metal silicate alone may be used in a steam recovery process as an effective oil recovery method.

Abstract: There is provided herein a process and composition for the enhanced recovery of oil from subterranean formations comprising injecting in combination with steam a composition comprising (a) an anionic surfactant and (b) a hydrotrope.

Abstract: A method of preparing esters of cinnamic acid comprising catalytically reacting a styrene compound with carbon monoxide, oxygen, and an aliphatic alcohol. The catalyst is essentially a combination of a palladium (II) compound and a copper salt. A catalytic amount of a dehydrating agent may be present to increase the selectivity of the reaction.

Abstract: Propylene is oxidized directly to allyl acetate in the presence of acetic acid air or oxygen in the liquid phase under moderate reaction conditions employing a palladium-on-carbon catalyst which has been pre-treated be activating it with propylene at temperatures of greater than about 50.degree. C., preferably from 60.degree. to 150.degree. C., for a period of time sufficient to form a small but perceptible quantity of said activated catalyst, preferably for at least 10 minutes in the substantial absence of oxygen.

Abstract: A process is provided for the enhanced recovery of oil with steam in reservoirs containing high concentrations of dissolved salts, wherein certain diaryl sulfonated surfactants are employed in conjunction with the steam which posses high tolerance for said salts. These surfactants are comprised of compositions having (1) two aromatic rings in their nucleus, such as diphenyl, diarylalkane, or naphthalene groups; (2) at least one alkyl group having 18 or more carbon atoms; and a second alkyl group having from 1-4 carbon atoms; and (3) two functional groups comprising at least one and preferably two sulfonate groups, although one of the sulfonate groups may be replaced with a carboxyl or hydroxyl groups. At least about 65% of the diaromatic compounds should contain two functional groups, preferably sulfonates, with the remainder comprising a monofunctional-substituted compound containing either a sulfonate group, a carboxylate group, or an hydroxyl group.

Abstract: Ruthenium-cobalt carbonyl catalysts which have been promoted with an organophosphite effectively catalyze the dealkoxyhydroxymethylation of aldehyde acetals to form glycol monoethers. Methylal, for example, may be reacted with syngas, i.e., CO and H.sub.2, in the presence of this phosphite-promoted ruthenium carbonyl cobalt catalyst to form the monomethyl ether of ethylene glycol. In a like manner acetaldehyde may be converted to the corresponding propylene glycol monoether. The process may advantageously be carried out with high yields and selectivities in the presence of a polar or non-polar organic solvent in combination with the catalyst system of this invention.The invention is also directed to certain of the organophosphite-promoted cobalt and ruthenium-cobalt carbonyl catalyst systems per se.

Abstract: Alkylaromatic sulfonates, and particularly dialkylaromatic sulfonates, useful as surfactants in steam recovery methods for enhancing oil recovery from subterranean formations, have been found to comprise mixtures of meta- and para-isomers of the same obtained by alkylating alkylaromatics, where the alkyl group has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, with a C.sub.14-30 olefin. It has been found that when the ratio of para-isomer to meta-isomer is increased in this mixture, a significantly more hydrolytically, thermally stable surfactant under steam recovery operating conditions is obtained.

Abstract: The cobalt carbonyl catalyst R.sup.5 CCo.sub.3 (CO).sub.9, desirably with Ru.sub.3 (CO).sub.12, wherein R.sup.5 is hydrogen; alkyl, preferably C.sub.1-5 lower alkyl; cycloalkyl or substituted cycloalkyl; cycloalkenyl, such as cyclohexenyl or cyclooctenyl; C.sub.1-12 alkoxy, such as methoxy or propoxy; aryl or alkyl-, cycloalkyl-, alkoxy-, halo-, or cyano-substituted aryl; cyano; or a silyl carbyne moiety of the formula R.sub.3.sup.6 Si, wherein R.sup.6 is alkyl or aryl, effectively catalyzes the dealkoxyhydroxymethylation of aldehyde acetals to form glycol monoethers. Methylal, for example, may be reacted with syngas; i.e., CO and H.sub.2, in the presence of this catalyst system to form the corresponding ethylene glycol monomethyl ether.The novel catalyst combination of R.sup.5 CCo.sub.3 (CO).sub.9 and Ru.sub.3 (CO).sub.12 is likewise claimed herein.