Abstract: In a process for the production of acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a rhodium carbonylation catalyst, methyl iodide and an iodide salt stabiliser the improvement resides in maintaining a finite concentration of water of up to about 10% by weight and a methyl acetate concentration of at least 2% by weight in the liquid reaction composition and recovering the acetic acid product by passing the liquid reaction composition through a flash zone to produce a vapour fraction which is passed to a single distillation column from which an acetic acid product is removed.

Abstract: A novel propylene glycol cyclohexyl ether derivative represented by formula I is disclosed. ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group; and n represents an integer of from 1 to 3.This propylene glycol cyclohexyl ether derivative is not only extremely safe by virtue of its low toxicity and high flash point, but also has excellent detergency, low viscosity, and can impart a high film-forming ability to a resin emulsion. Further, this propylene glycol cyclohexyl ether derivative also has high hydrophobicity (and hence low water-solubility), so that it can minimize the cost and labor for disposal of waste water. Therefore, this propylene glycol cyclohexyl ether derivative is useful in various applications, for example, as a detergent, as a solvent for a wide variety of applications and as a film-forming agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to(1) a Ru-Sn hetero-polynuclear complex as a novel catalyst which has a high catalytic activity and is useful for producing acetic acid and/or methyl acetate from methanol, and(2) a process for producing acetic acid and/or methyl acetate through a one-stage reaction starting with methanol wherein a catalyst can be used at a high concentration and the catalytic activity is maintained throughout the reaction.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a composition for removing coatings such as paints from substrates which comprises at least one ester and at least one lactone. The present invention further comprises a method for removing coatings.

Abstract: Isomeric mixtures of pentanoic acids are prepared by subjecting butene-1/butene-2 mixtures to hydroformylation to form aldehyde mixtures, followed by oxidation of the aldehyde mixtures which have been separated off from the reaction product. The hydroformylation is carried out in a heterogeneous system in the presence of rhodium catalysts which are dissolved in water. The mixture of isomeric 5 carbon monocarboxylic acids produced, when esterified with polyhydric alcohols, yields mixtures of isomeric esters which are useful as lubricants for refrigerant compressors operated with chlorine-free, at least partly fluorinated hydrocarbons as the refrigerant.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for promoting hair growth. The methods generally comprise the administration to a patient of a therapeutically effective amount of the compositions of the present invention which employ a vasodilator in combination with estradiol and/or a 5-.alpha.-reductase inhibitor in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. The compositions and methods of the present invention are suitable for the treatment of baldness, in particular, male pattern baldness.

Abstract: A process for producing acetic acid comprising reacting ethylene and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising metallic Pd and at least one member selected from the group consisting of heteropoly-acids and their salts, or in the presence of a catalyst comprising metallic Pd, at least one member selected from the group consisting of heteropoly-acids and their salts and at least one member selected from the group consisting of metallic elements of Groups 11, 14, 15 and 16 of the Long-Form Periodic Table.

Abstract: A general method for sequential addition of two substituents to an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated ketone (enone), involving 1,4-conjugate addition of a desired substituent group to the enone to form an intermediate enolate, followed by electrophilic trapping of the enolate, wherein catalytic amounts of copper are employed in combination with another organometallic compound to effect the conjugate addition via a reactive cuprate reagent and yet provide an intermediate enolate species based on the other organometallic compound which is amenable to trapping by a suitable electrophile. Pursuant to this method, a true three-component coupling reaction can be effected starting from an alkyne, an enone, and an electrophile.

Abstract: A process for preparing carboxylic esters from carboxylic acid halides or carboxylic anhydrides by reacting one of these starting materials with an alcohol under the catalytic action of "onium" or metal salts of carboxylic acids to obtain high yields of products in anhydrous form in a technically simple manner. The process is especially well suited for preparing 1,1,1-trifluoroethyl trifluoroacetate.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for making a thioether compound having the formula:A--S--Rcomprising reacting:(1) Compound I having the formula:A--H (I)where A comprises a carbon atom bonded to H where that carbon is either capable of ionizing to a nucleophilic state or is conjugated to such an atom, with(2) Compound II having the formula:H--SR or RSSR (II)wherein R is selected from the group consisting of:(a) a substituted or-unsubstituted aryl group or alicyclic group, said groups being carbocyclic or heterocyclic, and(b) a thiocarbonyl group,in the presence of a base and an oxidizing agent that is free of reactive halogen and that is capable of oxidizing H--SR to RSSR.

Abstract: In textile printing using a printing paste containing a dye and a biological polymer (or modified polymer) as thickener, removal of the thickener and excess dye is made much more efficient by washing the printed textile in the presence of a suitable enzyme. The enzymatic breakdown of thickener decreases process time as well as the amount of energy and water needed to achieve a satisfactory quality of the textile.

Abstract: A process for the continuous esterification of at least one alcohol and at least one carboxylic acid to form at least one ester and water, and the concurrent separation of the esterification products has been developed. The process uses a solid bed which as a catalyst for esterification and as an adsorbent for at least one of the products. The process preferably operates in the simulated moving bed mode. A specific embodiment of the invention is one where the simulated moving bed is a homogeneous mixture of at least one solid effective as an esterification catalyst and at least one solid effective as an ester or water adsorbent. Another specific embodiment is one where the simulated moving bed is a strongly acidic macroreticular polymeric resin effective both as an esterification catalyst and as an adsorbent for at least one esterification product.

Abstract: In a process for preparing methyltris(m-sulfonatophenyl)phosphonium iodide trisodium salt, the sodium salt of trisulfonated triphenylphosphine and methanol are introduced as the initial charge, a solution of methyl iodide in methanol is added dropwise at elevated temperature, and after an additional reaction time the reaction product is evaporated to dryness in vacuo.Methyltris(m-sulfonatophenyl)phosphonium iodide trisodium salt can be used to prepare carboxylic acids and/or their esters by carbonylation of saturated aliphatic alcohols having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms or their halo, ester or ether derivatives over a rhodium catalyst in the presence of water and methyl iodide under a CO partial pressure of from 0.3 to 200 bar at a temperature of from 100.degree. to 240.degree. C., provided methyltris(m-sulfonatophenyl)phosphonium iodide trisodium salt and carboxylic acid are added to the liquid phase prior to carbonylation.

Abstract: Preparation of methyl formate by the reaction of carbon monoxide and methanol under conditions of elevated pressure and temperature in the presence of an alkali metal methylate, in whichA) the starting materials are mixed in a mixing zone, are allowed to react partially, and the reaction solution is saturated with CO andB) the reaction is allowed to reach completion in one or more secondary reaction zones without the addition of further starting materials.

Abstract: Zeolites, particularly X type zeolites, essentially irrespective of the cation they contain, are effective heterogeneous catalysts for the oxidative conversion of the products of reaction of organic molecules containing a --HC.dbd.CH-- structure with ozone to at least two carboxylic acid molecules, with gaseous diatomic oxygen as the oxidative agent. The process is particularly well adapted to converting oleic acid into a mixture of azelaic and pelargonic acids.

Abstract: There are disclosed a process for producing methyl formate by dehydrogenating methanol in liquid phase in the presence of a solid catalyst and a process according thereto wherein a gas (N.sub.2, H.sub.2, CO, etc.) is continuously blown into the liquid phase from outside, and the gas along with the reaction product are continuously withdrawn outside the reaction system from the gaseous phase directly or through a cooler. By virtue of the liquid-phase reaction in the above process, as compared with the conventional gaseous phase reaction, the reaction temperature can be lowered, the reaction gas rich in the objective methyl formate rather than methanol is obtained by continuously withdrawing the resultant methyl formate outside the reaction system and accordingly, a single pass yield higher than that at the thermodynamical equilibrium-value is assured, whereby energy saving is made possible.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method of manufacturing isobornyl acrylate or isobornyl methacrylate by reacting camphene with acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, respectively, in the presence of a molybdenum heteropolyacid as a catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the purification of carboxyl streams such as product streams comprising one or more carboxyl compounds selected from carboxylic acids, carboxylic anhydrides and alkylidene dicarboxylates. The process provides a means for the reduction of the iodine content of carboxyl compound product streams which are contaminated with one or more iodine compounds.

Abstract: A dusting and cleaning composition particularly suited for cleaning furniture and similar surfaces, including one or more paraffinic or naphthenic oils, one or more volatile organic solvents, terpene, a glycol ether, a compatible emulsifier system, and water, wherein the cleaning composition is in the form of a readily breakable oil-out emulsion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for recovering carboxylic acids having from one to ten carbon atoms, and particularly formic acid, acetic acid and mixtures of formic and acetic acids, from aqueous solutions, in which the aqueous solution is contacted with solvent consisting essentially of mixed trialkylphosphine oxides in counter-current liquid-liquid extraction flow in a contacting step to thereby transfer the acids from the aqueous solution to the solvent, thus producing a raffinate relatively low in acid content and a rich solvent. The rich solvent is preferably dehydrated to separate water therefrom and yield a dehydrated rich solvent. The dehydrated rich solvent then has the acids stripped from it and the resulting lean solvent is then returned to the liquid-liquid extraction step, while the separated acids are split into their constituent components in a distillation operation.