Abstract: An alcohol such as methanol is reacted with carbon monoxide in a liquid reaction medium containing a rhodium catalyst stabilized with an iodide salt, especially lithium iodide, along with alkyl iodide such as methyl iodide and alkyl acetate such as methyl acetate in specified proportions. With a finite concentration of water in the reaction medium the product is the carboxylic acid instead of, for example, the anhydride. The present reaction system not only provides an acid product of unusually low water content at unexpectedly favorable reaction rates but also, whether the water content is low or, as in the case of prior-art acetic acid technology, relatively high, is characterized by unexpectedly high catalyst stability; i.e., it is resistant to catalyst precipitation out of the reaction medium.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of methyl formate by the vapor phase dehydrogenation of methanol in the presence of a catalyst composed of copper oxide, a chromium oxide and a sodium compound is described.

Abstract: Liquid crystalline bis-chlorocarbonic acid esters are 4-hydroxybenzoic acid-(4'-hydroxyphenyl) esters corresponding to the following formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 denote, independently of one another, hydrogen, a halogen atom or a C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl group. Preparation of (I) and liquid crystalline N-alkyl polyurethanes and polycarbonates prepared from (I) are other invention embodiments.

Abstract: A method for making diphenyl carbonate free of color bodies is provided by reacting an organic hydroxy compound, such as phenol with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of an effective amount of a palladium catalyst, in the form of a palladium material which is used in combination with a quaternary ammonium salt, an inorganic cocatalyst, such as cobalt diacetate and an organic cocatalyst such as benzophenone or 1,10-phenanthroline. Recycling of catalyst values is also provided.

Abstract: Ethylidene diacetate is prepared by treating at least one member of the group consisting of methyl acetate and dimethyl ether with carbon monoxide in the presence of a source of halide under substantially anhydrous conditions.

Abstract: A process employing an organophosphine catalyst for the reaction of aromatic haloformates with aromatic hydroxy compounds for the production of diaryl carbonates with the elimination of anhydrous hydrogen halide. The organophosphine catalysts of the present invention permit the production of the products in very high yield, and the reaction proceeds at high rates.

Abstract: Hydrocarboxyalkylation of .alpha.,.omega.-dienes with carbon monoxide and an alcohol in the presence of a cobalt compound and a tertiary amine gives .omega.-enecarboxylic acid esters with high selectivity and in good yields.

Abstract: Psoriasis in mammals is relieved by topically administering naphthalenes of the formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 is lower alkoxy or optionally substituted phenoxy,R.sup.2 is the same as R.sup.1, or R.sup.2 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, optionally substituted phenyl or optionally substituted phenylalkyl,R.sup.3 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo, optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted phenyl-lower-alkyl or optionally substituted phenyl-lower-alkoxy, and m is 1 or 2;both X groups are the same and X is either --C(O)OR.sup.4 or --C(O)NR.sup.5 R.sup.6, whereinR.sup.4 is alkyl, phenyl or benzyl optionally substituted with one or two lower alkyl groups, lower alkoxy groups or halo; andR.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl or phenyl optionally substituted with one or two lower alkyl groups, lower alkoxy groups or halo.

Abstract: A method is provided for making an organic carbonate such as, a diaryl carbonate by heating a mixture under elevated conditions of temperature and pressure comprising an arylhydroxy compound, such as phenol, carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a palladium catalyst and carbon dioxide as a desiccant.

Abstract: A process for making gluconic acid and its alkali metal salts by oxidizing glucose with oxygen or oxygen containing gas in an aqueous alkaline solution in the presence of an activated charcoal supported catalyst containing a platinum group metal component, e.g. platinum and palladium and bismuth wherein the platinum, palladium and bismuth are simultaneously deposited on the charcoal support.

Abstract: N,N-disubstituted monourethanes and oligourethanes are produced by reacting (a) N-aliphatically and/or N-cycloaliphatically and/or N-araliphatically substituted monourethanes and/or oligourethanes with an alkylating agent in the presence of a solid alkali metal hydroxide. No solvent need by employed but if a solvent is used, that solvent should be an aprotic organic solvent. The alkali metal hydroxide must be used in an equivalent amount. A phase transfer catalyst may optionally be employed. The N,N-disubstituted urethanes obtained by this process are useful in the production of dyes, pharmaceutical products and thermostable synthetic materials.

Abstract: A method for preparing .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acids of the formulaR.sub.1 (R.sub.2)C.dbd.C(R.sub.3)CO.sub.2 Hwhere R.sub.1 to R.sub.3 can be hydrogen, fluorine, alkyl, or alkyl containing fluorine, but at least one of R.sub.1 to R.sub.3 is fluorine or alkyl containing fluorine. The method involves reacting an alkenyl halide containing fluorine having the general formulaR.sub.1 (R.sub.2)C.dbd.C(R.sub.3)Xwhere R.sub.1 to R.sub.3 are the same as above, and X is chlorine, bromine, or iodine with carbon dioxide in an aprotic polar organic solvent and in the presence of activated zinc. The activated zinc is activated by pretreatment with a mineral acid or acetic acid. At least one cation is present during the reaction which is an alkali metal ion, alkaline earth metal ion or ammonium ion. The cation is present in an amount of 0.01 to 50 gram atoms per one mol of alkenyl halide containig fluorine. The resulting product is hydrolyzed.

Abstract: A modified ruthenium catalyst can be used to selectively hydrogenate an olefinic double bond in the presence of another olefinic double bond in the same or in a different molecule. Modifiers are selected from compounds containing trivalent nitrogen, trivalent phosphorus and divalent sulfur.

Abstract: Alkylidene diesters such as ethylidene diacetate are produced by reacting an ether and/or an ester under substantially anhydrous conditions with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in contact with a catalyst system comprising a rhodium compound and a halogen component at a temperature in the range from 125.degree. to 300.degree. C. and at a carbon monoxide partial pressure in the range from about 1.0 to 1100 kg/cm.sup.2. When ethylidene diacetate is the product, it can then be decomposed to produce vinyl acetate and acetic acid by well-known techniques. Since one mole of acetic acid is also produced in the synthesis of the diacetate, the invention makes possible an overall process for the production of vinyl acetate which produces acetic acid rather than consumes it.

Abstract: 2,3,5-trimethyl-benzoquinone is produced by oxidizing 2,3,6-trimethyl-phenol in the presence of a catalyst of cupric chloride and lithium chloride in a solvent mixture of an aromatic hydrocarbon and a lower aliphatic alcohol having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The process for the preparation of acyloxybenzenesulfonic acids of the general formula ##STR1## in which R denotes a (C.sub.1 -C.sub.17)-alkyl or (C.sub.2 -C.sub.17)-alkenyl radical, or alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salts thereof, is carried out in the following stages: (a) sulfonation of phenol, (b) heat treatment of the phenolsulfonic acid formed as the intermediate product, (c) esterification of the phenolsulfonic acid and, if appropriate, (d) neutralization of the resulting (C.sub.2 -C.sub.18)-acyloxybenzenesulfonic acid. As a result of the incorporation of stage (b), the process affords products in which the proportion of the 1,4-isomer compared with the 1,2-isomer is markedly increased, as a result of which these products can be used, in particular, as perborate activators in detergents.

Abstract: Catalytic dealkoxylation of gem-dialkoxy compounds for synthesizing vinyl ethers is disclosed. Zeolites of the mordenite or ZSM5 type with an Na.sub.2 O/Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 molar ratio of 1:1.05 (.+-.0.25) are used as catalysts.

Abstract: A process for preparing valproic acid which comprises:(I) producing a 2,2-dipropyl acetoacetic acid ester from an acetoacetic acid ester,(II) deacetylating the 2,2-dipropyl acetoacetic acid ester with an alcohol to give a valproic acid ester, and(III) hydrolyzing the valproic acid ester. In the process of the present invention, valproic acid can be prepared in a high yield as not less than 85% by mole and by-products such as .alpha.-propyl-.beta.-ethyl acrylic acid and its esters which cannot be easily separated from valproic acid, are not entirely produced.

Abstract: A method and system for increasing conversion efficiency of aromatic alkyl reactant to aromatic carboxylic acid product and for improving the quality of the product, are disclosed. The method and system provide for the continuous production of an aromatic carboxylic acid by the liquid phase, exothermic oxidation of an aromatic alkyl in a vaporizable solvent in an oxidation reactor. The reactor makes use of a vented, overhead condenser system and a separator system for condensation of vaporized reactor material, separation of the condensed solvent therefrom, and reflux of separated solvent back into the reactor. The improvement comprises combining the reactor liquid feedstream with the refluxed solvent upstream from the oxidation reactor.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for making compounds such as 3,6,9-trioxaundecane-1,11-bis (3-n-dodecylthiopropionate) which comprises reacting an alkyl thiopropionate with a glycol at temperatures between 50.degree. C. and 180.degree. C. in the presence of a catalytic amount of a dialkyl tin oxide.