Abstract: A method for increasing the molecular weight of aliphatic polyester resins from dicarboxylic aliphatic acids having 2-22 carbon atoms, or from hydroxy-acids having 2-22 carbon atoms, in which the solid resin is brought into contact with a chain extender preferably chosen from the organic disocyaciates.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of carboxylic acids and esters thereof, which involves the steps of (a) mixing an unsaturated fatty acid or corresponding ester with an oxidative substance in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of oxides of tungsten and molybdenum and their acids and alkaline salts, (b) reacting the product mixture from step (a), which comprises vicinal diols, with oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a cobalt-containing compound which acts as a catalyst. The product mixture from step (a) is not subjected to any purification treatments prior to undergoing step (b).

Abstract: Process for recovering and re-using cobalt and tungsten from reaction liquors, in which said reaction liquors are treated:a) With an alkali-earth metal hydroxide in order to precipitate cobalt and tungsten, and the resulting precipitate is subsequently treated with a strong mineral acid in order to be able to dissolve the cobalt salt and separate it from H.sub.2 WO.sub.4 precipitate; orb) With an alkali metal hydroxide in order to precipitate and separate Co(OH).sub.2, and the resulting alkaline solution is then treated with an alkali-earth metal compound which is filtered and treated with a strong mineral acid in order to obtain H.sub.2 WO.sub.

Abstract: A method of preparing carboxylic acids or esters thereof by the oxidative cleavage of unsaturated fatty acids or esters thereof is carried out in a two-phase aqueous-organic system in which the organic phase contains the unsaturated fatty acid and/or the esters thereof and the aqueous phase contains hydrogen peroxide. The oxidative cleavage is carried out in the presence of a catalytic system including a catalyst belonging to the group constituted by tungstic and molybdic acids and alkaline salts thereof, and an onium salt which acts as a phase-transfer agent for the catalyst, and has the formula:(R.sub.2 R.sub.3 R.sub.4 R.sub.5 M).sup.+ Y.sup.-in which R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 represent hydrocarbon groups of which at least one must have more than 10 carbon atoms,M is N or P, andY.sup.- is an inorganic anion.

Abstract: A process for the synthesis of phenyl substituted aromatic diols, obtained by dehydrogenation of the corresponding substituted cyclohexyl derivatives in the presence of a palladium supported catalyst, said palladium supported catalyst being prepared by a process which comprises treating a palladium hydrolysis compound with reducing agents.

Abstract: Liquid-crystalline, thermotropic, aromatic polyesters processable in the molten state, comprising units derived from hydroquinones substituted with aryl, aralkyl and aroyl groups, and from phenoxy-hydroquinone.

Abstract: Thermotropic semiflexible polyesters are taught which are obtained by polycondensation of 4,4'-dihydroxybicyclohexyl with at least one .alpha.,.omega.- alkandioic acid of general formula:HOOC-(CH.sub.2).sub.n -COOH (I)wherein n is an integer comprised between 4 and 12.

Abstract: Process for the hydrogenation of bis-phenols by reacting bis-phenols with hydrogen in the presence of a catalytic system consisting of palladium supported on activated carbon.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of esters or salts of aromatic or etheroaromatic acids having formula Y--Ar--CO--OR (I), where:Ar represents an aromatic group constituted by one or more benzene rings, optionally condensed, or an etheroaromatic nucleus optionally condensed with one or more benzene rings;Y represents from zero to more substituents, equal or different, chosen among a halogen; an alkyl group having up to 6 carbon atoms; an alkoxy group having up to 5 carbon atoms; an ester group --COOR', where R' contains up to 5 carbon atoms; a hydroxyl group; a phenyloxy group, optionally substituted with groups inert under reaction conditions; a trifluoromethyl group; a nitrile group; an amidic group (--CONH.sub.2); an acetamidic group (--NH--CO--CH.sub.3); or an acyl group --CO--R", where R" represents a hydrocarbon group having up to 8 carbon atoms;R represents an alkyl group R.sub.1 having up to 5 carbon atoms or an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal M.

Abstract: Alpha-arylpropionic acids and alkaline salts thereof are prepared by catalytic reaction with carbon monoxide of the corresponding secondary halids in an anhydrous low alcohol solvent in the presence of a salt of cobalt hydrocarbonyl and in further presence of alkaline hydroxides under substantially ambient temperature and pressure conditions.The products obtained find useful applications in the field of pharmaceutics (analgesics, antipyretics, etc.) and as intermediates for chemical syntheses of fine chemicals, phytodrugs, etc.

Abstract: A process is herein described for preparing carboxylated organic compounds (acids, esters, alkaline salts) of formula ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group having up to 11 carbon atoms (an aliphatic, alicyclic, aryl- or heteroarylalkyl group), also substituted, in its turn, by groups inert under the reaction conditions (alkyl, aryl, etheric, thioetheric, halogen, nitrile, ester, amide, ketonic groups), and R' is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 group, by reaction of carbon monoxide with the corresponding hydrocarbyl halides, having the halogen bound to a non-tertiary carbon atom, in the presence of catalysts which are salts of cobalt hydrocarbonyl, or precursors thereof, in a hydro-alcoholic or alcoholic solvent and in the presence of bases.The process is characterized in that the catalytic system composed by the salt of cobalt hydrocarbonyl is supported on an anion exchange resin.

Abstract: Phenyl pyruvic acid and substituted derivatives thereof are synthesized by catalytic carbonylation of a benzyl halide in the presence of a catalytic system based on carbonyl complexes of cobalt or precursors thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing oxalic acid and esters of oxalic acid. More particularly, this invention relates to a catalytic process for preparing oxalic acid and esters of same by the oxidative reaction, in a liquid phase, of carbon monoxide and water or alcohols with oxygen in the presence of redox systems.The catalyst systems used in accordance with this invention comprises a redox catalyst consisting essentially of a salt of Pd (II) and salts of a metal more electropositive than Pd having at least two oxidation states and, optionally, salts of alkaline metals, and co-catalytic amounts of at least one base having the formula R.sub.3 N in which the groups R which may be like or unlike and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl radicals having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for preparing carboxylic acids by reaction of carbon monoxide with aromatic and aliphatic organic halides, optionally further substituted by groups inert under the reaction conditions, and catalyzed by phosphinic palladium complexes and in the presence of quaternary alkyl-ammonium salts, characterized in that said process is conducted in a double liquid phase consisting essentially of (a) the organic halide and the catalytic palladium complex or their solutions in at least one hydrocarbon solvent immiscible with H.sub.2 O, and (b) an aqueous inorganic alkaline solution containing the quaternary alkyl-ammonium salt, at a temperature between about 50.degree. and 150.degree. C. More particularly, the reaction is conducted in the presence of at least one catalyst selected from among:A. at least one palladium complex of the formula:Pd[P(R).sub.3 ].sub.mwherein m is a whole number from 2 to 4, and (R).sub.