Abstract: A process for preparing butanetetracarboxylic acid derivatives as product of value I by coupled electrosynthesis which comprises cathodically reducing a compound selected from the group consisting of maleic esters, maleic ester derivatives, fumaric esters and fumaric ester derivatives where at least one hydrogen atom in positions 2 and 3 may be replaced by inert groups and obtaining a product of value II at the node.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for the preparation of cinnamaldehyde or cinnamaldehyde derivatives by continuous reaction of benzaldehyde derivatives with alkanals in the presence of bases and optionally subsequent continuous hydrogenation in a circulation reactor in the presence of a suspension catalyst and hydrogen to give dihydrocinnamaldehyde derivatives.

Abstract: A process for preparing butanetetracarboxylic acid derivatives as product of value I by coupled electrosynthesis which comprises cathodically reducing a compound selected from the group consisting of maleic esters, maleic ester derivatives, fumaric esters and fumaric ester derivatives where at least one hydrogen atom in positions 2 and 3 may be replaced by inert groups and obtaining a product of value II at the node.

Abstract: An electrode consisting of a substrate and a diamond layer applied to the substrate, in which the applied diamond layer is pore-free, and a process for producing a diamond-coated electrode, in which the process comprises at least the following steps: a) cleaning the surface of the substrate; b) seeding the surface of the substrate with a high diamond nucleation density; c) coating the surface of the substrate with diamond.

Abstract: A process for the selective hydrolysis of acetals in the presence of phthalides comprises reacting a mixture (M) comprising a) a phthalide of the formula (I) where: R1,R2,R3 and R4: are independently hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl or halogen, and b) an acetal or ketal of the formula (II) where: R5 and R6: are independently C1-C6-alkyl, C6-C10-aryl or together ethylene, and R7 and R8: are independently C1-C6-alkyl, or one radical is a hydrogen and the other is a phenyl radical where from 1 to 3 hydrogen atoms of the phenyl radical may be replaced by C1-C6-alkyl radicals or C1-C4-alkoxy radicals, or R7 and R8 are together C3-C6-alkanediyl, and a hydrogen atom may be replaced by a hydroxyl group, at from 10 to 200° C. in the presence of from 1 to 10 mol of water, based on the amount of acetal or ketal of the formula (II), to hydrolyze the acetal or ketal of the formula (II) to the corresponding aldehyde or ketone.

Abstract: A process for the electrochemical reduction of an organic compound by bringing the organic compound into contact with a cathode, wherein the cathode comprises a support made of an electrically conductive material and an electrically conductive, cathodically polarized layer formed thereon in situ by alluviation.

Abstract: A process for dyeing celluose-containing textile material with indigo comprises using an aqueous solution of leuco indigo prepared by catalytic hydrogenation and, after the leuco indigo has gone onto the textile material, converting it back into the pigment form in a conventional manner by air oxidation.

Abstract: Benzaldehyde dialkyl acetals of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, R.sup.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy, halogen, cyano or carboxyalkyl where the alkyl group is of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, n is an integer of from 1 to 3 and the radicals R.sup.2 may be identical or different when n is >1, are prepared by electrochemical oxidation of a substituted toluene compound of the general formula II ##STR2## by a process in which a substituted toluene compound II is oxidized in the presence of an alkanol R.sup.