Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the oxidative coupling of methane comprising converting methane to one or more C2+ hydrocarbons in a reactor, wherein said process comprises contacting a reactor feed comprising methane and oxygen with a catalyst composition and wherein the linear gas velocity of said reactor feed in the region above the catalyst bed is at least 0.6 m/s, the linear gas velocity through the catalyst bed is at least 0.6 m/s and the partial pressure of oxygen in the reactor is greater than 0.08 MPa.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the liquid phase oxidation of ethylbenzene into ethylbenzene hydroperoxide, wherein the ethylbenzene hydroperoxide concentration is kept below 20 wt. % on the basis of the total weight of the reaction mixture, and wherein styrene and/or a styrene derivative is fed to the ethylbenzene. The concentration of said styrene and/or a styrene derivative may be from 0.01 to 5.0 wt. %.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the liquid phase oxidation of ethylbenzene into ethylbenzene hydroperoxide, wherein the ethylbenzene hydroperoxide concentration is kept below 20 wt. % on the basis of the total weight of the reaction mixture, and wherein styrene and/or a styrene derivative is fed to the ethylbenzene. The concentration of said styrene and/or a styrene derivative may be from 0.01 to 5.0 wt. %.

Abstract: A process for preparing styrene by contacting a gaseous feed which contains 1-phenylethanol and at least 0.1% wt of phenol and/or ethylphenol with a heterogeneous dehydration catalyst in the presence of at least 0.40% wt of benzylalcohol and at a molar ratio of benzylalcohol to total amount of phenol and ethylphenol of at least 0.8.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing styrene by catalytically dehydrating 1-phenylethanol in the liquid phase in the presence of at least 0.1 % wt of a chain transfer agent. As an alternative, the process is performed by recycling at least part of the chain transfer-containing product stream to the reactor and combining with the feed for preparing the products.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprising a bis-amide compound represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein M is zirconium, hafnium or titanium; each N is a three coordinate nitrogen atom; each e is Si, Ge or Sn; each Z is, independently, a hydride or R; each R is, independently, a hydrocarbyl one or more carbon atoms of which may be substituted by an element selected from Si, O, P, N and S; L is a neutral Lewis base and m is a number from 0 to 2; or a dimer thereof and a second component. Preferably the second component is a compound which is capable of providing a bulky and labile anion ?A!.sup.-, which anion is substantially non-coordinating under the reaction conditions and contains at least one boron atom. Also provided is a process for oligomerizing or co-oligomerizing alpha olefins in the presence of this catalyst composition.