Abstract: Phenol or a substituted phenol is oxidized to the corresponding benzoquinone or substituted benzoquinone in the presence of a copper halide or copper nitrate catalyst promoted with an oxide or hydroxide of a Group II metal.

Abstract: Phenol or a substituted phenol is oxidized to the corresponding benzoquinone or substituted benzoquinone in a nitroalkane solvent in the presence of a copper ion catalyst promoted with a base selected from alkali metal phenoxides, and secondary or tertiary lower alkyl amines.

Abstract: Hydroformylation process for preparing aldehydes by reactively contacting an olefin and syngas, at elevated temperature and pressure, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a mixture of (1) a platinum complex of the formula Pt(QR.sub. 3).sub.m where Q is a Group VA element, R is alkyl, alkoxyl, aryl or aryloxyl and m is an integer of from 2 to 4, and (2) a metal halide of the formula MX.sub.n where M is a Group IVB metal, X is a halogen and n is 2 or 4.

Abstract: Process for selective homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of carboxylic acid anhydrides to ester or lactones at an improved rate and to obtain improved yields wherein the catalyst is a ruthenium trichlorostannate complex of the formula: ##STR1## wherein X is hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, iodine or lower alkyl; m is the integer 1 or 2; n is an integer of from 0 to 3 but when n is 2 or 3, X may be the same or different; M is P, As or Sb; R.sup.6, R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 independently are lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, benzyl or a bidentate legand; x is an integer of from 1 to 4 but when x is 2 or more, M may be the same or different; L is a neutral ligand, olefin, CO or (R.sup.9).sub.2 CO wherein R.sup.9 is lower alkyl; y is an integer of from 0 to 3 but when y is 2 or 3, L may be the same or different; and the sum of x and y is at least 2.

Abstract: A process for making a hydroquinone from phenol or substituted phenol wherein the phenol is oxidized in the presence of a copper catalyst to a p-benzoquinone compound and the p-benzoquinone compound is directly hydrogenated without additional catalyst to the corresponding hydroquinone.

Abstract: In the process of oxidizing phenol to p-benzoquinone with a bivalent copper ion catalyst, the improvement of promoting the catalyst with a base to obtain improved conversion and/or selectivity. The preferred bases used are alkali metal hydroxides and phenates and secondary and tertiary lower alkyl amines.

Abstract: Acetoxyacetophenone is the predominant product when phenyl acetate, acetic acid and acetic anhydride are reacted in the presence of palladium and a gas mixture containing an inert gas and more than 13 vol. % oxygen. Secondary products are hydroxyacetophenone and phenylene diacetates. The meta isomers predominate when a metal acetate is present in the reaction mixture. Mineral acids cause shift to ortho isomers.

Abstract: Phenol is oxidized to benzoquinone with a bivalent copper catalyst using a vicinal dialkoxy alkane or cycloalkane as promoter, whereby improved conversion and/or selectivity is obtained.

Abstract: A novel catalyst and the process of using it for hydroformylation where the catalyst is a complex of the formula Pt(Acetylacetonate).sub.2 /nMX.sub.2.nH.sub.2 O/xPR.sub.3 where M is a Group IVA metal, X is a halogem atom, n is an integer of from about 2 to about 10, x is an integer of from about 5 to about 20, n is 0 or 2, and PR.sub.3 is a phosphine where R is an alkyl or, aryl group.

Abstract: A novel catalyst and the process of using it for hydroformylation where the catalyst is a complex of the formulaPt(Acetylacetonate).sub.2 /nMX.sub.2.nH.sub.2 O/xPR.sub.3where M is a Group IVA metal, X is a halogen atom, n is an integer of from about 2 to about 10, x is an integer of from about 5 to about 20, n is 0 or 2, and PR.sub.3 is a phosphine where R is an alkyl or, aryl group.

Abstract: Dimethyl sebacate is recovered from a reaction mixture containing it in predominant amount and minor amounts of other dimethyl esters of C.sub.10 -dicarboxylic acids by stepwise recrystallization using a solvent selected from the group consisting of acetone, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, alkanols having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, aromatic hydrocarbons having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, alkanes and alkenes having 5 to 8 carbon atoms or a mixture of one of those solvents which is miscible with water, and water as recrystallization solvent.

Abstract: Paraphenylene diacetate is the predominant product when phenylacetate, acetic acid and acetic anhydride are reacted in the presence of palladium and a gas mixture containing an inert gas and no more than 13 vol.% oxygen.

Abstract: A process for producing unsaturated methyl nonadienoate and methyl nonatrienoate monesters useful as precursors for pelargonic acid which comprises contacting, in a reaction inert medium, butadiene and methyl-2,4-pentadienoate in a molar ratio of 2:1 to 10:1 at a temperature of 40.degree. to 120.degree. C. under an inert atmosphere and in the presence of a catalytic amount of a homogeneous palladium (II) complex of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is alkyl, chloroalkyl, bromoalkyl or fluoroalkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or aryl having 6 to 12 carbon atoms; Q is phosphorous or arsenic and R' is alkyl, aminoalkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or aryl or aryloxy having 6 to 12 carbon atoms.The foregoing precursors may subsequently be hydrogenated to methyl pelargonate (methyl nonanoate) and pelargonic acid may then be obtained by acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of methyl pelargonate.

Abstract: A process for producing an unsaturated diester useful as a precursor for sebacic acid which comprises contacting, in a reaction inert medium, methyl penta-2,4-dienoate at a temperature of 30 to 150.degree. C. under an inert atmosphere with a catalytic amount of a homogeneous palladium (II) complex of the formula ##STR1## wherein Q is phosphorous or arsenic; R is alkyl, trichloroalkyl, tribromoalkyl or trifluoroalkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or aryl having 6 to 12 carbon atoms and R' is alkyl, aminoalkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or aryl or aryloxy having 6 to 12 carbon atoms.The foregoing precursor may subsequently be hydrogenated to dimethyl sebacate and sebacic acid may then be obtained by acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of dimethyl sebacate.