Abstract: The oxidation of isobutyraldehyde produces isobutyric acid and byproducts, such as isopropyl formate. A process of reducing the isopropyl formate byproduct and other byproducts in the oxidation of isobutyraldehyde is described. The process uses a carbonyl compound, such as acetone, to reduce byproduct levels in the resulting product. Process for use of static mixers in oxidation reactions of aldehydes are also provided.

Abstract: A process for making a cyclic compounds such as cyclic acetal or cyclic ketones by feeding aldehyde or ketone compounds and polyhydroxyl compounds to a reaction zone at a molar ratio of polyhydroxyl compounds to aldehyde or ketone compounds of at least 3:1, reacting these compounds in the presence of a solid acid such as an acidic ion exchange resin, to generate a liquid reaction mixture without separating water from the reaction mixture as it is being formed in the reaction mixture, withdrawing the liquid reaction mixture from the reaction zone as a liquid product stream, and feeding the liquid reaction product stream to a distillation column to separate cyclic acetal compounds from unreacted polyhydroxyl compounds, and optionally recycling back the unreacted polyhydroxyl compounds to the reaction zone. The process produces cyclic acetal compounds in yields of at least 90% with long catalyst life. The process is also suitable to make cyclic ketals from ketone compounds.

Abstract: The oxidation of isobutyraldehyde produces isobutyric acid and byproducts, such as isopropyl formate. A process of reducing the isopropyl formate byproduct and other byproducts in the oxidation of isobutyraldehyde is described. The process uses a carbonyl compound, such as acetone, to reduce byproduct levels in the resulting product. Process for use of static mixers in oxidation reactions of aldehydes are also provided.

Abstract: A liquid composition containing at least 2 mole % of water, at least 50 mole % of polyhydroxyl compounds, at least 3 mole % of cyclic compounds, and at least 0.01 mole % of a homogeneous acid catalyst. The mole percentages are based on the moles of all liquids in the composition. The liquid composition optionally contains up to 20 mole % of carbonyl compounds, based on the number of moles of the cyclic compounds. The cumulative amount of any other liquid ingredient in the liquid composition does not exceed 10 mole %. The cyclic compounds include cyclic acetals, cyclic ketals, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A liquid phase hydrogenolysis of acetal compounds, such as cyclic acetals and cyclic ketals, is disclosed. The acetal compounds are fed to a reaction zone and reacted in the presence of a noble metal catalyst supported on a carbon or silica support to make hydroxy mono-ether compounds in high selectivity, without the necessity of using acidic co-catalysts such as phosphorus containing acids or stabilizers such as hydroquinone.

Abstract: Catalyst compositions of alumina supports containing palladium and nickel are selective in a vapor phase hydrogenolyzis reaction to convert cyclic acetal compounds and/or cyclic ketal compounds in the presence of hydrogen to their corresponding hydroxy ether hydrocarbon reaction products.

Abstract: Cyclic acetals can be produced in a reactive distillation apparatus by combining a polyhydroxyl compound and an aldehyde. High concentrations of cyclic acetals are removed as liquid products from the column while water is removed as an overhead vapor stream.

Abstract: The oxidation of isobutyraldehyde produces isobutyric acid and byproducts, such as isopropyl formate. A method of reducing the isopropyl formate byproduct in the oxidation of isobutyraldehyde is described. The method uses a co-solvent, such as acetone, to the isobutyraldehyde feed to increase both the selectivity of the reaction to isobutyric acid and the production rate of isobutyric acid so that the isopropyl formate byproduct is significantly reduced.

Abstract: The oxidation of isobutyraldehyde produces isobutyric acid and byproducts, such as isopropyl formate. A process of reducing the isopropyl formate byproduct and other byproducts in the oxidation of isobutyraldehyde is described. The process uses a carbonyl compound, such as acetone, to reduce byproduct levels in the resulting product. Process for use of static mixers in oxidation reactions of aldehydes are also provided.

Abstract: The oxidation of isobutyraldehyde produces isobutyric acid and byproducts, such as isopropyl formate. A method of reducing the isopropyl formate byproduct in the oxidation of isobutyraldehyde is described. The method uses a co-solvent, such as acetone, to the isobutyraldehyde feed to increase both the selectivity of the reaction to isobutyric acid and the production rate of isobutyric acid so that the isopropyl formate byproduct is significantly reduced.

Abstract: Catalyst compositions of palladium supported on alumina or zirconium oxide supports having low or no silicon dioxide contents and having a specific surface area or modified with alkali, alkaline earth, or phosphine oxide compounds are selective in a vapor phase hydrogenolysis reaction to convert cyclic acetal compounds and/or cyclic ketal compounds in the presence of hydrogen to their corresponding hydroxy ether hydrocarbon reaction products.

Abstract: A process for making a cyclic compounds such as cyclic acetal or cyclic ketones by feeding aldehyde or ketone compounds and polyhydroxyl compounds to a reaction vessel at a molar ratio of polyhydroxyl compounds to aldehyde or ketone compounds of at least 3:1, reacting these compounds in the presence of a homogeneous acid catalyst to generate a liquid phase homogeneous reaction mixture containing the acid catalyst without separating water from the reaction mixture as it is being formed in the reaction mixture, withdrawing the liquid phase homogeneous reaction mixture from the reaction vessel as a liquid product stream, and feeding the liquid reaction product stream to a distillation column to separate cyclic acetal compounds from unreacted polyhydroxyl compounds, and optionally recycling back the unreacted polyhydroxyl compounds and/or acid catalyst to the reaction vessel. The process produces cyclic acetal compounds in high yields. The process is also suitable to make cyclic ketals from ketone compounds.

Abstract: A vapor phase hydrogenolysis reaction to convert cyclic acetal compounds and/or cyclic ketal compounds in the presence of hydrogen to their corresponding hydroxy ether hydrocarbon reaction products using a supported noble metal catalyst. The hydrogenolysis reaction can be carried out in the vapor phase and in the absence of a polyhydroxyl hydrocarbon co-solvent.

Abstract: A process for making a cyclic compounds such as cyclic acetal or cyclic ketones by feeding aldehyde or ketone compounds and polyhydroxyl compounds to a reaction vessel at a molar ratio of polyhydroxyl compounds to aldehyde or ketone compounds of at least 3:1, reacting these compounds in the presence of a homogeneous acid catalyst to generate a liquid phase homogeneous reaction mixture containing the acid catalyst without separating water from the reaction mixture as it is being formed in the reaction mixture, withdrawing the liquid phase homogeneous reaction mixture from the reaction vessel as a liquid product stream, and feeding the liquid reaction product stream to a distillation column to separate cyclic acetal compounds from unreacted polyhydroxyl compounds, and optionally recycling back the unreacted polyhydroxyl compounds and/or acid catalyst to the reaction vessel. The process produces cyclic acetal compounds in high yields. The process is also suitable to make cyclic ketals from ketone compounds.

Abstract: Cyclic acetals can be produced in a reactive distillation apparatus by combining a polyhydroxyl compound and an aldehyde. High concentrations of cyclic acetals are removed as liquid products from the column while water is removed as an overhead vapor stream.

Abstract: A process for making a cyclic compounds such as cyclic acetal or cyclic ketones by feeding aldehyde or ketone compounds and polyhydroxyl compounds to a reaction zone at a molar ratio of polyhydroxyl compounds to aldehyde or ketone compounds of at least 3:1, reacting these compounds in the presence of a solid acid such as an acidic ion exchange resin, to generate a liquid reaction mixture without separating water from the reaction mixture as it is being formed in the reaction mixture, withdrawing the liquid reaction mixture from the reaction zone as a liquid product stream, and feeding the liquid reaction product stream to a distillation column to separate cyclic acetal compounds from unreacted polyhydroxyl compounds, and optionally recycling back the unreacted polyhydroxyl compounds to the reaction zone. The process produces cyclic acetal compounds in yields of at least 90% with long catalyst life. The process is also suitable to make cyclic ketals from ketone compounds.

Abstract: Catalyst compositions of alumina supports containing palladium and nickel are selective in a vapor phase hydrogenolysis reaction to convert cyclic acetal compounds and/or cyclic ketal compounds in the presence of hydrogen to their corresponding hydroxy ether hydrocarbon reaction products.

Abstract: Cyclic acetals can be produced in a reactive distillation apparatus by combining a polyhydroxyl compound and an aldehyde. High concentrations of cyclic acetals are removed as liquid products from the column while water is removed as an overhead vapor stream.

Abstract: A process for making a cyclic compounds such as cyclic acetal or cyclic ketones by feeding aldehyde or ketone compounds and polyhydroxyl compounds to a reaction zone at a molar ratio of polyhydroxyl compounds to aldehyde or ketone compounds of at least 3:1, reacting these compounds in the presence of a solid acid such as an acidic ion exchange resin, to generate a liquid reaction mixture without separating water from the reaction mixture as it is being formed in the reaction mixture, withdrawing the liquid reaction mixture from the reaction zone as a liquid product stream, and feeding the liquid reaction product stream to a distillation column to separate cyclic acetal compounds from unreacted polyhydroxyl compounds, and optionally recycling back the unreacted polyhydroxyl compounds to the reaction zone. The process produces cyclic acetal compounds in yields of at least 90% with long catalyst life. The process is also suitable to make cyclic ketals from ketone compounds.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of higher aldehydes from lower alcohols using a two-stage vapor phase heterogeneous catalyst system. Ethanol feeds afford aldehydes such as butyraldehyde and crotonaldehyde while butanol feeds yield 2-ethylhexanal and 2-ethylhexenal. Higher product selectivities are obtained when the alcohol is first dehydrogenated in the upper catalyst stage followed by aldol condensation of the resulting lower aldehyde to a higher aldehyde.