Abstract: Process for the preparation of 2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranol, comprising the reaction between catechol or 4-tert.butyl catechol and isobutyraldehyde in the presence of catalytic amounts of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of the oxides, hydroxides, alcoholates and carboxylates of metals belonging to the Groups IA, IIA, IIB and VIIB of the Periodic System of the Elements and the subsequent reaction of rearrangement of the products which have been obtained, optionally previously removing one or more low-boiling components, in the presence of a compound having acidic properties, of an organic or a mineral nature. The product is useful in the synthesis of pesticides.

Abstract: Process for production of ethylenic compounds by hydrogenating the corresponding alkynol with isopropyl alcohol in the presence of a metal complex such as IrH.sub.3 CO(P.phi..sub.3).sub.2 and IrH.sub.3 (P.phi..sub.3).sub.2.

Abstract: An alpha-substituted epoxide, represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R, R' and R"' are alkyl having up to 12 C atoms and R" is hydrogen, is prepared by oxidizing, with molecular oxygen, the corresponding alcohol, represented by the formula: ##STR2## wherein R, R', R" and R"' have the meaning given above, in the presence of a catalyst consisting of a monovalent copper complex.

Abstract: A ketonic heterocyclic compound having at least two heteroatoms in the ring is prepared by reacting a difunctional compound having the general formula ##STR1## in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are members of the group consisting of aliphatic, aromatic, cycloaliphatic and heterocyclic hydrocarbons which may contain functional groups selected from --OH, --OR.sub.5, --COOH, --COOR.sub.5, --CN, --Cl, --Br, --I, --F, and --CO--R.sub.5, wherein R.sub.5 is an aliphatic, aromatic, cycloaliphatic or heterocyclic hydrocarbon; X is oxygen or sulphur; Y is sulphur or nitrogen; n is an integer ranging from 1 to 3, or zero; R.sub.6 is a hydrogen or a hydrocarbon radical included in the above definition of R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 ; and m is the valence of Y, with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst selected from selenium, selenium compounds and complexes of copper, in the temperature range of from room temperature to 80.degree.

Abstract: A compound having catalytic properties which is a .sigma. or .pi. organic complex of a transition metal represented by the general formula: M (A).sub.n (L-C) (L).sub.m, wherein M is Ir or Re; L is a member of the group consisting of alkyl and aryl phosphines; (L-C) is (a) an alkyl or aryl phosphine ligand wherein a C-H bond is reacted with the central M atom to which the ligand is coordinated, and a metal-carbon bond is formed, or (b) a .pi.-allyl radical; A is a linear monoolefin having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms or a cyclic monoolefin having from 6 to 8 carbon atoms; n is a number in the range of 0 to 2 and is always zero when L-C is a .pi.-allyl radical; and m is a number from 1 to 3 which satisfies the valence of M, is prepared by reacting a hydride complex represented by the general formula: MHLn.sub.1 wherein M and L have the meaning given above, x is in the range from 5 to 7 and n.sub.

Abstract: An alcohol is carboxylated into the corresponding carbonate by reacting the alcohol with oxygen and carbon dioxide in the presence of a catalyst system in the heterogeneous phase by introducing the reactants into a reactor charged with a catalyst, such as the complex system formed by copper and 4-vinylpyridine, causing the reactants to flow over the catalyst, and then withdrawing the products of the reaction and unconsumed reactants from the reactor.

Abstract: Long chain alkyl sulphonates, adapted for use as detergents, are prepared by adding alkali metal bisulphite to a stoichiometric excess of alpha-olefines having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms, in a liquid solvent mixture of alcohol and water having a weight ratio in the range from 1.2 to 2.5, in the presence of oxygen and an oxide or salt of manganese at a temperature not in excess of the boiling point of the solvent mixture, and a pH in the range of 8.5 to 2, wherein the ratio of solvent to olefines is between 6/1 and 2/1.

Abstract: A copper compound having the general formula: ##EQU1## wherein the copper is in the .sup.+1 oxidation state; R, the same or different, is hydrogen, methyl or phenyl; and R' is ethyl or methyl, is prepared by reacting a monovalent copper salt such as CuBr with an alkali metal alkoxide in the presence of a mixture of an alcohol and a nitrile under anhydrous conditions and in an atmosphere of an inert gas.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for preparing trivalent cobalt complexes having the formulas[Co.sup.III (L.sub.1 L.sub.2 L.sub.3 L.sub. 4)].sub.2 CR.sub.1 CR.sub.2 O.2CR.sub.1 R.sub.2 OH (1)and[Co.sup.III (L.sub.1 L.sub.2 L.sub.3 L.sub.4)] CR.sub.1 R.sub.2 0.CR.sub.1 R.sub.2 OH.B (2)wherein (L.sub.1 L.sub.2 L.sub.3 L.sub.4) is a planar tetradentate ligand selected from bis-(diacetylmonoximeimino)-propane, bis-(salicylaldehyde)-ethylenediamine and bis-(acetylacetone)-ethylenediamine; CR.sub.1 R.sub.2 O is an alcohol radical selected from CH.sub.3 O, ClCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O, .phi.CH.sub.2 O and CH.sub.2 =CH--CH.sub.2 O; CR.sub.1 R.sub.2 OH is the corresponding alcohol; and B is an amine base by reacting cobalt complex Co(L.sub.1 L.sub.2 L.sub.3 L.sub.4), alcohol CR.sub.1 R.sub.2 OH and amine base B with molecular oxygen at a temperature from 0.degree. to 70.degree.C.

Abstract: A process is described whereby carbonic acid esters, i.e., alkyl, aryl and cycloalkyl carbonates, are prepared by reacting an alcohol with oxygen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst selected from copper complexed with an organic molecule.