Abstract: A continuous process for producing 5-vinyl-2-norbornene, useful as the raw material of 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene used as a termonomer for EPDM, from a mixture of cyclopentadiene and butadiene or from a mixture of cyclopentadiene and dicyclopentadiene and butadiene by the Diels-Alder reaction which process comprises adding from 10 to 10,000 ppm of N,N-diethylhydroxylamine or 4-oxo-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl relative to the total weight of cyclopentadiene and butadiene or of a mixture of cyclopentadiene and dicyclopentadiene and butadiene, continuously introducing the resulting mixture into a pressure reaction vessel, allowing them to react in the absence of any gas phase portion within the said pressure reaction vessel, and continuously withdrawing the reaction product.

Abstract: 5-Ethylidene-2-norbornene with high quality is effectively prepared by isomerization 5-vinyl-2-norbornene containing 1 ppm to 0.5% by weight of 4-vinylcyclohexene in the presence of at least one catalyst selected from the group consisting of a solid base catalyst which is prepared by reacting alumina, an alkali metal hydroxide and an alkali metal in a temperature range of 200.degree. to 500.degree. C. and a solid base catalyst which is prepared by reacting water-containing alumina and an alkali metal in such an amount that exceeds a molar equivalent of water contained in alumina at a temperature in a range between a melting point of the alkali metal and 500.degree. C. in an inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: In a Reimer-Tiemann reaction for the preparation of a mixture of two hydroxybenzaldehydes (i.e., salicylaldehyde and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde) by reacting phenol with chloroform and an aqueous alkali solution in a heterogeneous system, the two hydroxybenzaldehydes can be prepared in a controlled formation ratio, yield and reaction rate depending upon the conditions used when the reaction is carried out in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst selected from the group consisting of a cationic type phase transfer catalyst, an amphoteric type phase transfer catalyst and an anionic type phase transfer catalyst.

Abstract: An amine of the formula, ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each hydrogen, alkyl or the like and n is 1, 2 or 3, including .alpha.-phenyl-.beta.-(p-tolyl)-ethylamine, which is useful as an optically resolving agent, an intermediate of medicines and the like, is effectively produced by a novel process comprising hydrolysis of the corresponding nitrile of the formula, ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and n are the same as above, followed by alkali-decomposition of the resulting amide of the formula, ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and n are the same as above. An amide including the above one is effectively produced by hydrolysis of the corresponding nitrile in the presence of a base and hydrogen peroxide using an organic quaternary ammonium salt and/or a tertiary amine as a catalyst.

Abstract: A process for producing 2-hydroxynaphthalene-3-carboxylic acid comprising reacting carbon dioxide with a homogeneous liquid mixture comprising an alkali metal salt of .beta.-naphthol, .beta.-naphthol and a specific alkylbenzene is disclosed.

Abstract: A substituted acetonitrile such as .alpha.-isopropyl-p-chlorophenylacetonitrile is hydrolyzed using an acid to produce the corresponding substituted phenylacetic acid such as .alpha.-isopropyl-p-chlorophenylacetic acid in such a manner that, in a lot in any one hydrolysis reaction, (1) the hydrolysis is carried out in at least two steps, (2) an acid to be used in a subsequent first reaction step is a waste acid produced in a previous second reaction step and the subsequent reaction step(s) thereof if any, and (3) an acid to be used in a second reaction step and the subsequent reaction step(s) if any, is the waste acid produced in a previous second reaction step and subsequent reaction step(s), respectively, and a fresh acid.

Abstract: An organic quaternary ammonium salt used as a catalyst in a reaction between a benzylnitrile and a halide in the presence of an alkali to obtain an .alpha.-alkyl- or .alpha.-phenyl-benzylnitrile, is recovered effectively from the reaction solution containing the .alpha.-alkyl- or .alpha.-phenyl-benzylnitrile, the alkali and the catalyst, by adding water to the reaction solution to make the alkali concentration of the water layer 10% by weight or below, and then separating the water layer containing the organic quaternary ammonium salt from the oil layer containing the .alpha.-alkyl- or .alpha.-phenyl-benzylnitrile.

Abstract: Cross-linked pullulans are obtained by the reaction of pullulan with a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylic acids, halogenated dicarboxylic acids, polycarboxylic anhydrides, aldehyde compounds, N-methylol compounds, isocyanate compounds, metaphosphoric acid salts, divinyl compounds, bis-aziridine and bifunctional compounds of the formula,X--R--Zwherein X and Z are each a halogen atom or an epoxy group and R is an aliphatic residue having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, in a solvent, and are useful as gels or beds for chromatography or in various fields requiring high degrees of water absorbency and retention.

Abstract: A process for producing 3-methyl-2-(4-halophenyl)butyronitrile, which is an important intermediate for the production of insecticides, in a high yield and a high purity even on a commercial scale comprising reacting a p-halophenylacetonitrile having a p-halobenzyl alcohol content of not more than 1.0 % by weight, with an isopropyl halide having an isopropyl alcohol content of not more than 1.0 % by weight.

Abstract: Carboxylated pullulan obtained by oxidizing pullulan with an oxidizing agent is readily soluble in cold water and has favorable film-forming property, yielding a film having high mechanical strengths, high modulus of elasticity and good transparency.