Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining whether a solvent contains a tautomeric cyclic 1,2-dione. It is first determined whether the pH of the solvent is acidic (<5), basic (>9), or neutral (5 to 9). If the pH is neutral, an acid or a base is added to make the pH acidic or basic, respectively. The UV absorbance at a first wavelength between about 230 nm and about 270 nm and at a second wavelength between about 280 and about 320 nm is determined. If the pH is acid, it is changed to basic and, if it is basic, it is changed to acidic. The UV absorbance at the first and second wavelengths is again determined. The presence of a tautomeric cyclic 1,2-dione is indicated if the absorbance at the first wavelength was greater when the solvent was acidic and the absorbance at the second wavelength was greater when the solvent was basic. The concentration of the tautomeric cyclic 1,2-dione can be determined by multiplying the change in absorbance by a constant.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reducing the decomposition of liquid acetates and increasing their storage life. A soluble amine having a pH in water between 9 and 12 is added to the acetate. Also disclosed is a composition of about 1 to about 50 ppm of the amine in the acetate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a liquid ether acetate. After reacting acetic acid with the corresponding ether alcohol, the resulting mixture of ether acetate, water, acetic acid, and ether alcohol is, with no distillation, contacted with alumina. Particular ether acetates that can be treated include ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate. The treated acetates are more stable to hydrolysis after they have been passed over a bed of alumina.

Abstract: p-Trifluoromethyl benzaldehydes are prepared by the catalytic reduction reaction of p-trifluoromethyl benzonitriles with hydrogen in an aqueous formic acid media in the presence of a nickel/aluminum alloy catalyst.