Abstract: A process for preparing a dialkylester of a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid comprising directing a liquid phase reaction mixture comprising a low molecular weight alcohol, a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, a dialkylester of a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, and a polyethylene naphthalate containing material, at a given temperature and pressure through series arranged reaction zones and subsequently removing a product comprising a dialkylester formed by the reaction of the naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and the polyethylene naphthalate containing material with the low molecular weight alcohol from a reaction zone. This invention is also directed to a process for preparing a purified dialkylester of a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid comprising a series of crystallization and distillation steps, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A continuous process for preparing a dialkylester of a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid comprising passing a liquid phase reaction mixture comprising a low molecular weight alcohol, a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and a dialkylester of a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid at an elevated temperature through series arranged reaction zones while introducing a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and a low molecular weight alcohol to an upstream reaction zone, agitating at least one reaction zone, and removing a liquid product mixture comprising the dialkylester of the naphthalenedicarboxylic acid produced by the reaction of the naphthalenedicarboxylic acid with the low molecular weight alcohol from a downstream reaction zone.

Abstract: A method for producing an aromatic polycarboxylic acid by oxidizing an aromatic feed compound having at least 3 oxidizable ring substituents, wherein, after initiation of the oxidation water from an external source is added and the reaction temperature is raised.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing purified trimesic acid prepared by a process involving the liquid-phase oxidation of mesitylene in a solvent consisting of an aliphatic C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 monocarboxylic acid, water or a mixture thereof in the presence of an oxidation catalyst comprising cobalt, manganese and bromine components, crystallizing crude trimesic acid by cooling to about 80.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C., separating crystallized trimesic acid from the mother liquor at a temperature in the range of 80.degree. C. to about 105.degree. C. and washing the separated crude trimesic acid crystals with water at a temperature of from about 10.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the preparation of a benzophenone, which process comprises contacting a feed comprising an aromatic carboxylic acid in the vapor phase and under suitable conditions with a catalyst which is capable of catalyzing the conversion of an aromatic carboxylic acid to a benzophenone to provide a yield of at least 10% benzophenone and which comprises at least one oxide that is an oxide of an element having an atomic number of at least 60. Typical catalysts are neodymium trioxide and a mixture of thorium dioxide and magnesium oxide.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the liquid-phase oxidation of a di- (mono- or poly-)alkylaryl ether in the presence of a catalyst comprising cobalt, manganese and bromine components to a di- (mono- or poly-)carboxyaryl ether.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the preparation of diaryl ethers and diaryl sulfides by heating a phenol, a thiophenol, a .beta.-hydroxy-substituted fused armomatic ring-system compound or a .beta.-thio-substituted fused aromatic ring-system compound in the presence of thoria deposited on a neutral support.

Abstract: A gas-phase isomerization process wherein a feed containing one or more members of the 2,6-DMN isomer triad is selectively isomerized over a lower-acidity, supported, molecular-sieve-based catalyst composition to form essentially thermodynamic equilibrium amounts of the members of the 2,6-triad and reduced amounts of outside-the-triad products.

Abstract: A gas-phase isomerizaiton process wherein a feed containing one or more members of the 2,7-DMN isomer triad is selectively isomerized over a lower-acidity, supported, molecular-sieve-based catalyst composition to form essentially equilibrium amounts of the members of the 2,7-triad and reduced amounts of outside-the-triad products.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for the preparation of a dialkyl ketone from an aliphatic carboxylic acid in the presence of a catalyst comprising manganese dioxide on a support of catalytically active alumina. This method is a convenient way of making diethyl ketone from propionic acid.

Abstract: Cyclization of aliphatic moieties of 3-20 carbons which comprises contacting a suitable starting compound comprising the aliphatic moiety with a catalyst comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of copper aluminum borate and zero valent copper on a support comprising aluminum borate under appropriate reaction conditions to obtain a compound having at least one more cyclic moiety than the starting compound. Preferably, the aromatic which undergoes cyclization is an alkenyl group attached to an aromatic nucleus. The present invention can be used to dehydrocyclize alkenylbenzenes to alkylnaphthalenes. In particular, 5-(o-tolyl)pentene can be dehydrocyclized to mixtures of 1,5-, 1,6-, and 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the preparation of a benzophenone, which process comprises contacting a feed comprising a 3-cyclohexene carboxylic acid in the vapor phase and under suitable conditions with a ketonic decarboxylative coupling catalyst to convert said carboxylic acid into a bis (3-cyclohexene) ketone and contacting said bis (3-cyclohexene) ketone with a dehydrogenation catalyst to dehydrogenate said bis (3-cyclohexene) ketone to provide said benzophenone. Suitably, the coupling catalyst comprises an oxide of manganese. A Group VIII metal-containing catalyst is a typical dehydrogenation catalyst.