Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of Ti-doped alkali metal and/or alkaline-earth metal aluminum hydride, comprising intimately mixing: an alkali metal and/or alkaline-earth metal aluminum hydride, or at least one alkali metal hydride and/or alkaline-earth metal hydride, metallic aluminum and H2, with in the range of from 0.5 to 20 mol % of Ti(OCH3)4, based on the moles of Al in the prepared Ti-doped alkali metal and/or alkaline-earth metal aluminum hydride.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of Ti-doped alkali metal and/or alkaline-earth metal aluminium hydride, comprising intimately mixing: an alkali metal and/or alkaline-earth metal aluminium hydride, or at least one alkali metal hydride and/or alkaline-earth metal hydride, metallic aluminium and H2, with in the range of from 0.5 to 20 mol % of Ti(OCH3)4, based on the moles of Al in the prepared Ti-doped alkali metal and/or alkaline-earth metal aluminium hydride.

Abstract: A manufacturing process for the preparation of ?,?-branched alkane carboxylic acids, by reacting a mono-olefin or a precursor thereof, with carbon monoxide in the presence of a strong acid catalyst characterized in that the starting olefin is a dimmer C8 or trimer C12 derived from n-butene, which predominantly comprise 2-butene, that the acid catalyst is composed of BF3/H3PO4 in a molar ratio of BF3:H3PO4 in the range of from 0.5:1.0 to 5.0:1.0, or of CF3SO 3H, that the weight ratio of the catalyst relative to the mono-olefin is in the range of from 1:1 to 10:1, that the reaction is carried out at a temperature in the range of from 60 to 140° C., and with an initial water content in the catalyst system in the range of from 8 to 25 wt %; and vinyl esters and glycidyl esters derived from said carboxylic acids.

Abstract: A process for manufacture of &agr;,&agr;-branched carboxylic acids from linear olefins by means of reaction with carbon monoxide and an acid catalyst, characterized in that a linear olefin containing from 2 to 5 carbon atoms, or a precursor thereof, is reacted in a batch reactor or a continuous reactor, with carbon monoxide and water, in the presence of a catalyst having sufficient acid groups to provide requisite protons for the formation of Koch acid, and in the presence of a polar non-coordinating organic solvent.