Abstract: Dichloropinacolone is produced by introducing into pinacolone twice the molar amount of chlorine, the exothermic reaction mass being cooled initially to maintain the temperature below about 50.degree. C until about 60 to 80% of the chlorine has been introduced, and then heating the reaction mass to a temperature above 50.degree. C during introducing of the remainder of the chlorine, thereby to produce dichloropinacolone, and terminating chlorine introduction when the dichloropinacolone content of the reaction mass is at least about 97%. The molten product is added to an aqueous solution of an alkali maintained at a temperature of at least about 50.degree. C, the alkali being present in more than three times the molar amount of the dichloropinacolone. To the resulting solution of a salt of 3,3-dimethyl-2-hydroxy-butyric acid, brought to a pH of about 9 to 12, there is added approximately the stoichiometric amount of potassium permanganate. Solid MnO.sub.

Abstract: Process for the production of thiophenols of the formula ##STR1## in which N IS AN INTEGER FROM 0 TO 5, INCLUSIVE, ANDR is hydroxy, nitro, halogen, alkyl of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkoxy of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, amino, monoalkylamino or dialkylamino.Which process comprises reacting, in a first step, the corresponding phenylsulfonic acid chloride with hydrazine, hydriodic acid and hydrochloric acid to give the corresponding sulfonehydrazide; and reacting the product so formed, in the second step, to give the corresponding disulfide; and then splitting the resulting material, in the third step, with hydrazine and alkali to form a thiophenolate from which the thiophenol can be liberated by treatment with a mineral acid.