Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the isolation of vinyl acetate from a gas mixture containing vinyl acetate, ethyl acetate, water and carbon dioxide formed in the reaction of ethylene with acetic acid and oxygen in the gas phase over catalysts containing palladium or palladium compounds. The gas mixture leaving the reaction zone is passed into a distillation column and the gas mixture leaving the top thereof is cooled. The gas which is not condensed during the cooling is washed with acetic acid in a washing column, an acetic acid solution containing vinyl acetate being obtained. The bottom product from the distillation column is passed to a second distillation column and a side stream containing ethyl acetate is removed from an enrichment zone above the bottom thereof, all or some of the bottom product from the second distillation column, which product chiefly consists of acetic acid, being used for the wash in the washing column. The top vapor of the second distillation column is cooled.

Abstract: Cyclohexane-1,3-diones are prepared by passing .delta.-ketocarboxylic acid esters in the gaseous phase over a temperature of from 250.degree. C. to 500.degree. C. at a catalyst. The catalyst contains at least one element of groups III B or IV B of the Periodic System in the form of a compound. Particularly preferred catalysts are thorium compounds on charcoal carriers.

Abstract: Resorcinols are prepared by converting .delta.-ketocarboxylic acid esters in the gaseous phase at a temperature from 250.degree. to 500.degree. C. in the presence of hydrogen at a catalyst. The catalyst consists of two components which are prepared separately and combined thereafter. The first component contains at least one compound of a metal of group VIII and/or at least one compound of a metal of group I B supported on one or several carrier materials. The second component contains at least one compound of a metal of group II A and/or IV A and/or III B and/or IV B supported on one or several carrier materials. A particularly preferred catalyst consists of a mixture of equal volume parts of platinum/charcoal as first component and of thorium/charcoal as second component.

Abstract: A process for the removal of formic acid from a crude mixture thereof with carboxylic acids by reacting the formic acid component of the mixture with a carboxylic anhydride and/or a compound forming an anhydride with a carboxylic acid, which comprises carrying out the reaction in the presence of an acidic catalyst.

Abstract: Resorcinols are prepared by reacting 4-oxocarboxylic acid esters or .delta.-enollactones with a strong base in a glycol dialkyl ether as solvent and by subsequent dehydrogenating the acidified reaction product.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of 2-ethyl-pyridine from 2-methyl-pyridine and methanol in the gaseous phase with a catalyst consisting essentially of silicon dioxide and oxides of metals of the second and/or third main group or subgroup and/or the fifth main group of the periodic system of elements at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: Cyclohexane-1,3-diones of the formula ##STR1## having up to 24 carbon atoms are prepared in admixture with 6-alkyl-3,4-dihydro-2-pyranones of the formula ##STR2## having up to 24 carbon atoms, in which formulae the radicals R and R' may be identical or different and represent each a hydrogen atom, an alkyl, a cycloalkyl or an aryl group each having up to 12 carbon atoms and the two radicals R' together optionally represent a --(CH.sub.2).sub.3 -group, by passing 4-oxocarboxylic acids of the formula ##STR3## having up to 24 carbon atoms and in which R and R' have the above meaning at a temperature of from 250.degree. to 500.degree. C in the gaseous phase over a dehydration catalyst and the pyranones are converted into cyclohexane-1,3-diones by passing them in the gaseous phase over a dehydration catalyst at a temperature of from 250.degree. to 500.degree. C.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of 2-ethyl-pyridine from 2-methyl-pyridine and methanol in the gaseous phase with a catalyst consisting essentially of silicon dioxide and oxides of metals of the second and/or third main group or subgroup and/or the fifth main group of the periodic system of elements at elevated temperatures.