Abstract: In a dividing wall column comprising as segments

Abstract: In a process for isolating &agr;-ethynyl carbinols from the liquid reaction mixture from the addition of acetylene onto &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carbonyl compounds by distillation, the distillation is carried out continuously, the feed stream is introduced into the middle section of a distillation column (K), the major part of the water is distilled off azeotropically together with the solvent at the top of the column, and the &agr;-ethynyl carbinol target product is taken off below the feed point to the column.

Abstract: A process for separating 2-aminomethylcyclopentylamine from a mixture consisting of hexamethylenediamine and 2-aminomethylcyclopentylamine by distilling the mixture at a pressure from 1 to 300 mbar.

Abstract: A process for distillative removal of 6-aminocapronitrile from mixtures (I) comprising 6-aminocapronitrile and an imine (II) comprises conducting the distillation in the presence of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for reducing the dimerization of piperidines of the formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 are C.sub.1 - to C.sub.6 -alkyl, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 and/or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together are a CH.sub.2 chain having 2 to 5 carbon atoms, which comprises adding to the piperidine from 0.001 to 0.2% by weight of a reducing agent of the formula MXH.sub.4-m Y.sub.m, where M is an alkali metal, NR.sub.4, where R are identical or different C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl groups, or an equivalent of an alkaline earth metal or an equivalent of zinc, X is boron or aluminum, Y is H or CN and m is 0 or 1. The invention also relates to a mixture of piperidines of the formula I, from 0.001 to 0.2% by weight of a reducing agent and from 1 to 1000 ppm of dimers of the piperidines of the formula I, and to the preparation of hindered amine light stabilizers therefrom.

Abstract: A process for purifying crude piperidines of the formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 are C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 and/or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together are a CH.sub.2 -chain of 2 to 5 carbons, which comprises, in a first step, removing high-boiling substances and, if present, water from the crude piperidines by distillation; in a second step, adding from 0.01 to 5% by weight, based on the product of the first step, as a reducing agent; and, in a third step, isolating the piperidines by distillation.

Abstract: 1,6-Hexanediol is prepared from a carboxylic acid mixture comprising adipic acid, 6-hydroxycaproic acid and small amounts of 1,4-cyclohexanediols which is obtained as a by-product in the oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanone/cyclohexanol by water extraction of the reaction mixture, by esterification of the acids and hydrogenation whereina) the monocarboxylic and dicarboxylic acids present in the aqueous dicarboxylic acid mixture are reacted with a low molecular weight alcohol to give the corresponding carboxylic esters,b) the resulting esterification mixture is freed of excess alcohol and low boilers in a first distillation stage,c) the bottoms are fractionated in a second distillation stage to give an ester fraction essentially free of 1,4-cyclohexanediols and a fraction comprising at least the major part of the 1,4-cyclohexanediols,d) the ester fraction essentially free of 1,4-cyclohexanediols is catalytically hydrogenated ande) in a pure distillation stage, 1,6-hexanediol is isolated from the hydrogena

Abstract: Butanol and dibutyl ether are separated from a mixture containing water, dibutyl ether and n-butanol, 2-butanol and/or isobutanol by a process in whicha) the mixture is introduced into a first distillation column, essentially butanol is separated off at the bottom of this distillation column and the mixture taken off at the top of the distillation columnb) is introduced into a second distillation column and essentially dibutyl ether is separated off at the bottom of this second distillation column and the mixture formed at the top of the second distillation column is removed,c) the second distillation column being operated at a higher pressure than the first distillation column and at least one of the two mixtures taken off via the top of the distillation columns being subjected to phase separation, only the organic phase separated off being fed to the second distillation column in the case of phase separation downstream of the first distillation column, and separation into an aqueous and an organic phase als

Abstract: 1,6-hexanediol and .epsilon.-caprolactone are prepared from a carboxylic acid mixture comprising adipic acid, 6-hydroxycaproic acid and small amounts of 1,4-cyclohexanediols which is obtained as a by-product in the oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanone/cyclohexanol using oxygen or oxygen-containing gases by water extraction of the reaction mixture, by esterifying and hydrogenating a substream to give hexanediol and cyclizing 6-hydroxycaproic esters to give caprolactone.

Abstract: N-Vinyllactams of the general formula I ##STR1## where n is from 1 to 3, are prepared by a process which comprises reaction of a lactam of the general formula II ##STR2## where n is from 1 to 3, with from 10 to 90 percent by weight of an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution with distillation at from 50.degree. to 250.degree. C. and from 1 to 100 mbar and with a residence time of from 0.1 to 5 hours and subsequent reaction with acetylene at from 60.degree. to 250.degree. C. and from 1 to 100 bar.

Abstract: Vinyl formate containing formic acid, acetaldehyde and water following synthesis is separated from formic acid and water in a first distillation stage and from acetaldehyde in a second stage to give pure vinyl formate.

Abstract: A process for purifying esters of tetrahydropyran-4-carboxylic acid of the formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 to R.sup.3 are each C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each additionally hydrogen, from mixtures produced in the reaction of butyrolactones of the formula II ##STR2## where R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 have the abovementioned meanings, and R.sup.4 is hydrogen, alkyl of 1-6 carbons or acyl of the formula --CO--R.sup.2, with alcohols of the formula R.sup.1 OH in the presence of oxide catalysts, by distillation, which entailsa) removing overhead, in a first column with 5-25 theoretical plates with a distillate pressure of 700-1100 mbar and a distillate temperature of 50.degree.-80.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the separation of 1,4-butanediol from mixtures obtained by the catalytic hydrogenation of maleates, fumarates, and/or succinates, which also contain tetrahydrofuran, water, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alcohols, succinic diesters, hydroxybutyrates, alkylhydroxyalkyl succinates, gamma-butyrolactone and butyrates, in addition to 1,4-butanediol, comprising the following steps:a) separating, in a first column having an actual number of plates of from 20 to 70 and operated at a top pressure of from 50 to 1100 mbar and preferably from 50 to 500 mbar and a top temperature of from 40.degree. to 120.degree. C., alcohol, water and tetrahydrofuran, as overhead product,b) feeding the bottom product of the first column into a second column having an actual number of plates of from 30 to 90 and withdrawing the overhead product consisting of alcohol and butyrate and obtained at a top pressure of from 45 to 250 mbar and a top temperature of from 45.degree. to 120.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the separation of ortho-, meta- and para-tolunitrile from ternary mixtures of isomers entails removing ortho-tolunitrile from these mixtures by distillation under pressures of from 10.sup.2 and 10.sup.5 Pa and with a reflux ratio of from 1:1 to 200:1, and distilling the remaining binary mixture of meta- and para-tolunitrile to concentrate to more than 75 mol-% para-tolunitrile, and freezing out the paratolunitrile at below 26.degree. C., and a process for the preparation of suitable ternary mixtures of isomers entails isomerization of pure ortho-, meta- or para-tolunitrile or mixtures thereof at from 380.degree. to 580.degree. C. on zeolite catalysts.

Abstract: Hydroxybenzaldehydes of the formula (I) are prepared from a benzaldehyde of the formula (II) or its acetal, in which R.sup.1 in the R.sup.1 O-phenyl ether group is an alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkylcycloalkyl or alkylaryl radical, R.sup.2 is H or OH or is identical to R.sup.1 and one or more R.sup.1 O-phenyl ether groups are ortho, meta or para to the aldehyde function, by a process in which a benzaldehyde of the formula (II) or its acetal, in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 have the abovementioned meanings and one or more R.sup.1 O-phenyl ether groups occupy the abovementioned position with respect to the aldehyde function, is converted into a hydroxybenzaldehyde of the formula (I) in the presence of water over a zeolite as a heterogeneous catalyst. ##STR1## The catalysts used are, in particular, zeolites of the pentasil type.

Abstract: Ketones of the general formula (I) ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently of one another are each alkyl, cycyloalkyl, arylalkyl, aryl or hetaryl, and one or more of the radicals R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 carry one or more hydrogen atoms on the .alpha.-carbon atom, are prepared by reacting two carboxylic acids of the general formulae (IIa/IIb), R.sup.1 --COOH (IIa) and R.sup.2 --COOH (IIb) or by reacting a carboxylic acid R.sup.1 --COOH (IIa) and a ketone ##STR2## or by reacting a mixture of IIa, IIb and Ib, in the gas phase in the presence of a catalyst, by a process in which a catalyst is used whose active material contains at least 50% by weight of titanium dioxide having a specific surface area greater than 10 m.sup.2 /g.0.