Abstract: Phthalides in as-obtained phthalide synthesis reaction mixtures are recovered in pure form by (a) distilling compounds having a boiling point below the boiling point of the phthalide from the reaction mixture, provided such compounds are present in the reaction mixture, to obtain a crude phthalide as bottom product, (b) crystallizing the phthalide from a melt of the crude phthalide.

Abstract: A process for preparing phthalides by I. reducing phthalic acid or phthalic acid derivatives, where the carboxyl groups may be replaced by units which can be derived from the carboxyl groups by a condensation reaction and where one or more of the hydrogens of the o-phenylene unit may be substituted by inert radicals, at a cathode in a undivided electrolytic cell and dissolved in an electrolyte, II. discharging the electrolyte from the electrolytic cell when the reaction has proceeded to the stage where the molar ratio (M), formed by the proportion of phthalide and the sum of the proportions of phthalide and phthalic acid of phthalic acid derivatives in the electrolyte, is from 0.8:1 to 0.995:1, and III. crystallizing the phthalides from the electrolyte and removing them from the mother liquor, if appropriate after distillative work-up of the electrolyte is described.

Abstract: A process for the selective hydrolysis of acetals in the presence of phthalides comprises reacting a mixture (M) comprising a) a phthalide of the formula (I) where: R1,R2,R3 and R4: are independently hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl or halogen, and b) an acetal or ketal of the formula (II) where: R5 and R6: are independently C1-C6-alkyl, C6-C10-aryl or together ethylene, and R7 and R8: are independently C1-C6-alkyl, or one radical is a hydrogen and the other is a phenyl radical where from 1 to 3 hydrogen atoms of the phenyl radical may be replaced by C1-C6-alkyl radicals or C1-C4-alkoxy radicals, or R7 and R8 are together C3-C6-alkanediyl, and a hydrogen atom may be replaced by a hydroxyl group, at from 10 to 200° C. in the presence of from 1 to 10 mol of water, based on the amount of acetal or ketal of the formula (II), to hydrolyze the acetal or ketal of the formula (II) to the corresponding aldehyde or ketone.

Abstract: A stacked plate cell having serially connected stacked electrodes is described, at least one stacked electrode consisting of a graphite felt plate, a carbon felt plate, a web having a carbon-covered starting material contact surface or a porous solid having a carbon-covered starting material contact surface or comprising such a material.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing phthalides by cathodic reduction of phthalic acid or phthalic acid derivatives, in which the carboxylic acid units may be substituted by units which can be derived by a condensation reaction from carboxylic acid units and in which one or several hydrogen atoms of the o-phenylene unit of the phthalic acid may be substituted by inert radicals. This process is characterised in that the reduction is carried out in an organic solvent which contains less than 50 wt % water and in a non-divided electrolytic cell.

Abstract: Benzaldehyde dialkyl acetals of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, R.sup.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy, halogen, cyano or carboxyalkyl where the alkyl group is of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, n is an integer of from 1 to 3 and the radicals R.sup.2 may be identical or different when n is >1, are prepared by electrochemical oxidation of a substituted toluene compound of the general formula II ##STR2## by a process in which a substituted toluene compound II is oxidized in the presence of an alkanol R.sup.

Abstract: Hydroxycarboxylic esters of the general formula ##STR1## where n is an integer from 0 to 10, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkoxy or an aliphatic or olefinic, straight-chain, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon radical, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together may furthermore form an alkylene radical, and the hydrocarbon radicals may furthermore be substituted by halogen, hydroxyl, epoxy or nitrile, and R.sup.3 is a low molecular weight alkyl radical, are prepared by electrochemical oxidation of a hydroxyaldehyde of the general formula ##STR2## in the presence of an alcohol of the formula R.sup.3 OH and of an ionic bromide or chloride in an undivided electrolysis cell.

Abstract: Benzaldehyde derivatives of the general formula I, where X is an oxygen atom or two R.sup.2 O groups and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are alkyl radicals of 1-4 carbon atoms, their preparation, and their use as odorants or odorant intermediates.

Abstract: Biscarbamates, including novel one, of the general formula ##STR1## where R is alkyl of 1 to 8 carbon atoms and X is a hydrocarbon radical of 2 to 60 carbon atoms in which one or more carbon atoms may be replaced by hetero atoms and which may contain halogen atoms or ester, carbonyl or nitrile groups are prepared by electrochemically oxidizing formamides of the general formula ##STR2## in the presence of an alkanol of the formula ROH and of an ionic halide.

Abstract: Carbamic acid esters (I)R.sup.1 NHCOOR.sup.2 (I)wherein R.sup.1 is H, alkyl, cycloalkyl or alkylaryl and R.sup.2 is alkyl, are prepared by electro-oxidation of a formamide (II)R.sup.1 NHCHO (II)in the presence of an alcohol R.sup.2 OH and of an ionic halide.

Abstract: Improved process for the preparation of salcomine useful as an oxidation catalyst for the oxidation of alkylated phenols to the corresponding alkylated p-benzoquinones by reacting salicylaldehyde with ethylenediamine in a mole ratio of about 2:1 and a cobalt salt in a liquid reaction medium wherein the reaction medium is a linear or cyclic carboxamide which is disubstituted on the nitrogen, in particular dimethylformamide, and the cobalt salt is cobalt carbonate or with the cobalt hyroxide carbonate, 2 CoCO.sub.3.3 Co(OH).sub.2.H.sub.2 O. Preparation of the salcomine in accordance with the invention offers significant advantages, both in the preparation of the salcomine itself and in the subsequent oxidation of the trimethylphenol to trimethyl-p-benzoquinone utilizing the salcomine.

Abstract: Benzaldehyde dialkyl acetals of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each alkyl, are prepared by electrochemical oxidation of an alkyltoluene of the formula ##STR2## by a process in which the electrolyte used contains from 60 to 90% by weight of an alkanol of the formula R.sup.2 OH, from 8.5 to 40% by weight of the alkyltoluene and from 0.01 to 1.5% by weight of an HO.sub.3 S-containing acid.

Abstract: 2,5-Dialkoxy-2,5-dihydrofurans are prepared by a process in which 2,5-dihydrofuran is oxidized electrochemically in the presence of an alkanol.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of alkyl-substituted benzaldehydes by electrooxidation of alkylbenzenes using graphite anodes coated with metal oxides or with carbides.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 4-tert.-butylbenzaldehyde by electrochemical oxidation of 4-tert.-butyltoluene in the presence of an inorganic acid and of an alkylsulfonic, alkenylsulfonic or arylsulfonic acid.

Abstract: Bicyclo[2,2,2]oct-7-ene-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride is manufactured by reacting 3,5-cyclohexadiene-1,2-trans-dicarboxylic acid with maleic acid in the presence of anhydrides of low molecular weight alkanecarboxylic acids at from 50.degree. to 150.degree. C. The 3,5-cyclohexadiene-1,2-trans-dicarboxylic acid, in the anhydride of the low molecular weight alkanecarboxylic acid, and in the presence of water-soluble salts of the alkali metals, of the alkaline earth metals or of zinc, manganese or iron, in which salts the anion contains oxygen, is first heated to the reaction temperature and the maleic anhydride is then added.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell with a nonpartitioned electrolyte chamber and plane electrodes, which form a stack, the chamber filled by the electrolyte forming narrow gaps between the electrodes, and the electrode stack being assembled on a fixed baseplate so that its axis is essentially vertical.