Abstract: A method for preparing neopentyl glycol by addition of isobutyraldehyde and formaldehyde in the presence of a tertiary alkylamine as catalyst to give hydroxypivalaldehyde with subsequent hydrogenation at a temperature of 80 to 140° C. and at a pressure of 2 to 18 MPa in the liquid phase, is characterized in that the hydrogenation is carried out in the presence of a copper chromite catalyst comprising the activators barium and manganese.

Abstract: Process for obtaining ditrimethylolpropane and trimethylolpropane-enriched product streams from the high-boiling fractions and residues which are obtained in the distillative purification of trimethylolpropane includes three stage distillation characterized in that second and third stages are configured as thin film evaporators with a column attachment with the second stage facilitating trimethylopropane recovery and the third stage facilitating ditrimethylolpropane recovery.

Abstract: A continuous process for preparing primary aliphatic amines having 3 to 18 carbon atoms by reacting corresponding aliphatic aldehydes with ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, characterized in that the reaction is carried out without solvent at a molar ratio of aliphatic aldehyde to ammonia of more than 1 to 16, above the critical temperature and above the critical pressure of ammonia.

Abstract: A continuous method for preparing neopentyl glycol by addition of isobutyraldehyde and formaldehyde in the presence of a tertiary alkylamine as catalyst to give hydroxypivalaldehyde with subsequent hydrogenation in the gas phase at a temperature of 125 to 180° C., is characterised in that the hydrogenation is carried out in the presence of a copper chromite catalyst comprising the activators barium and manganese and at a superatmospheric pressure of 30 to 120 kPa.

Abstract: Process for preparing isononanoic acid proceeding from 2-ethylhexanol, characterized in that (a) 2-ethylhexanol is dehydrated to octene in the presence of a catalyst; (b) the octene obtained in step a) is reacted in the presence of a transition metal compound of group VIII of the periodic table of the elements with carbon monoxide and hydrogen to give isononanal; and (c) the isononanal obtained in step b) is oxidized to isononanoic acid.

Abstract: A continuous process for preparing primary aliphatic amines having 3 to 18 carbon atoms by reacting corresponding aliphatic aldehydes with ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, characterized in that the reaction is carried out without solvent at a molar ratio of aliphatic aldehyde to ammonia of more than 1 to 16, above the critical temperature and above the critical pressure of ammonia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing diisobutene from fermentative produced isobutene, wherein the higher purity of the isobutene improves the method and the properties of the produced diisobutene.

Abstract: Process for preparing the vinyl ester of isononanoic acid starting out from 2-ethylhexanol, characterized in that (a) 2-ethylhexanol is dehydrated in the presence of a catalyst to form octene; (b) the octene obtained in step a) is converted into an isononanoic acid having one more carbon atom; and (c) the isononanoic acid obtained in step b) is converted into the corresponding vinyl ester.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing terephthalic acid derivatives from isobutene via p-xylene. The isobutene is fermentatively produced isobutene, the higher purity of which improves the method and the properties of the produced p-xylene and the terephthalic acid derivatives derived therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing isopentane derivatives from fermentatively produced isobutene, the higher purity of which improves the method and the properties of the produced isopentane derivatives.

Abstract: A Process for preparing carboxylic esters of a mixture of structurally branched C9 monocarboxylic acids proceeding from 2-ethylhexanol is characterized in that (a) 2-ethylhexanol is dehydrated to an octene mixture in the presence of a catalyst; (b) the octene mixture obtained in step a) is reacted in the presence of a transition metal compound of group VIII of the periodic table of the elements with carbon monoxide and hydrogen to give a mixture of isomeric isononanals; (c) the mixture of isomeric isononanals obtained in step b) is oxidized to a mixture of structurally branched C9 monocarboxylic acids; and (d) the mixture of structurally branched C9 monocarboxylic acids obtained in step c) is reacted with alcohols to give carboxylic esters.

Abstract: Process for preparing isononylamines starting out from 2-ethylhexanol, characterized in that (a) 2-ethylhexanol is dehydrated in the presence of a catalyst to form octene; (b) the octene obtained in step a) is reacted with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a transition metal compound of group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements to form isononanal; and (c) the isononanal obtained in step b) is converted into isononylamines.

Abstract: Process for obtaining ditrimethylolpropane and trimethylolpropane-enriched product streams from the high-boiling fractions and residues which are obtained in the distillative purification of trimethylolpropane, characterized in that these high-boiling fractions and residues are combined and a polar solvent is added to produce a solution and the solution is treated at a temperature of 120 to 280° C. and at a pressure of 2 to 25 MPa with hydrogen in the presence of a solid nickel catalyst and an acidic compound. After catalytic treatment, the solution is subjected to multi-stage distillation including with a thin film evaporator with a column attachment in order to recover ditrimethylolpropane and trimethylolpropane-enriched product streams.

Abstract: A process is provided for recovering aliphatic monocarboxylic acids having from 4 to 11 carbon atoms from the distillation residue obtained in the oxidation of the corresponding aldehyde by means of oxygen or oxygen-containing gas mixtures in the presence of alkali metal carboxylates or alkaline earth metal carboxylates to form the corresponding monocarboxylic acid and subsequent distillation, characterized in that the distillation residue is reacted with an aqueous acid in a tube reactor and the two-phase mixture flowing out from the tube reactor is introduced into a settling vessel in which the organic phase which separates out has a pH of 4.5 or less.

Abstract: A mixture useful as plasticizer comprises trimellitic esters and polyether polyol esters, characterized in that the mixture comprises from 1 to 99% by weight of trimellitic esters and 99 to 1% by weight of polyether polyol esters, wherein the polyether polyol esters can be derived from linear or branched, aliphatic monocarboxylic acids having 3 to 20 carbon atoms in the molecule.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing polyol esters by reacting polyols with linear or branched aliphatic monocarbocxylic acids having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, the reaction taking place in the presence of a Lewis acid comprising at least one element from groups 4 to 14 of the Periodic Table of the Elements as catalyst, and in the presence of an adsorbent, the reaction product being subjected subsequently to a steam treatment.

Abstract: A process for obtaining trimethylolpropane-enriched product streams from the forerun fractions obtained in the distillative purification of trimethylolpropane is characterized in that: (a) the forerun fractions are treated separately or in combination at a temperature of 160 to 280° C. and at a pressure of 1 to 30 MPa with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and an acidic compound; and (b) the reaction mixture obtained after step a) is separated by distillation into a trimethylolpropane-enriched, catalyst-free product stream and a catalyst-containing product stream. The trimethylolpropane is prepared by the Cannizzaro process using alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compounds or stoichiometric amounts of trialkylamines, or is produced by the hydrogenation process in the presence of catalytic amounts of trialkylamines or alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for obtaining ditrimethylolpropane and trimethylolpropane-enriched product streams from the high-boiling fractions and residues which are obtained in the distillative purification of trimethylolpropane, wherein an aqueous solution of these fractions and residues is catalytically hydrogenated in the presence of an acidic compound and, after removing solids, contacted both with basic and with acidic ion exchangers. A trimethylolpropane-enriched product stream can be distilled out of the aqueous eluate obtained, leaving ditrimethylolpropane as the distillation residue.

Abstract: Process for coproduction of a vinyl ester of the formula R—C(O)O—CH?CH by transvinylation reaction of a carboxylic acid of the formula R—C(O)OH with a transvinylating reagent of the formula R1—C(O)O CH?CH2, characterized in that (a) the transvinylation reaction is conducted continuously at a temperature of 90 to 160° C. and at a pressure of 0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous, catalytic process for preparing a vinyl ester of the formula R—C(O)O—CH?CH2 by reaction of a carboxylic acid of the formula R—C(O)OH with a transvinylating reagent of the formula R1—C(O)O—CH?CH2, wherein the reaction is effected at a temperature of 90 to 160° C. and at a pressure of 0.5 to 15 MPa without withdrawal of a reactant in the presence of a transition metal catalyst containing at least one transition metal from the group of ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, iridium, palladium and platinum, and then the resulting reaction mixture is separated into its constituents.