Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the performance of organic reactions in the liquid phase wherein silicone oils are used as the reaction medium. These silicone oils have no functional groups, are liquid at room temperature and have viscosities between 40 and 20,000 cs. at 25.degree. C. The obtained reaction products are very pure and generally do not require additional purifying operations.

Abstract: The present invention is in the modification of starch by silanes and is performed by bringing the starch into intimate contact with the hydrolyzates of the silanes in the presence of alkali aluminates or alkali hydroxides. Preferably this is done in the aqueous solution of the silane hydrolyzate, in which case the additives can be used either in aqueous solution or in solid form. The aluminate or alkali hydroxide is present at least in such an amount that 0.4 mol of aluminate will be present for each mole of silane. The modification is possible not only with alkyl alkoxysilanes, but also with organofunctional alkoxysilanes. The starch modified with the silanes has better practical properties than corresponding unmodified starch and can be used, for example, for the hydrophobation and oleophobation of cellulosic material.

Abstract: A method for the modification of starch by silanes wherein the starch and silane are contacted in an organic solvent in the presence of a metallic acid ester of a metal of groups IVB or VB of the Periodic Table of the elements. The resulting suspension is stirred. The subsequently separated starch exhibits better working characteristics than the corresponding unmodified starch.