Abstract: 2,3,5-Trimethyl-p-benzoquinone is prepared advantageously by the catalytic oxidation of 2,3,5- or 2,3,6-trimethylphenol with hydrogen peroxide in an organic solvent, which is preferably acetic acid, in the presence of a catalyst which is a heteropolyacid of silicon or phosphorus as the center atom selected from phosphomolybdic acid, silicomolybdic acid, phosphotungstic acid and silicotungstic acid. The reaction proceeds rapidly even at room temperature to give the product in a high yield so that the method is industrially advantageous in addition to the advantages in respect of the inexpensiveness of the reactants and catalyst and absence of any noxious byproducts which may cause environmental pollution.

Abstract: A process for the production of hydrocarbons having 2 or more carbon atoms by oxidative coupling of methane includes a step of contacting a feed gas containing methane with an oxide of metals having the following composition:MCo.sub.1-x Fe.sub.x O.sub.ywherein M stands for at least one alkaline earth metal x is a number greater than 0 but not greater than 1 and y is a number in the range of 2.5-3.5, at a temperature of 500.degree.-1000.degree. C.

Abstract: 2,3-Dimethoxy-5-methylbenzoquinone is prepared by oxidizing 3,4,5-trimethoxytoluene by reaction with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst which is a heteropolyacid selected from phosphomolybdic acids, phosphotungstic acids, silicomolybdic acids and silicotungstic acids or a salt thereof.