Abstract: The present invention relates to a process by a series of reactions using tetrafluorocyanobenzens as material for producing tetrafluorobenzenemethanols, tetrafluorobenzenecarbaldehyde dialkylacetals and tetrafluorobenzenecarbaldehydes in a high purity and a high yield which are useful as intermediates in the production of cyclopropanecarboxylic acid esters having insecticidal action, and also relates to a novel tetrafluorobenzenecarbaldehyde dimethylacetal.

Abstract: Noble metal, particularly ruthenium, Raney catalysts which can hydrogenate (1) aromaticity-exhibiting ring portions of organic compounds, (2) carboxylic acids and their ester portions (carbonyl ester groups), (3) ring portions and carboxylic acid or their ester groups in compounds having such ring portions and carboxylic acid or their ester portions, and (4) ring portions and nitrile groups of aromatic nitrile compounds and methods for the preparation of corresponding hydrogenated compounds. The methods allow preparation of hydrogenated compounds having hydrogenated aromatic ring portions, hydrogenated carbonyl ester groups, hydrogenated aromatic ring and carbonyl ester groups, or hydrogenated aromatic rings and nitrile groups under milder hydrogen pressure and temperature conditions than the conventional catalysts.

Abstract: Noble metal, particularly ruthenium, Raney catalysts which can hydrogenate (1) aromaticity-exhibiting ring portions of organic compounds, (2) carboxylic acids and their ester portions (carbonyl ester groups), (3) ring portions and carboxylic acid or their ester groups in compounds having such ring portions and carboxylic acid or their ester portions, and (4) ring portions and nitrile groups of aromatic nitrile compounds and methods for the preparation of corresponding hydrogenated compounds. The methods allow preparation of hydrogenated compounds having hydrogenated aromatic ring portions, hydrogenated carbonyl ester groups, hydrogenated aromatic ring and carbonyl ester groups, or hydrogenated aromatic rings and nitrile groups under milder hydrogen pressure and temperature conditions than the conventional catalysts.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a method for producing 3-isochromanones represented by formula (II) useful as a synthetic starting material of medicals or agricultural chemicals and the cyano compound represented by formula (I) by an industrially advantageous method in a high yield. Disclosed herein is a method for manufacturing a 3-isochromanone represented by the following formula (II): (wherein R2, R3, R4 and R5 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group), said method is characterized by comprising the steps of: hydrolyzing a cyano compound represented by formula (I): (wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, and R2, R3, R4 and R5 have the same meanings as defined above) and subjecting the hydrolyzate to intra-molecular cyclization.

Abstract: A process for producing a fluorinated benzonitrile comprising hydrogenolyzing a fluorinated dicyanobenzene substituted with 1 to 4 fluorine atoms and having the remainder which may be substituted with a chlorine atom in the presence of a catalyst to cause hydrodecyanation of only the cyano group of one side and a process for producing a fluorinated benzyl alcohol comprising reducing the fluorinated benzonitrile and hydrolyzing the fluorinated benzonitrile and reducing the resultant corresponding fluorinated benzoic acid to convert the cyano group to a hydroxymethyl group.

Abstract: Noble metal, particularly ruthenium, Raney catalysts having the property of catalyzing the hydrogenation of (1) aromaticity-exhibiting ring portions of organic compounds, (2) carboxylic acids and their ester portions (carbonyl ester groups), (3) ring portions and carboxylic acid or their ester groups in compounds having such ring portions and carboxylic acid or their ester portions, and (4) ring portions and nitrile groups of aromatic nitrile compounds and methods for the preparation of corresponding hydrogenated compounds. The methods allow preparation of hydrogenated compounds having hydrogenated aromatic ring portions, hydrogenated carbonyl ester groups, hydrogenated aromatic ring and carbonyl ester groups, or hydrogenated aromatic rings and nitrile groups under milder hydrogen pressure and temperature conditions than the conventional catalysts.

Abstract: A process for producing hydrogen peroxide, comprising the step of producing hydrogen peroxide catalytically from hydrogen and oxygen in a reaction medium, wherein a platinum-group metal catalyst is used which comprises a platinum-group metal and, supported thereon, a niobium oxide, a mixed oxide of niobium, a tantalum oxide, a mixed oxide of tantalum, a molybdenum oxide or a tungsten oxide.