Abstract: A catalyst comprising nickel on a TiO2 support is obtainable by coprecipitation of nickel and at least one further metal selected from among Si, Zr, Hf, alkaline earth metals, Y, La and Ce, and optionally at least one dopant metal selected from groups 5 to 11 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, from a solution in which the corresponding metal salts are present onto a particulate TiO2 support, subsequent drying, calcination and reduction and optionally passivation to give the nickel-containing catalyst. It is used, in particular, for the hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds.

Abstract: A description is given of a process for preparing methyl formate by reacting excess methanol with carbon monoxide under superatmospheric pressure and at elevated temperature in the presence of alkali metal methoxide or alkaline earth metal methoxide as catalyst in a pressure-rated reactor, in which the use of at least two reactor elements, preferably operated in countercurrent, at about 100° C. and a pressure of about 100 bar in combination with a solids-free desalting of the reaction product makes possible very economical, largely trouble-free production of methyl formate in any desired quality and with a very good production capacity. Furthermore, the process for solids-free desalting and apparatuses for carrying out this process are described.

Abstract: In the process for preparing formamide by reaction of ammonia and carbon monoxide in the presence of at least one catalyst, sodium diformylamide is used as catalyst. If sodium methoxide is used as further active component, sodium diformylamide can be formed from this. In this process, sodium diformylamide is a particularly active and stable catalyst which can be recycled.

Abstract: A process for preparing butenyl ethers of the formula I CH3—CH═CH—CH2—OR  I by reacting butadiene or butadiene-containing hydrocarbon streams with alcohols of the formula II ROH  II at elevated temperature and superatmospheric pressure in the presence of transition metal complexes containing ligands of compounds of elements of group V of the Periodic Table of the Elements to form an isomer mixture of butenyl ethers of the formula I and butenyl ethers of the formula III CH2═CH—CH(OR)—CH3  III and, optionally, isomerizing the butenyl ethers of the formula III to butenyl ethers of the formula I, where R is as defined in the specification and the catalyst used is a complex of a transition metal of group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements with ligands of the formula IV where M is an iron, cobalt, nickel, or ruthenium atom, X is a bridge and where n, y and R1-R6 are as defined in the specification.