Abstract: A process for the selective hydrogenation of aromatic groups of organic molecules carrying at least one aromatic group and one epoxy group with hydrogen in the presence of a ruthenium-containing catalyst, in which the hydrogenation is carried out in the presence of from 0.2 to 10 wt % of water, based on the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Vinyl formate containing formic acid, acetaldehyde and water following synthesis is separated from formic acid and water in a first distillation stage and from acetaldehyde in a second stage to give pure vinyl formate.

Abstract: Process for preparing silicon-containing vinyl ethers and vinyl thioethers of the general formula I ##STR1## where the variables have the following meanings: X is oxygen or sulfur,R.sup.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkylene, C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 -cycloalkylene or C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 -arylene,R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkoxy, phenoxy, heteroaryl or together with R.sup.1 form a C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 -cycle,by reaction of silicon-containing alcohols or thiols of the general formula II ##STR2## where the variables have the meaning indicated above, with acetylene, by carrying out the reaction in phenyl methyl sulfoxide, dimethyl sulfoxide, sulfolane or hexamethylphosphoramide in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated .beta.-oxycarboxylic acid chlorides of the formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is a C-organic radical, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, independently of one another, are hydrogen or a C-organic radical, comprises carrying out the addition reaction of an enol derivative of the formula II ##STR2## with a compound of the formula IIIa, IIIb or IIIc ##STR3## and converting the resultant acid chloride of the formula ##STR4## into I by elimination of hydrogen chloride (HCl).

Abstract: 2-Methyl-1,4-butanediol and 3-methyltetrahydrofuran are prepared by reacting a compound of the general formula I or II ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl and the formyl group of II may also be present as acetal with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkanol, is reacted with hydrogen in the presence of copper or of a metal of groups 7 to 10 of the Periodical Table of elements or of a compound of these metals.

Abstract: A process for the selective hydrogenation of aromatic groups of organic molecules carrying at least one aromatic group and one epoxy group with hydrogen in the presence of a ruthenium-containing catalyst, in which a homogeneous ruthenium catalyst is used which can be prepared by reducing the ruthenium compound with a metal having a redox potential of from -0.75 to 2.5 V, a boron hydride, an aluminum hydride, an aluminum alkyl compound, a lithium alkyl compound, or a lithium aryl compound in the presence of an ether.

Abstract: Preparation of alkenes as well as of cyclopentane and cyclohexane from the corresponding vicinal dichloro and dibromo alkanes and from .alpha.,.omega.-Dichloropentane and .alpha.,.omega.-dibromopentane and .alpha.,.omega.-dichlorohexane and .alpha.,.omega.-dibromohexane respectively, in which these starting compounds are caused to react with with silicon.

Abstract: Preparation of vinyl carboxylates by the reaction of a carboxylic acid with acetylene in the presence of a platinum metal complex catalyst, which contains as ligands carbon monoxide or a nitrile (I), a tertiary nitrogen base (II), a tertiary phosphorus compound (III) having C-organic and/or O-organic radicals or mixtures of said compounds.The end products serve as monomers or comonomers for polymer dispersions.

Abstract: The preparation of pyrocatechol monoethers or pyrocatechols of the formula Ia or Ib respectively ##STR1## ( R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 =H or C.sub.1 --C.sub.8 -hydrocarbon radicals; R.sup.3 =C.sub.1 --C.sub.8 -hydrocarbon radical ) by rearranging a 2-hydroxycyclohexanone dialkyl ketal II ##STR2## a) in the gas phase in the presence of a platinmetal or in the presence of a compound of one of these metals as catalyst in order to obtain a compound Ia, orb) carrying out step a) in the presence of water in order to obtain a compound Ib. The products are used as intermediates in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, fragrances and flavors.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of phthalides of the formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently of one another, are hydrogen, C.sub.1 - to C.sub.4 -alkyl or C.sub.1 - to C.sub.4 -alkoxy, by reacting phthalic anhydrides of the formula II ##STR2## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are as defined as above, on hydrogenation catalysts at from 50.degree. to 400.degree. C. and at from 1 to 400 bar, wherein the hydrogenation catalysts employed are essentially free from Lewis acids.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of aromatic aryl chloroformates of the general formula I ##STR1## in which Ar denotes an aryl radical optionally mono- to penta-substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 -alkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -alkyl-cycloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkylthio, halo, cyano, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 -alkylcarbonyloxy, C.sub.3 -C.sub.20 -carboalkoxy, formyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 -dialkylamino, aryl, aryloxy, arylthio, aroyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.20 -aralkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.20 -aralkoxy, arylsulfonyl and/or C.sub.7 -C.sub.20 -aralkylthio and/or optionally mono- or di-substituted by chloroformyl and/or nitro, from phosgene and phenols of the general formula IIAr--OH (II),in which Ar has the meanings stated above and optionally carries one or two hydroxy groups, wherein the reaction is carried out at a temperature of from 60.degree. to 180.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 4-hydroxymethyltetrahydropyrans of the formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are hydrogen, C.sub.1 - to C.sub.12 -alkyl, C.sub.3 - to C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, aryl or C.sub.7 - to C.sub.20 -aralkyl, comprises reacting a tetrahydropyrancarboxylic ester of the formula II ##STR2## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are as defined above, and R.sup.5 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 - to C.sub.12 -alkyl, at from 50.degree. to 400.degree. C. and at from 1 to 400 bar in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a carboxylic chloride of the general formula I ##STR1## in which R denotes C.sub.1 -C.sub.30 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.30 -alkenyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.30 -alkynyl, from a carboxylic acid of the general formula II ##STR2## in which R has the meanings stated, and phosgene COCl.sub.2 (III), in the presence of a catalyst adduct comprising phosgene and N,N-disubstituted formamide of the general formula IV ##STR3## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 -alkyl or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together form a C.sub.4 - or C.sub.5 -alkylene chain which may or may not be interrupted by an oxygen atom or by a nitrogen atom carrying a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 -alkyl group or CHO, the product being isolated by phase separation, wherein the amount of phosgene added to the formamide (IV) is from 20 to 70% molar, based on the formamide.

Abstract: To remove phosgene from off-gases, the former is reacted in a washing zone with a liquid which contains or is composed of compounds of the formula ##STR1## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are identical or different and are each aliphatic or cycloaliphatic alkyl of 1 to 8 carbons, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are --(CH.sub.2).sub.n -- where n is 4 or 5, R.sub.3 is hydrogen or aliphatic or cycloaliphatic alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are --(CH.sub.2).sub.m -- where m is 3, 4 or 5.The liquid can be regenerated by the addition of water, and the regenerated liquid can be returned to the washing zone.

Abstract: The preparation of an alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl chloride by the reaction of a corresponding alcohol with phosgene or thionyl chloride in the presence of a phosphine oxide acting as catalyst, wherein the catalyst used is an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or cyclic/aliphatic phosphine oxide.

Abstract: A process for the acylation of an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon with a derivative of carboxylic acid by the Friedel-Crafts method in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst and an organo-aluminum compound, wherein the organo-aluminum compound is an alumoxane.

Abstract: Polytetrahydrofuran vinyl ethers of the general formulaH.sub.2 C.dbd.HC--[)O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --].sub.n O--R Iwhere R is hydrogen or the CH.dbd.CH radical and n is from 2 to 150, are prepared by a process in which polytetrahydrofuran of the general formulaH--[O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --].sub.n OH IIis reacted with acetylene.

Abstract: 1-Nitroanthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid of the formula I ##STR1## is prepared by treating novel 2-substituted 1-nitroanthraquinones of the general formula II ##STR2## where R is --CH.dbd.CH--R.sup.1 or --CH.sub.2 --CHO, where R.sup.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -dialkylamino or a cyclic 5- or 6-membered amine which may contain further hetero atoms, with oxidizing agents free of heavy metal.

Abstract: Aromatics are acylated by the Friedel-Crafts method by carrying out the acylation in the presence of metalalkyls or metalalkyl halides of metals or semimetals of main groups two to five and/or of metals of subgroups two or four of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: Highly heat-resistant polyaryl ether ketones are composed of(A) from 50 to 100 mol % of repeat units of the general formula I ##STR1## or a ring-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy, aryl, chlorine or fluorine derivative thereof and(B) from 0 to 50 mol % of repeat units, different from I, of the general formulae II and/or III ##STR2## or a ring-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy, aryl, chlorine or fluorine derivative thereof, where Q, Q', Y, Y', T, T', Z and Z' are each --O--, --CO-- or a chemical bond, one or more of these substituents is a --CO-- group, and s, t and u are each 0 or 1.