Abstract: A process for preparing an aromatic isocyanate by direct carbonylation of a nitro aromatic compound by reacting the nitro aromatic compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst, characterized in that the catalyst contains a multi metallic material comprising one or more binary intermetallic phases of the general formula AxBy wherein: A is one or more element selected from Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt and Ag, B is one or more element selected from Sn, Sb, Pb, Zn, Ga, In, Ge and As, x is in the range 0.1-10, y in is in the range 0.1-10.

Abstract: A process for preparing an aromatic isocyanate by direct carbonylation of a nitro aromatic compound by reacting the nitro aromatic compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst, characterized in that the catalyst contains a multi metallic material comprising one or more binary intermetallic phases of the general formula AxBy wherein: A is one or more element selected from Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt and Ag, B is one or more element selected from Sn, Sb, Pb, Zn, Ga, In, Ge and As, x is in the range 0.1-10, y in is in the range 0.1-10.

Abstract: A process for preparing an aromatic isocyanate by direct carbonylation of a nitro aromatic compound by reacting the nitro aromatic compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst, characterized in that the catalyst contains a multi metallic material comprising one or more binary intermetallic phases of the general formula AxBy wherein: A is one or more element selected from Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt and Ag, B is one or more element selected from Sn, Sb, Pb, Zn, Ga, In, Ge and As, x is in the range 0.1-10, y in is in the range 0.1-10.

Abstract: A process for preparing a cyclic diester or a cyclic diamide by reacting a hydroxycarboxylic acid or amide with an acidic BEA (H-beta polymorph A) type zeolite. The process is characterised in that the total amount of acid sites is in the range of from 0.25 to 1.0 mmol/g and the amount of medium acid sites is at least 40% of the total amount of acid sites. The total amount of acid sites and the amount of medium acid sites are determined by NH3-TPD (temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia). Preferably, the process refers to the preparation of lactide from lactic acid. The framework structure of the zeolitic material comprises Si, Al, O, and H.

Abstract: In a process for preparing an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, a) a transition metal-alkene complex is reacted with CO2 to give a metallalactone, b) the metallalactone is reacted with a base to give an adduct of the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of the ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid with the transition metal complex, and c) the adduct is reacted with an alkene to release the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of the ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and regenerate the transition metal-alkene complex. The base is selected from alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxides and alkali metal or alkaline earth metal superbases. The alkene is, for example, ethene. The transition metal complex comprises, for example, nickel and a bidentate P,P, P,N, P,O or P,carbene ligand, such as 1,2-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)ethane.