Abstract: Polycumylene of a relatively high degree of polymerization is obtained in a reasonable space-time yield by Friedel-Crafts alkylation of .alpha.-cumyl halide when catalyst composition, catalyst concentration and dilution ratio are selected within certain limits.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of substituted polyarylethers from par-substituted phenols.

Abstract: Urethanes are made by reacting an organic nitro compound with an organic compound containing at least one hydroxyl group in the presence of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and a catalyst system. The carbon monoxide and hydrogen are used in quantities such that the molar ratio of CO to H.sub.2 is from 0.3:1 to 3:1. The catalyst system is made up of at least one noble metal or compound of a noble metal from Group VIIIB of the Periodic System of Elements, at least one organic nitrogen base and a co-catalyst combination of iron or copper oxidic or hydroxidic compound and a chloride compound. The product urethanes are useful in the production of isocyanates and pesticides.

Abstract: Urethanes are made by reacting a primary amine with carbon monoxide and a compound containing at least one hydroxyl group in the presence of an oxidizing agent and a catalyst system. The catalyst system is made up of (i) a noble metal and/or a noble metal compound of a metal of the Eighth Secondary Group of the Periodic System of Elements and (ii) an oxidizing quinoid and/or a compound capable of being converted to an oxidizing quinoid compound under the reaction conditions. The catalyst system may optionally include (iii) metal compounds of elements of the Third to Fifth Main Groups and/or First to Eighth Secondary Groups of the Periodic System of Elements and/or (iv) a tertiary amine. This reaction is generally carried out at a temperature of from 100.degree. to 300.degree. C. and at a pressure of from 5 to 500 bars. The product urethanes are useful in the production of isocyanates and pesticides.

Abstract: 2,3-Dimethylbutane-2,3-diol is prepared by a process in which 2,3-dimethylbutenes are reacted with oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas, in the presence of 0.01 to 20 parts by weight of water (relative to 2,3-dimethylbutenes employed), at temperatures of from 40.degree. to 180.degree. C. and residence times of 5 to 150 minutes, without the addition of catalysts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of carbonic acid esters with high selectivity and under reaction conditions which permit high space/time yields, said process being one in which an alcohol is allowed to react with a mixture of molecular oxygen and carbon monoxide in the liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst system containing copper, chemically bonded oxygen, chemically bonded halogen and at least one nitrogen base.

Abstract: A urethane is produced by reacting an organic nitro compound with carbon monoxide and an organic compound containing at least one hydroxyl group in the presence of a catalyst and a co-catalyst. This reaction is conducted in the liquid phase at elevated temperature and pressure. The catalyst employed is an element and/or compound of an element from the group of noble metals of the 8th Secondary Group of the Periodic Table. The co-catalyst used is formed from (1) a component taken from the group consisting of iron oxychloride, a mixture of iron compounds containing iron oxychloride and oxide-chloride combinations and (2) metallic iron or an iron alloy in finely divided or high surface form. The oxides which may be used in the oxide-chloride combinations of co-catalyst component (1) are the oxides and/or oxide hydrates of tetravalent tin, trivalent chromium, hexavalent molybdenum, hexavalent tungsten, pentavalent vanadium, divalent iron and trivalent iron.

Abstract: Production of urethanes by the oxycarbonylation reaction of N,N'-disubstituted ureas and organic compounds containing at least one hydroxyl group with carbon monoxide in the presence of molecular oxygen and/or organic nitro compounds and a catalyst system comprising (a) a noble metal and/or noble metal compound of the eighth subgroup of the periodic system of elements and (b) a compound of an element and/or elements of the third to fifth main group and/or first to eighth subgroup of the periodic system of elements characterized in that said compounds are capable of undergoing Redox reactions under the reaction conditions.

Abstract: A process for producing urethanes by reacting primary amines, carbon monoxide and organic hydroxyl compounds in the presence of molecular oxygen and/or organic nitro compounds as oxidizing agents and a catalyst system comprising a noble metal and/or a compound of a noble metal of the 8th subgroup of the Periodic System of Elements and a compound capable of undergoing Redox reactions under reaction conditions of the 3rd to 5th main group and/or 1st to 8th subgroup of the Periodic System of Elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for the production of urethanes (carbamic acid esters) by the reaction of organic nitro compounds with carbon monoxide and organic compounds containing at least one hydroxy group in the presence of palladium and/or palladium compounds and a cocatalyst which consists of a mixture of one or more iron oxides and/or iron hydroxides and activating chloride-containing additives.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for the production of urethanes (i.e. carbamic acid esters) by reacting organic nitro compounds with carbon monoxide and organic compounds containing at least one hydroxy group in the presence of a unique catalyst system. The catalyst system consists of palladium or a palladium compound and iron oxychloride or a mixture of iron compounds containing iron oxychloride.

Abstract: A process has been provided for the purification of crude anthraquinone made by (1) oxidation of naphthalene to naphthoquinone (2) reaction of the oxidation product with butadiene to give tetrahydroanthraquinone and (3) oxide-hydrogenation of this reaction product with molecular oxygen to yield the crude anthraquinone, then optionally separating naphthalene, phthalic anhydride and low-boiling compounds from said crude anthraquinone. The purification of said crude anthraquinone is effected by treatment with an oxygen compound or mixture of oxygen compounds of the elements of the 1st and/or 2nd main group of the periodic system at elevated temperature, if desired in the presence of an inert solvent and the purified anthraquinone is isolated by physical separation methods from the products treated.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of acetoxybutanal by reaction of allyl acetate with carbon monoxide and hydrogen under pressure and at elevated temperature, in the presence of a metal carbonyl compound. The reaction is carried out at 130.degree. to 180.degree. C and at concentrations of allyl acetate of less than 20% by weight, relative to the liquid phase. High yields are obtained.

Abstract: In the process for the preparation of an acetoxybutanol by hydrogenation of the corresponding acetoxybutyraldehyde in the presence of metals of group VIII of the periodic table, the improvement which comprises carrying out the hydrogenation in the presence of methanol. The rate of reaction is improved by the use of methanol.

Abstract: In the preparation of isopropyl chloride wherein propylene and hydrogen chloride are reacted at elevated temperature in the gaseous phase in the presence of aluminum oxide as catalyst, the improvement which comprises effecting the reaction at a pressure of about 3 to 8 atm, at a temperature of about 50.degree. to 200.degree. C and in the presence of aluminum oxide having an internal surface area of about 200 to 500 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: Allyl alcohol is produced in simple and economical fashion from propylene and oxygen by reacting propylene, oxygen and acetic acid over a palladium-containing catalyst in the presence of water; condensing the reaction product to form a condensate containing allyl acetate, acetic acid and water; treating the condensate with an acid catalyst and separating the resulting product by distillation into a head product consisting essentially of an allyl acetate/allyl alcohol/water azeotrope and into a sump product consisting essentially of acetic acid, allyl alcohol and water; recycling the head product to the acid catalyst stage; separating the sump product in a second distillation into an allyl alcohol/water head product and into a second sump product consisting essentially of acetic acid and water and recycling this sump product to the initial reaction.

Abstract: Primary alkenols are produced by transesterifying a primary alkenol acetate with methanol in the presence of the hydroxide or alkoxide of a metal in the first to third main group of the Periodic Table as catalyst. Preferably the methanol is present in large excess and the by-product methyl acetate is removed as an azeotrope with the excess methanol. The reaction is preferably effected under anhydrous conditions and it is substantially quantitative.