Abstract: C.sub.4 compounds including n-butanol and n-butanal are produced by reacting methanol, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide, in the presence of a cobalt catalyst selected from the group consisting of (a) a cobalt carbonyl, (b) a hydrido cobalt carbonyl and (c) a cobalt-containing material convertible to a cobalt carbonyl or a hydrido cobalt carbonyl, an iodine promotor and a thiol defined by the formula:RSHwherein R is selected from the group consisting of saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched chain alkyl radicals having from one to 24 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl radicals having from three to 40 carbon atoms, aryl radicals having from six to 20 carbon atoms, aralkyl and alkaryl radicals having from six to 40 carbon atoms and halogen substituted derivatives thereof. A high degree of selectivity towards the formation of butanol and butanal is provided by using the cobalt entity and the thiol in a molar ratio in the range of about 2:1 to about 10:1, based on elemental cobalt and sulfur.

Abstract: A novel process for selectively producing ethanol which comprises introducing into a reaction zone (1) methanol, (2) hydrogen, (3) carbon monoxide, (4) a cobalt carbonyl, a hydrido cobalt carbonyl or a cobalt-containing material convertible to a cobalt carbonyl or a hydrido cobalt carbonyl, (5) a tertiary organo Group VA compound of the Periodic Table, (6) an iodine compound and (7) a ruthenium compound; and then subjecting the contents of said reaction zone to an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure for a time sufficient to convert methanol to ethanol.

Abstract: A process for selectively producing ethanol which comprises introducing into a reaction zone methanol, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, a cobalt tricarbonyl complex and an iodine promoter and then subjecting the contents of said reaction zone to an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure for a time period sufficient to convert methanol to ethanol.

Abstract: A novel catalyst system comprising (1) a cobalt carbonyl, a hydrido cobalt carbonyl or a cobalt-containing material convertible to a cobalt carbonyl or a hydrido cobalt carbonyl, (2) a tertiary organo Group VA compound of the Periodic Table, (3) an iodine compound and (4) a ruthenium compound and to a process for selectively producing ethanol which comprises introducing into a reaction zone (1) methanol, (2) hydrogen, (3) carbon monoxide, (4) a cobalt carbonyl, a hydrido cobalt carbonyl or a cobalt-containing material convertible to a cobalt carbonyl or a hydrido cobalt carbonyl, (5) a tertiary organo Group VA compound of the Periodic Table, (6) an iodine compound and (7) a ruthenium compound and then subjecting the contents of said reaction zone to an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure for a time sufficient to convert methanol to ethanol.

Abstract: C.sub.4 compounds including n-butanol and n-butanal are produced by reacting methanol, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide, in the presence of a cobalt catalyst selected from the group consisting of (a) a cobalt carbonyl, (b) a hydrido cobalt carbonyl and (c) a cobalt-containing material convertible to a cobalt carbonyl or a hydrido cobalt carbonyl, an iodine promotor and a thiol defined by the formula:RSHwherein R is selected from the group consisting of saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched chain alkyl radicals having from one to 24 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl radicals having from three to 40 carbon atoms, aryl radicals having from six to 20 carbon atoms, aralkyl and alkaryl radicals having from six to 40 carbon atoms and halogen substituted derivatives thereof. A high degree of selectivity towards the formation of butanol and butanal is provided by using the cobalt entity and the thiol in a molar ratio in the range of about 2:1 to about 10:1, based on elemental cobalt and sulfur.

Abstract: C.sub.4 compounds including n-butanol and n-butanal are produced by reacting methanol, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide, in the presence of a cobalt catalyst selected from the group consisting of (a) a cobalt carbonyl, (b) a hydrido cobalt carbonyl and (c) a cobalt-containing material convertible to a cobalt carbonyl or a hydrido cobalt carbonyl, an iodine promotor and a biphosphine disulfide having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, the same or different, are selected from the group consisting of saturated or unsaturated, staight or branched chain alkyl radicals having from one to 24 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl radicals having from three to 40 carbon atoms, aryl radicals having from six to 20 carbon atoms, aralkyl and alkaryl radicals having from six to 40 carbon atoms and halogen substituted derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A process and catalyst system for selectively producing n-butanol and n-butanal which process comprises introducing into a reaction zone methanol, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and a catalyst system consisting essentially of (a) a cobalt carbonyl, a hydrido cobalt carbonyl or a cobalt-containing material convertible to a cobalt carbonyl or a hydrido cobalt carbonyl, (b) an iodine compound and (c) a tertiary organo Group VA compound and then subjecting the contents of said reaction zone to an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure for a time sufficient to convert methanol to n-butanol and n-butanal.

Abstract: C.sub.4 compounds including n-butanol and n-butanal are produced by reacting methanol, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide, in the presence of a cobalt catalyst selected from the group consisting of (a) a cobalt carbonyl, (b) a hydrido cobalt carbonyl and (c) a cobalt-containing material convertible to a cobalt carbonyl or a hydrido cobalt carbonyl, an iodine promotor and an organic sulfide having the formula:R.sub.1 --S--R.sub.2wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 can be the same or different members selected from the group consisting of saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched chain alkyl radicals having from one to 24 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl radicals having from three to 40 carbon atoms, aryl radicals having from six to 20 carbon atoms, aralkyl and alkaryl radicals having from six to 40 carbon atoms and halogen substituted derivatives thereof.

Abstract: Propylene is converted to propylene glycol at high selectivity in a process in which ethylbenzene hydroperoxide and water are reacted with propylene in the presence of osmium tetroxide catalyst and a base at a pH of about 14.

Abstract: The hydroperoxides of diisopropylbenzene are prepared by the oxidation of diisopropylbenzene with molecular oxygen in the presence of a minute amount of solid barium oxide.

Abstract: Ethylbenzene is converted to styrene at high selectivity in a multistage process in which ethylbenzene is oxidized to ethylbenzene hydroperoxide which is reacted with ethylene or propylene to produce a mixture of 1-phenylethanol and acetophenone which are converted to styrene.

Abstract: Ethylene is converted to ethylene glycol at high selectivity in a process in which ethylbenzene hydroperoxide and water are reacted with ethylene in the presence of osmium tetroxide catalyst and a base at a pH of about 14.

Abstract: A process for selectively producing acetaldehyde which comprises introducing into a reaction zone (1) methanol, (2) hydrogen, (3) carbon monoxide, (4) an arsenic-cobalt tricarbonyl complex and (5) an iodine compound and then subjecting the contents of said reaction zone to an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure for a time sufficient to convert methanol to acetaldehyde.

Abstract: A process for selectively producing ethanol which comprises introducing into a reaction zone methanol, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, a cobalt tricarbonyl complex and an iodine promoter and then subjecting the contents of said reaction zone to an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure for a time period sufficient to convert methanol to ethanol.

Abstract: A process for selectively producing ethanol which comprises introducing into a reaction zone (1) methanol, (2) hydrogen, (3) carbon monoxide, (4) a cobalt tricarbonyl complex, (5) an iodine compound and (6) a ruthenium compound and then subjecting the contents of said reaction zone to an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure for a time sufficient to convert methanol to ethanol.

Abstract: A process for selectively producing acetaldehyde which comprises introducing into a reaction zone (1) methanol, (2) hydrogen, (3) carbon monoxide, (4) a cobalt carbonyl, a hydrido cobalt carbonyl or a cobalt-containing material convertible to a cobalt carbonyl or a hydrido cobalt carbonyl, (5) an arsenic or antimony base ligand and (6) an iodine compound and then subjecting the contents of said reaction zone to an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure for a time sufficient to convert methanol to acetaldehyde.

Abstract: A process for epoxidizing an alpha-olefin by adding an alpha-olefin and an oxygen transfer catalyst to a hydroperoxide stabilized with barium oxide.

Abstract: Ethylbenzene hydroperoxide is prepared by the oxidation of ethylbenzene with molecular oxygen in the presence of a minute amount of solid barium oxide.

Abstract: Cumene hydroperoxide is prepared by the oxidation of cumene with molecular oxygen in the presence of a minute amount of solid barium oxide.

Abstract: A process for selectively producing acetaldehyde which comprises contacting methanol, hydrogen and carbon monoxide with cobalt (II) meso-tetraaromaticporphine and an iodine promoter.