Abstract: The present invention describes the synthesis of ascorbic acid with reduced color. The present invention employs palladium catalysts for the synthesis of ascorbic acid from 2-keto-gulonic acid or derivatives of 2-keto-gulonic acid. The palladium catalyst may include an inert support such as, but not limited to, carbon or barium sulfate. Unlike other palladium catalysts, the catalyst of the present invention is active under aqueous conditions suitable for ascorbic acid synthesis. Also described are systems for the conversion of 2-keto-gulonic acid or derivatives of 2-keto-gulonic acid to ascorbic acid in the presence of a solid palladium catalyst and ascorbic acid of reduced color made by the methods of the present invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polyester comprising repeating units having the structure: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and aryl having 6 to 10 carbon atoms and R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and aryl having 6 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polyester comprising repeating units having the structure: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and aryl having 6 to 10 carbon atoms and R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and aryl having 6 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Disclosed is a continuous process for the preparation of acetic anhydride which comprises carbonylating a mixture comprising (i) methyl iodide and (ii) methyl acetate and/or dimethyl ether in the presence of a rhodium catalyst and a promoter wherein the concentration of mesityl oxide in the carbonylation mixture is suppressed by the presence therein of at least 100 ppm of dissolved ferrous and/or cobaltous ion.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process for the removal of acetone from a production system wherein acetic anhydride is produced by contacting a mixture comprising methyl iodide and methyl acetate and/or dimethyl ether with carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst or catalyst system. The process comprises two distillation steps wherein acetone is separated from a mixture of methyl acetate, methyl iodide and acetone.

Abstract: Provided are 1,5-bis(4-carboxycyclohexyl)-3-pentanol and its esters and processes for their preparation. Also provided are polyester compositions containing this residue, thermosetting coating compositions containing the polyesters, and coatings and casted or molded articles made therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for reducing olefinic impurities in solutions of carboxylic acids and/or anhydrides. The invention is especially useful for removing substantially all, i.e., greater than 90 percent of trace amounts of olefinic impurities.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the coproduction of (1) an alkyl iodide and (2) an .alpha.-iodocarboxylic acid, a mono-.alpha.-iodocarboxylic anhydride or a mixture thereof which comprises contacting a mixture of an iodine compound and a carboxylic anhydride with a peroxide at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: Provided are 1,5-bis(4-carboxycyclohexyl)-3-pentanol and its esters and processes for their preparation. Also provided are polyester compositions containing this residue, thermosetting coating compositions containing the polyesters, and coatings and casted or molded articles made therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of .alpha.-iodocarbonyl compounds such as .alpha.-iodocarboxylic acid anhydrides and .alpha.-iodoketones by the reaction of a carboxylic anhydride with molecular iodine. Hydrolysis of the .alpha.-iodocarboxylic acid anhydrides gives the corresponding .alpha.-iodocarboxylic acids.

Abstract: Unsaturated ketones such as mesityl oxide may be removed from acetic anhydride, or mixtures of acetic anhydride and acetic acid, by heating a solution comprising (1) acetic anhydride, or a mixture of acetic anhydride and acetic acid, (2) an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated ketone, (3) ferrous (Fe II) and/or cobaltous (Co II) ion, (4) a cation selected from alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, quaternary organoammonium, quaternary organophosphonium and mixtures thereof, and (5) iodide ion.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process for the removal of acetone from a production system wherein acetic anhydride is produced by contacting a mixture containing methyl iodide and methyl acetate and/or dimethyl ether with carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst or catalyst system. The process involves a water-methyl iodide extraction step wherein acetone is separated from a mixture of methyl acetate, methyl iodide and acetone.

Abstract: Provided are 1,5-bis(4-carboxycyclohexyl)-3-pentanol and its esters and processes for their preparation. Also provided are polyester compositions containing this residue, thermosetting coating compositions containing the polyesters, and coatings and casted or molded articles made therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel 1,5-bis(substituted-aryl)-3-pentanols which are useful in the preparation of polymeric materials and have the formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each is hydrogen, alkyl containing up to about 6 carbon atoms or phenyl or collectively R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are 1,2- or 1,3-alkylene or 1,2-phenylene; andeach X is carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl of up to about 7 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkoxycarbonyl of up to about 9 carbon atoms, formamido, alkanoylamido having up to about 6 carbon atoms or hydroxyalkoxy having up to about 10 carbon atoms. The novel compounds may be prepared by first condensing certain 4-substituted-benzaldehydes with ketones to obtain intermediate 1,5-bis(4-substituted-aryl)penta-1,4-dien-3-ones and hydrogenating the intermediates with certain catalysts. Mixed copper-chromium oxides are especially effective in converting the pentadienone compounds to the pentanol compounds.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovering rhodium catalyst values from "tars" formed during the preparation of acetic anhydride by the rhodium catalyzed carbonylation of a mixture of methyl iodide and methyl acetate and/or dimethyl ether. The disclosed process provides a means for the recovery of rhodium values which normally are not extracted from the tars by treating a methyl iodide solution of such tars with certain oxidants.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel unsaturated polyesters comprised of (i) 2-butenedioic acid residues; (ii) diol residues; and (iii) residues of novel 1,5-diaryl-3-pentanols having the structure ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each is hydrogen, alkyl or phenyl or collectively R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are 1,2- or 1,3-alkylene or 1,2-phenylene; and each X is carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxyalkoxycarbonyl, formamido, alkanoylamido or hydroxyalkoxy. Also disclosed are curable compositions containing admixtures of the unsaturated polyesters and aromatic vinyl compounds copolymerizable with the unsaturated polyesters and coating and casted and molded articles obtained from the curable compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of .alpha.-acyloxycarbonyl compounds by contacting the corresponding .alpha.-dicarbonyl compound with an acyl iodide, which can be employed in an essentially pure form or generated in solution from hydrogen iodide and a carboxylic acid anhydride.

Abstract: 2-Acetonaphthones are prepared by heating a compound selected from the group consisting of ketals and enol ethers of acetyl-substituted benzalacetone at a temperature effective to cyclize the compound and form said 2-acetonaphthones.

Abstract: Alkylene or dialkyl ketal of an alpha-acetyl cinnamic acid or ester therof are obtained by reacting alpha-acetyl cinnamic acid or an ester thereof with a ketalizing agent selected from the group consisting of alkyl glycols, dialkyl detals and trialkyl orthoesters in the presence of the transition metal catalyst and an acid catalyst. Also, alkyl alpha-enol ethers of alpha-acetyl cinnamic acid are obtained by heating the alkylene or dialkyl ketals.

Abstract: A process for preparing a 3,4-dihydro 2-naphthanoic acid or an ester thereof comprises heating an alpha-vinyl cinnamic acid or a (C.sub.1 -C.sub.12)alkyl, (C.sub.6 -C.sub.12)aryl, (C.sub.6 -C.sub.12)aralkyl or (C.sub.6 -C.sub.12)alkylaryl ester thereof at a temperature effective to cyclize said acid or ester thereof and obtain the corresponding 3,4-dihydro 2-naphthanoic acid or ester thereof. The alpha-vinyl cinnamic acid or ester thereof may be obtained by contacting crotonic anhydride and a benzaldehyde substituted with halo or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.12)alkyl, acyl, acyloxy, carboxy, carbalkoxy, alkylthiol or alkoxy.A process for preparing 2-naphthanoic acid or an ester thereof comprises the above steps to prepare a 3,4-dihydro-2-naphthanoic acid, and dehydrogenating said 3,4-dihydro 2-naphthanoic acid or ester thereof to obtain the 2-naphthanoic acid.