Abstract: The invention provides an improvement in the partial nuclear hydrogenation of an aromatic hydrocarbon compound in the liquid phase with admixture of water catalyzed by a ruthenium-containing solid catalyst. The scope of the invention is in the use of a novel ruthenium-containing catalyst supported on a silica gel and the like carrier and the catalyst is prepared by the hydrolysis and gelation of an alkoxide of silicon or aluminum in a solution containing a ruthenium compound, e.g. ruthenium alkoxide, followed by drying of the gelled material so that the resultant catalyst is very uniformly impregnated with the ruthenium ingredient to be imparted with greatly improved catalytis activity and selectivity for the intended reaction over conventional ruthenium-containing catalysts prepared by post-impregnation of a preformed silica gel carrier.

Abstract: The invention provides an efficient method for the preparation of cycloheone by the liquid-phase oxidation of cyclohexene in the presence of a catalyst system. The rate of conversion of the cyclohexene and the yield of cyclohexanone are unexpectedly increased when the reaction mixture brought into contact with oxygen or air contains a limited amount of an aliphatic alcohol having 2-10 carbon atoms in a molecule such as ethyl alcohol with the catalyst system composed of a palladium compound, e.g. PdCl.sub.2, and at least one co-catalytic ingredient which is a copper compound or iron compound such as CuCl.sub.2 or FeCl.sub.3. The influence of benzene or cyclohexane admixed in the reaction mixture was studied to indicate no adverse effects or even better results in the reaction giving further advantages of the process in which the starting cyclohexene need not be purified and can be used as prepared by the partial hydrogenation of benzene or partial dehydrogenation of cyclohexane.

Abstract: A process for the production of alcohols and/or aldehydes which comprises subjecting a toluene derivative having an ether linkage or linkages of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein RO is an ether grouping where R stands for a hydrocarbyl group with 1.about.20 carbon atoms which may carry an inert substituent or substituents and n stands for an integer of 1.about.2, to auto-oxidation with molecular oxygen in liquid phase to form the corresponding alcohol and/or aldehyde, characterized in that the reaction is carried out by using a lower saturated fatty acid and/or an anhydride thereof as solvent in the presence of a soluble cobalt salt and a bromine ion-supplying substance at a reaction temperature ranging from 30.degree. C. to 200.degree. C. in such manner that the conversion rate of the toluene derivative does not exceed 90%.

Abstract: A process for the production of alcohols and/or aldehydes which comprises subjecting a toluene derivative having an ether linkage or linkages of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein RO is an ether grouping where R stands for a hydrocarbyl group with 1.about.20 carbon atoms which may carry an inert substituent or substituents and n stands for an integer of 1.about.2, to auto-oxidation with molecular oxygen in liquid phase to form the corresponding alcohol and/or aldehyde, characterized in that the reaction is carried out by using a lower saturated fatty acid and/or an anhydride thereof as solvent in the presence of a soluble cobalt salt and a bromine ion-supplying substance at a reaction temperature ranging from 30.degree. C. to 200.degree. C. in such manner that the conversion rate of the toluene derivative does not exceed 90%.

Abstract: A very efficient method with respect to the reaction velocity as well as selectivity is proposed for the preparation of .alpha.-tetralone by the liquid phase oxidation of tetralin with oxygen, in which a binary catalyst is employed which is composed of a compound of chromium or cobalt soluble in the reaction mixture and an N,N-dialkyl substituted carboxylic acid amide such as N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide and the like.

Abstract: A process for the production of o-phenylphenol in the presence of a catal composed of a .gamma.-alumina or silica-alumina support having a BET surface area of 150 - 300 m.sup.2 /g, a pore capacity of 0.50 - 0.85 ml/g and an iron content of at most 0.1 % by weight in terms of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 and an alumina content of at least 90 %, the support carrying thereon platinum in an amount of 0.1 - 5.0 % by weight based on the support, iridium in an amount of 0.1 - 0.4 times that of the platinum and an alkali metal oxide in an amount of 0.5 - 8.0 % by weight of the support. o-Phenylphenol is prepared at a high selectivity over a long period of time by supplying onto the catalyst maintained at 300.degree. - 420.degree. C o-cyclohexylphenol or a dehydrodimerized condensate obtained by aldol condensation of cyclohexanone together with gaseous hydrogen in an amount per hour in terms of liquid volume of 0.1 - 1.

Abstract: Diphenols, alkyl ethers and aryl ethers of diphenols are produced by subjecting phenols, alkyl ethers and aryl ethers of phenols to oxidation with an organic per-acid in the presence of at least one member selected from the group consisting of acetyl acetone and acetonyl acetone as the catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the production of peracetic acid which comprises the steps of adding, to an inner solvent, acetaldehyde and at least one catalyst selected from the group consisting of strongly acidic carboxylic acids, strongly acidic phenols and nitric acid, and introducing oxygen gas or oxygencontaining gas into the resulting mixture while stirring the mixture and maintaining it at a temperature range of -5.degree. C to 50.degree. C.

Abstract: Dihydric phenols are produced preferentially in high yields by having monohydric phenols or phenyl ethers oxidized by an organic peracid using, as a catalyst, at least one member selected from the group consisting of peracid stabilizers, polycarboxylic acids containing N or OH and possessed of a structure from which heavy metal ion-chelating property can theoretically be assumed, magnesium salts, sodium salts and potassium salts thereof, sodium salt, potassium salt and lower alkyl esters of phosphoric acid, and sodium salt and lower alkyl esters of pyrophosphoric acid.