Abstract: A process for the preparation of .epsilon.-caprolactone comprising:(a) reacting cyclohexanone with a solution of perpropionic acid in an organic solvent at a molar ratio of cyclohexanone;perpropionic acid of about 1.1-5:1 at a temperature of about 10.degree. to 80.degree. C. to form a reaction mixture consisting essentially of .epsilon.-caprolactone, propionic acid and organic solvent,(b) distilling the reaction mixture from (a) in a first distillation unit to obtain a distillate comprising the organic solvent and a distillation residue,(c) introducing the distillation residue from (b) at a point into a second distillation unit to obtain a distillate comprising propionic acid and unreacted cyclohexanone, removing from the second distillation unit, separately from one another and at a point below the point of introduction into the second distillation unit, .epsilon.

Abstract: Process for isolating propylene glycol diacarboxylates in the preparation of propylene oxide by reaction of propylene with a solution of percarboxylic acid in an organic solvent, the boiling point of which is lower than that of the carboxylic acid which corresponds to the percarboxylic acid used as the epoxidizing agent, and higher than that of propylene oxide, separation, by distillation, of the reaction mixture which essentially contains propylene oxide, the carboxylic acid corresponding to the percarboxylic acid used as the epoxidizing agent and one or more of the by-products propyleneglycol, propylene glycol monocarboxylate and propylene glycol dicarboxylate as well as propylene and the organic solvent, into a fraction containing propylene oxide and propylene and a fraction containing the carboxylic acid, the by-products mentioned and the organic solvent and further separation of the fractions into the individual components by distillation.

Abstract: Process for separating a solution, which essentially contains propylene oxide, propylene, a carboxylic acid containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms and benzene, by distillation. The solution is fed to a first distillation stage in which propylene, propylene oxide and an amount of the benzene contained in the solution such that the top product from this first distillation contains 20 to 70% by weight of benzene are distilled off over the top at a pressure of 1.0 to 2.5 bars, and in which the carboxylic acid and the remaining benzene are obtained as the sump product. The top product from the first distillation is fed to a second distillation column in which propylene and possibly present small fractions of components which boil lower than propylene oxide are distilled off over the top and a sump product which essentially consists of propylene oxide and benzene is obtained and part of this is returned as reflux to the first distillation column.

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.