Abstract: 3-Arylisobutanols of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each hydrogen or an alkyl or cyclo-alkyl radical of not more than 8 carbon atoms, preferably alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, are prepared by a process in which an arylcarbinol of the general formula II ##STR2## is reacted with n-propanol in the presence of a catalytic amount of an alkali metal hydroxide or an alkali metal alcoholate at from 250.degree. to 350.degree. C. in a closed reaction vessel.The process is of particular importance for the preparation of 3-arylisobutanols of the formula I, where R.sup.1 is alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R.sup.2 is hydrogen. The p-methyl-, p-isopropyl- and p-tert-butylphenylisobutanols obtained here in very good selectivity are useful intermediates for the desirable scents jasmorange, cyclamen aldehyde and Lysmeral.RTM. (Lilial.RTM.).

Abstract: Novel 4-[(meth)acrylamidomethyl]-pyrazoles and -isoxazoles of the general formula ##STR1## where R is hydrogen or methyl, R.sup.1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may be identical or different and are each alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or unsubstituted or substituted aryl of 6 to 20 carbon atoms, and X is oxygen or an NR.sup.4 group where R.sup.4 is hydrogen or a radical having the meanings of R.sup.2 or R.sup.3, a process for their preparation, and the use of these compounds in particular for polymerization and the preparation of homopolymers and copolymers, are described.

Abstract: Novel 4-[(meth)acrylamidomethyl]-pyrazoles and -isoxazoles of the general formula ##STR1## where R is hydrogen or methyl, R.sup.1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may be identical or different and are each alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or unsubstituted or substituted aryl of 6 to 20 carbon atoms, and X is oxygen or an NR.sup.4 group where R.sup.4 is hydrogen or a radical having the meanings of R.sup.2 or R.sup.3, a process for their preparation, and the use of these compounds in particular for polymerization and the preparation of homopolymers and copolymers, are described.

Abstract: Preparation of 1-aryl-1-alkenes by dehydration of 1-aryl-1-alkanols in the presence of a substance promoting elimination of water, the substance being a triester of phosphorous acid in which at least one of the radicals is an aryl group.The products are suitable as, inter al., initiators for anionic polymerization.

Abstract: Carboxylic esters are prepared by reacting carboxylic acids with low-boiling alcohols by charging the reaction mixture to a 1st distillation column, withdrawing the reaction components carboxylic ester, water and unconverted alcohol as overhead product and charging this overhead product to a 2nd distillation column, from which(a) the overhead product comprises the alcohol or an azeotropic mixture of alcohol and water or alcohol and esteer, this overhead product being recycled into the esterification reaction(b) a liquid side product comprising carboxylic ester and water is withdrawn from the stripping section and separated in a phase separating vessel into water and carboxylic ester and the carboxylic ester is returned into the distillation column below the side takeoff point, and(c) the bottom product removed is the carboxylic ester.

Abstract: Preparation of acyl halides (I) by the reaction of halides of secondary or tertiary radicals derived from non-aromatic hydrocarbons (II) with carbon monoxide under elevated pressure in the presence of catalytic amounts of a Lewis acid, the catalyst consisting of a mixture of alkylaluminum halides corresponding to the general formula (III),R.sub.n --Al--X.sub.3-n (III)where R is an alkyl radical of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, X is halogen, and n is an average whose valve is from 0.5 to 2.5.

Abstract: Bifunctional initiators for anionic polymerization are prepared by reacting an alkenylaromatic compound of the general formula I ##STR1## where Ar is aromatic hydrocarbyl which may be substituted by alkyl or another group inert toward organoalkali metal compounds and may contain nitrogen,R.sup.1 is linear or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl or aralkyl or from 1 to 22 carbon atoms where at least the carbon adjacent to the double bond is saturated and aliphatic,R.sup.2 is hydrogen or is likewise linear or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl or aralkyl or from 1 to 22 carbon atoms where at least the carbon adjacent to the double bond is saturated and aliphatic, and where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be part of a common cycloaliphatic ring, in the presence of one or more ethers and of tertiary amines and in the presence or absence of a further inert aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic solvent, at from -20.degree. to +70.degree. C.

Abstract: Formamide is prepared continuously from methyl formate and ammonia, pure methanol being recovered, by a process wherein(a) the reaction of methyl formate and ammonia is carried out predominantly in the liquid phase in the upper region of a reaction column R having a total of from 15 to 30 theoretical plates,(b) the methanol formed in this reaction is removed, together with small amounts of formamide, from the column or the evaporator in vaporus form at the level of plates 1-5 (counted from the bottom),(c) the formamide is removed from this methanol/formamide mixture, together with small amounts of methanol, in a distillation column D1 and recycled to R, and(d) the small amounts of methanol contained in the bottom product from R, which substantially consists of formamide and in this column should be at from 110.degree. to 130.degree. C., are separated off in a distillation column D2.

Abstract: N-substituted acrylamide or methacrylamide derivatives of the general formula ##STR1## where m is 0 or 1, n is 1, 2, 3 or 4, n-m is 1, 2, 3 or 4, X is Br or Cl, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each CH.sub.3 or H, are prepared by reacting an aromatic haloalkyl compound with N-methylolacrylamide or N-methylolmethacrylamide in the presence of a strong acid.

Abstract: Formic acid is recovered, by distillation, from its mixtures with solvents of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or vinyl and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, or R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 together form a 1,4- or 1,5-alkylene group, in each case of not more than 8 carbon atoms, with the provisos that the sum of the number of carbon atoms in R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is 7 to 14 and that only one of these radicals is aryl, by a method in which the distillation is carried out in the presence of a carboxamide II which is selected from the group consisting of formamide, acetamide, propionamide and the same compounds substituted by N-methyl or N,N-dimethyl, and which has a boiling point lower than that of the solvent I.

Abstract: Thioethers are prepared by a process wherein an alkali metal mercaptide is reacted with an alcohol and carbon monoxide or with a formate, and are useful starting materials for the preparation of dyes, crop protection agents, drugs and rubber auxiliaries.

Abstract: Caffeine is prepared from theophylline, carbon monoxide and methanol.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of acetic acid esters CH.sub.3 --CO--O--R.sup.1 (I, R.sup.1 =an organic radical other than methyl and ethyl) by alkali-catalyzed trans-esterification of an acetic acid ester CH.sub.3 --CO--O--R.sup.2 (II, R.sup.2 =methyl or ethyl) with an alcohol R.sup.1 --OH (III), accompanied by elimination of the alcohol R.sup.2 --OH (IV), wherein(a) the trans-esterification reaction is carried out in the middle section K.sub.M of a distillation column K, the alcohol III being fed as liquid into the upper zone and the ester II into the lower zone of K.sub.M,(b) the alkaline catalyst is introduced into the upper part K.sub.U of K,(c) the alcohol IV, or a mixture of IV and the ester II, is taken off the top of the column,(d) the mixture obtained from (c) (unless the alcohol IV alone is obtained) is separated in the column section K.sub.U or in a stripper column K.sub.S into IV and the azeotrope of II and IV, and the latter is recycled to the lower zone of K.sub.

Abstract: Anhydrous or substantially anhydrous formic acid is obtained by hydrolysis of methyl formate, in a process wherein(a) methyl formate is hydrolyzed,(b) the methanol and excess methyl formate are distilled from the hydrolysis mixture obtained,(c) the bottom product of distillation (b), consisting of formic acid and water, is extracted, in a liquid-liquid extraction, with an extractant which in the main takes up the formic acid,(d) the resulting extract phase, consisting of formic acid, the extractant and a part of the water, is subjected to distillation,(e) the top product obtained from this distillation and consisting of all or part of the water introduced into the distillation, and part of the formic acid, is recycled, as vapor, into the lower part of the distillation column of stage (b),(f) the bottom product of distillation stage (d), consisting of the extractant, with or without part of the water, and the greater part of the formic acid, is separated by distillation into anhydrous or substantially anhydrou

Abstract: Binders, impregnating agents and coating agents based on an aqueous dispersion of an amide-containing copolymer, wherein the copolymer contains recurring units of the general formula I ##STR1## where R is H and/or CH.sub.3, eliminate virtually no formaldehyde in use and may advantageously be used as binders for bonding nonwovens.

Abstract: A process for the production of anhydrous or substantially anhydrous formic acid by hydrolysis of methyl formate which is carried out in a column having an upper fractionating section, a middle hydrolysis section and a lower extraction section and in which(a) the hydrolysis is carried out in the middle section of the columm, with water and methyl formate in countercurrent,(b) the resulting formic acid is extracted, in the lower section of the column, by means of a carboxylic acid amide which is fed into the lower end of the middle section of the column,(c) the extract phase, consisting in the main of formic acid and the carboxylic acid amide, is distillatively dehydrated, or substantially dehydrated, in the lower section of the column,(d) the methanol and uncovered methyl formate are removed by fractional distillation in the upper section of the column and(e) the pure formic acid or concentrated aqueous formic acid is distilled from the anhydrous or substantially anhydrous extract phase in a second column, le

Abstract: Aqueous dispersions of carbonyl-containing copolymers, which dispersions contain from 0.02 to 1 mole, per mole of carbonyl group, of organic hydrazine derivatives possessing 2 or more hydrazine radicals, and from 0.0002 to 0.02 mole, per mole of the hydrazine derivatives, of heavy metal ions give coatings, impregnations and finishes which are particularly easy to cross-link.