Abstract: A process for the production of lower olefins by dehydrating lower alcohols having 2 to 4 carbon atoms which comprises using a .gamma.-alumina catalyst containing 0.3% by weight or less of impurities in total excluding SiO.sub.2, the impurities including 0.2% by weight or less of sulfur content calculated in terms of SO.sub.4 - and 0.05% by weight or less of sodium content calculated in terms of Na.sub.2 O, and/or a process for the production of lower olefins by dehydrating lower alcohols having 2 to 4 carbon atoms that comprises using a .gamma.-alumina catalyst which contains 0.5 to 5% by weight of SiO.sub.2.According to the process of the present invention, lower olefins can be produced from lower alcohols with high yield and high selectivity for a prolonged period of time without reducing the catalytic activity.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided carboxylate compounds represented by the following formula [A] and liquid crystal material comprising said compounds ##STR1## wherein R is a group selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy and halogenated alkyl group of 3-20 carbon atoms, X and Y represent each a group selected from the group consisting of --COO--, --OCO--, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 O--, --OCH.sub.2 --, --S--S--, ##STR2## or a single bond, A and B represent each a group selected from the group consisting of specific divalent aromatic and alicyclic group such as phenylene, cyclohexylene and tetrahydronaphthalene and R* is an optically active group of 4-20 carbon atoms containing at least one asymmetric carbon atom (hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon atoms of said optically active group may be substituted with halogen atoms), and m and n are each an integer of 0-2, with the proviso that both m and n do not become 0 at the same time.

Abstract: The liquid crystal racemic mixture of the invention is represented by the formula [I]:Z--(X.A).sub.m (Y.B).sub.n COOR.sup.1 [I]wherein R1 is a specific group of alkyl, alkoxy or halogenated alkyl, X and Y are either one of the following group: --COO--, --OCO--, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 O--, --OCH.sub.2 --, --COCH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 CO-- and --S--S--, or a single bond, A and B are each a specific bivalent group such as 1,4-phenylene group, Z is a group selected from the group consisting of ##STR1## (wherein R.sub.2 is an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a halogenated alkyl group), and m and n are an integer of 0 to 2 (m and N not being simultaneously 0). The liquid crystal composition of the invention comprises the racemic mixture as described above. Moreover, the liquid crystal element of the invention comprises a liquid crystal material containing the liquid crystal racemic mixture as described above.

Abstract: In a process of producing isopropylnaphthols by oxidizing diisopropylnaphthalenes with molecular oxygen in a liquid phase to provide a reaction mixture which contains therein diisopropylnaphthalene monohydroperoxides and then acid decomposing the monohydroperoxides to isopropylnaphthols, the improvement comprising separating an organic layer from the reaction mixture, adding lower aliphatic alcohols of 1-4 carbons to the organic layer, crystallizing the diisopropylnaphthalenes while allowing the diisopropylnaphthalene monohydroperoxides to remain dissolved in the lower aliphatic alcohols, thereby to separate the monohydroperoxides from the diisopropylnaphthalenes.A further improvement in the process comprises crystallizing the isopropylnaphthols from aromatic hydrocarbons of 6-12 carbons.

Abstract: A process for producing an alkenyl substituted aromatic compound having the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein Ar represents an aromatic ring, R.sup.1 represents an alkenyl group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, p is 1, 2, or 3 provided that R.sup.1 may be the same or different when p is 2 or 3, R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, q is 0, 1, or 2 provided that R.sup.2 may be the same or different when q is 2, X represents --OH or --NR.sup.3 R.sup.4 wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently represent hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, n is 1 or 2, provided that the sum of p and q is 1, 2, or 3 comprising the step of catalytically dehydrogenating an alkyl substituted aromatic compound having the general formula (III): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.5 represents an alkyl group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms and Ar, R.sup.2, X, p, q, and n are the same as defined above, n is 1 or 2, provided that R.sup.

Abstract: Processes for preparing biphenols by oxidation coupling of phenols, to which the present invention is directed, are characterized in that said oxidation coupling reaction is carried out under such conditions that the same diphenoquinones as those produced as by-products at the time when said oxidation coupling is effected are added to the reaction system. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, moreover, the yield of biphenols can be enhanced by the reuse in the abovementioned reaction of diphenoquinones recovered from the reaction mixture containing the same.

Abstract: A method of producing polysilane compounds which comprises: polymerizing a monomeric silane compound represented by the general formula of ##STR1## wherein R independently represents hydrogen or hydrocarbon group, but not both R's are hydrogen at the same time, in the presence of an organometallic complex of Ni, Co, Ru, Pd or Ir.

Abstract: In a process for producing an alkyl group-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon according to the present invention, (i) an aromatic hydrocarbon is reacted with (ii) an alkylating agent selected from the group consisting of olefins, lower aliphatic alcohols and alkyl halides in the presence of a mordenite-type zeolite catalyst treated with a fluorine-containing compound, and therefore the conversion of the aromatic compound can be increased and further it is possible to introduce the specific number of alkyl groups into the specific position of the aromatic compound.In particular, when biphenyl is used as the aromatic hydrocarbon and propylene is used as the alkylating agent, p,p'-diisopropylbiphenyl can be obtained in a high yield and high selectivity.

Abstract: A process is disclosed which is capable of producing p,p'-biphenol of high purity by the dealkylation reaction of 3,3',5,5'-tetra-t-butyl-4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl and which yet allows isobutene to be recovered in high yield. The process performs the dealkylation reaction of 3,3',5,5'-tetra-t-butyl-4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl in the presence of an acid catalyst using as a solvent a saturated hydrocarbon having a boiling point of 190.degree. C. or above, an alicyclic hydrocarbon having a boiling point of 190.degree. C. or above, a hydrocarbon with an iodine value of no more than 1, sulfolane, or a mixture of these solvents. Also disclosed is a process for producing p,p'-biphenol from a mixture of 2,6-di-t-butyl-phenol and 3,3',5,5'-tetra-t-butyl-4,4'-diphenoquinone or from a mixture of 2,6-di-t-butylphenol, 3,3',5,5'-tetra-t-butyl-4,4'-diphenoquinone and 3,3',5,5'-tetra-t-butyl-4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl.

Abstract: An alkali metal-supported substance comprising a calcination product of a hydrotalcite-like compound having Mg as a divalent metal and a carbonate ion as an anion and an alkali metal supported on the calcination product. When this substance is treated with a gas containing molecular oxygen, part of the alkali metal is converted to its oxide to give a more stable substance. These substances act, for example, as an isomerization catalyst for olefins.

Abstract: A process for producing a hydroxydiphenyl ether, which comprises reacting at least one hydroquinone compound with itself or with a monohydric phenol compound in the presence of a catalyst composed essentially of a synthetic mica in which at least 10 mole % of cation-exchangeable interlayer cations are made up of a metal ion other than alkali metal ions, and/or a proton.

Abstract: An orthoalkylated aromatic amine is produced at a high selectivity from the reaction of an aromatic amine having at least one hydrogen atom at the ortho-positions and a primary or secondary alcohol under heating in the presence of a catalyst containing, as a main constituent, iron oxides.

Abstract: In a process for separating at least two alkyl phenols having close boiling points by azeotropic distillation of a mixture composed of the alkyl phenols with a hydrocarbon azeotroping agent, the improvement wherein said hydrocarbon azeotroping agent is selected from saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons of 9 to 13 carbon atoms having a boiling point of 150.degree. to 190.degree. C. at 760 mmHg.

Abstract: In a process for producing a mono- or di-ortho-methyl-substituted phenol which comprises methylating a phenol having one or two ortho-hydrogens with methanol in the presence of a catalytic amount of a catalyst comprising a major proportion of an oxide of iron as a first component (A) and a minor proportion of at least one oxide of metal other than iron as a second component (B), the improvement wherein said metal other than iron in component (B) is a metal selected from the group consisting of Ga, Ge, Y, Nb, Hf, Bi and Ta; and a catalyst used therefor.

Abstract: A process for preparing dimethyl naphthalenes, which comprises heating a compound, such as methyl-4-(p-tolyl) butane, methyl-4-(p-tolyl)butene or methyl-4-(p-tolyl)butadiene, in the presence of a cyclization-dehydrogenation catalyst.