Abstract: The disclosure is a process for preparing a phthalide of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each independently of the others hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, by catalytic hydrogenation of a phthalic anhydride of the general formula II ##STR2## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each as defined above, in a solvent, which comprises using said phthalide I, the reaction product of the catalytic hydrogenation, as solvent.

Abstract: The disclosure is a process for preparing a phthalide of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each independently of the others hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, by hydrogenation of a phthalic anhydride of the general formula II ##STR2## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each as defined above, with the aid of a hydrogenation catalyst, which comprises performing the hydrogenation with the aid of a nickel catalyst doped with metals of subgroup 1, subgroup 6 and/or subgroup 7 of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: The disclosure is a process for purifying phthalide contaminated by carboxylic acids and/or their derivatives, which comprises adding polyethylene glycol and/or polypropylene glycol to the phthalide to be purified and then performing a fractional distillation.

Abstract: Molding materials containA) from 5 to 97.9% by weight of at least one polycarbonate having a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) of from 10,000 to 64,000 g/mol,B) from 1 to 93.9% by weight of at least one graft copolymer,C) from 1 to 93.9% by weight of at least one copolymerc.sub.1) at least one vinylaromatic compound of the general formula I ##STR1## where R is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, R.sup.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl and n is an integer from 0 to 3, or of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl acrylate, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkylacrylate or a mixture thereof and c.sub.2) acrylonitrile, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkylacrylonitrile or a mixture thereof,D) from 0.01 to 10% by weight of at least one polyhydroxyether of at least one aliphatic or aromatic diol with epihalohydrin,E) from 1 to 25% by weight of at least one halogen-free phosphorus compound andF) from 0 to 50% by weight of additives.

Abstract: A process for preparing diarylethanes of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are each hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, by reacting aromatic compounds of the general formula II ##STR2## where R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 have the abovementioned meanings, with styrenes of the general formula III ##STR3## where R.sup.1 has the abovementioned meanings, at from -20 to 300.degree. C. under from 1 to 100 bar in the presence of heterogeneous catalysts, wherein beta-zeolites or mordenites are used as heterogeneous catalysts.

Abstract: Diarylethanes of the formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, are prepared by reacting benzene with a styrene of the formula III ##STR2## where R.sup.1 has the abovementioned meanings, by a process in which the reaction is carried out batchwise or continuously in the liquid or supercritical phase at from 150.degree. to 350.degree. C. and from 5 to 200 bar in the presence of a strongly acidic large-pore zeolite.

Abstract: A process for preparing amine oxides of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each C.sub.1 -C.sub.30 -alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.30 -hydroxyalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.30 -aminoalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.30 -alkoxyalkyl, aryl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.20 -aralkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.20 -alkylaryl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl-, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy- or halogen-monosubstituted, -disubstituted, -trisubstituted, -tetrasubstituted or -pentasubstituted C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 -cycloalkyl, aryl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.20 -aralkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.20 -alkylaryl, --[(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --O].sub.n --R.sup.4, --{[CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2 ]--O}.sub.m --R.sup.5, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are together an uninterrupted or oxygen-, nitrogen- or sulfur-interrupted C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 -alkylene diradical chainR.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 -cycloalkyl, hydroxyl, --COR.sup.6 or --CH.sub.2 --COOR.sup.7, C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 -cycloalkyl, aryl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.20 -aralkyl or C.sub.7 -C.

Abstract: Aqueous solutions of N-methylmorpholine N-oxide having color numbers below 200 APHA, based on an N-methylmorpholine N-oxide content of 50% by weight, are produced by reacting aqueous hydrogen peroxide solutions with aqueous solutions of N-methylmorpholine having a water content of at least 35% by weight.

Abstract: The preparation of N-hydroxy-N'-diazenium oxides of the general formula I ##STR1## where R is an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic radical, by reacting a hydroxylamine of the general formula IIR--NH--OH IIor its salt with nitrosyl chloride or nitrosylsulfuric acid in aqueous solution is described.The process products are intermediates for fine chemicals and are used in the form of their metal salts as wood preservatives.