Abstract: The present invention provides a method for oxidizing a hydrocarbon, an alcohol or an aldehyde, which comprises: oxidizing a hydrocarbon, an alcohol or an aldehyde to an alcohol, an aldehyde, a carboxylic acid or a carboxylate ester corresponding thereto, in a liquid phase having: a region in which oxygen is substantially present; and a region in which oxygen is substantially absent, in the presence of a catalyst containing a palladium, wherein the region in which oxygen is substantially absent is 0.1 to 10% by volume with respect to a total of the region in which oxygen is substantially present and the region in which oxygen is substantially absent.

Abstract: A method for producing a high quality aromatic polycarbonate, which comprises subjecting to molten state polymerization a mixture of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a diaryl carbonate in the presence of a catalyst, the mixture of the aromatic dihydroxy compound and the diaryl carbonate being obtained by a mixing step in which an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a catalyst, each being in a solid state and/or a liquid state, are added to a diaryl carbonate in a molten state in the presence of an inert gas, thereby dissolving the aromatic dihydroxy compound and the catalyst in the molten diaryl carbonate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for oxidizing a hydrocarbon, an alcohol or an aldehyde, which comprises: oxidizing a hydrocarbon, an alcohol or an aldehyde to an alcohol, an aldehyde, a carboxylic acid or a carboxylate ester corresponding thereto, in a liquid phase having: a region in which oxygen is substantially present; and a region in which oxygen is substantially absent, in the presence of a catalyst containing a palladium, wherein the region in which oxygen is substantially absent is 0.1 to 10% by volume with respect to a total of the region in which oxygen is substantially present and the region in which oxygen is substantially absent.

Abstract: A method for producing a high quality aromatic polycarbonate, which comprises subjecting to molten state polymerization a mixture of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a diaryl carbonate in the presence of a catalyst, the mixture of the aromatic dihydroxy compound and the diaryl carbonate being obtained by a mixing step in which an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a catalyst, each being in a solid state and/or a liquid state, are added to a diaryl carbonate in a molten state in the presence of an inert gas, thereby dissolving the aromatic dihydroxy compound and the catalyst in the molten diaryl carbonate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polycarbonate diol having diol monomer units and carbonate monomer units, wherein the amount of at least one diol monomer unit selected from the group consisting of a 1,5-pentanediol unit and a 1,6-hexanediol unit is from 50 to 100% by mole, based on the total molar amount of the diol monomer units, and wherein the ratio of primary hydroxyl groups in all terminal groups of the polycarbonate diol is in a specific range. Also disclosed is a thermoplastic polyurethane obtained by copolymerizing the above-mentioned polycarbonate diol and a polyisocyanate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a diol mixture comprising 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol, which comprises: (A) providing a dicarboxylic acid mixture comprising succinic acid, glutaric acid and adipic acid and having a nitric acid content of 3% by weight or less, based on the total weight of the succinic, glutaric and adipic acids, wherein the dicarboxylic acid mixture is prepared by denitrating an aqueous by-product solution obtained in an adipic acid production process, and (B) subjecting the dicarboxylic acid mixture to hydrogenation in the presence of water, hydrogen gas and a hydrogenation catalyst containing an active metal species comprising ruthenium and tin, to thereby obtain a hydrogenation reaction mixture comprising a diol mixture comprising 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polycarbonate diol having diol monomer units and carbonate monomer units, wherein the amount of at least one diol monomer unit selected from the group consisting of a 1,5-pentanediol unit and a 1,6-hexanediol unit is from 50 to 100% by mole, based on the total molar amount of the diol monomer units, and wherein the ratio of primary hydroxyl groups in all terminal groups of the polycarbonate diol is in a specific range. Also disclosed is a thermoplastic polyurethane obtained by copolymerizing the above-mentioned polycarbonate diol and a polyisocyanate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel catalyst for use in producing a carboxylic ester from an aldehyde, an alcohol and molecular oxygen, which comprises a carrier having supported thereon Pd and Pb in a Pd/Pb atomic ratio (S) of 3/0.7.ltoreq.S.ltoreq.3/1.3, and which exhibits a maximum intensity peak at a diffraction angle (2.theta.) in the range of from 38.55.degree. to 38.70.degree. in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern thereof, wherein the peak is ascribed to the (111) crystal face diffraction of a Pd--Pb intermetallic compound.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel catalyst for use in producing a carboxylic ester from an aldehyde, an alcohol and molecular oxygen, which comprises a carrier having supported thereon Pd and Pb and a Pd/Pb atomic ratio (S) of 3/0.7≦S≦ from 3/0.7 to 3/1.3, and which exhibits a maximum intensity peak at a diffraction angle (2&thgr;) in the range of from 38.55° to 38.70° in a power X-ray diffraction pattern thereof, wherein the peak is ascribed to the (111) crystal face diffraction of a Pd—Pb intermetallic compound.