Abstract: There is provided a process for the continuous preparation of a diester of oxalic acid, which comprises a first step of reacting carbon monoxide with an ester of nitrous acid in the gaseous phase; a second step of condensing the gaseous reaction mixture to separate a non-condensed gas from a condensed liquid containing the diester of oxalic acid; a third step of introducing the non-condensed gas of the second step to a regeneration column, thereby contacting it with a gas containing molecular oxygen and an alcohol, and recycling the resulting gas containing an ester of nitrous acid to the reactor of the first step; a fourth step of distilling out an alcohol containing a diester of carbonic acid formed as a by-product of the first step and obtaining a liquid diester of oxalic acid; and a fifth step of introducing the distillate of the fourth step to a hydrolysis column thereby hydrolyzing the diester of carbonic acid in the gas and recycling the alcohol as an alcohol source for the third step.

Abstract: There is provided a process for the continuous preparation of a diester of oxalic acid which comprises a first step of reacting carbon monoxide with an ester of nitrous acid in the gaseous phase; a second step of condensing the gaseous reaction mixture to separate a non-condensed gas from a condensed liquid containing the diester of oxalic acid; a third step of introducing the non-condensed gas of the second step to a regeneration column and thereby contacting it with a gas containing molecular oxygen and an alcohol to regenerate nitrogen monoxide in the non-condensed gas into an ester of nitrous acid so as to bring the concentration of nitrogen monoxide in the gas at the outlet of the column to a level of from 2 to 7% by volume; and a fourth step of recycling the gas of the third step containing the ester of nitrous acid and from 2 to 7% by volume of nitrogen monoxide to the reactor of the first step.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for continuously preparing ethylene glycol, which comprises (1) a first step of contacting a gas containing carbon monoxide and an ester of nitrous acid with a solid catalyst of platinum group metal series in the gaseous phase thereby to obtain a product containing a diester of oxalic acid, (2) a second step of condensing the product of the first step thereby to separate a non-condensed gas containing nitrogen monoxide formed by the catalytic reaction of the first step from a condensed liquid containing the diester of oxalic acid, (3) a third step of contacting the non-condensed gas of the second step with a gas containing molecular oxygen and an alcohol, and recycling the resulting gas containing an ester of nitrous acid to the first step, (4) a fourth step of contacting the condensed liquid of the second step containing the diester of oxalic acid and hydrogen with a catalyst for hydrogenation in the gaseous phase thereby to obtain a product containing ethylene glycol, (5) a fift

Abstract: There are disclosed a 4-alkoxy-1,3-dioxane-5-carbonitrile which is a novel compound represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein R represents a lower-alkyl group, and which is useful as an intermediate for the synthesis of Vitamin B.sub.1, and a process for preparing the novel compound by subjecting a 3-alkoxy-2-propenenitrile to reaction with a formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst.

Abstract: A process for preparing a diester of a dicarboxylic acid having two more carbon atoms than the unsaturated hydrocarbon used as a starting material, which comprises subjecting an unsaturated hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and an ester of nitrous acid to catalytic vapor phase reaction at a temperature of 50.degree. to 200.degree. C. in the presence of a platinum group metal or a salt thereof and a halogen compound.

Abstract: A process for preparing a diester of malonic acid which comprises reacting ketene and carbon monoxide with an ester of nitrous acid catalytically in the presence of metallic palladium or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A process for preparing a diester of oxalic acid which comprises bringing carbon monoxide into contact with an ester of nitrous acid in the liquid phase, in the presence of metallic palladium or a salt thereof, preferably with introduction of a gas containing molecular oxygen into the reaction system, more preferably with further incorporation of an alcohol in the reaction system.

Abstract: A process for preparing a diester of oxalic acid which comprises bringing carbon monoxide into contact with an ester of nitrous acid or with an alcohol and a nitrogen oxide or a hydrate of the nitrogen oxide in the gaseous phase in the presence of a solid catalyst containing metallic palladium or a salt thereof, a gas containing molecular oxygen being introduced into the reaction system in cases where said nitrogen oxide or a hydrate of the nitrogen oxide requires molecular oxygen together with the alcohol to form an ester of nitrous acid.

Abstract: A uniform transparent aqueous liquid composition is disclosed. The solid components of the composition consist essentially of; (A) a nonionic surfactant having one or more polyoxyethylene radicals in the molecule as a hydrophilic group, (B) a nonionic water soluble polymer having hydroxyl radicals or pyrrolidone radicals in the molecule, and (C) as a fluorescent optical brightener, a 4,4'-bis(2-sulfostyryl)biphenyl salt. The composition is especially effective on clothes made of hydrophobic fibers, such as polyester fibers.

Abstract: A process for preparing a diester of oxalic acid which comprises bringing carbon monoxide into contact with an ester of nitrous acid or with an alcohol and a nitrogen oxide or a hydrate of the nitrogen oxide in the gaseous phase in the presence of a solid catalyst containing metallic palladium or a salt thereof, a gas containing molecular oxygen being introduced into the reaction system in cases where said nitrogen oxide or a hydrate of the nitrogen oxide requires molecular oxygen together with the alcohol to form an ester of nitrous acid.