Abstract: A method for preparing methyl methacrylate from methacrolein and methanol. The method comprises contacting a mixture comprising methacrolein, methanol and oxygen with a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a support and a noble metal, wherein said catalyst has an average diameter of at least 200 microns and at least 90 wt % of the noble metal is in the outer 70% of catalyst volume, and wherein oxygen concentration at a reactor outlet is from 0.5 to 7.5 mol %.

Abstract: A method for preparing methyl methacrylate from methacrolein and methanol. The method comprises contacting a mixture comprising methacrolein, methanol and oxygen with a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a support and a noble metal, wherein said catalyst has an average diameter of at least 200 microns and at least 90 wt % of the noble metal is in the outer 70% of catalyst volume, and wherein oxygen concentration at a reactor outlet is from 0.5 to 7.5 mol %.

Abstract: Provided are methods and/or systems to convert sulfide intermediates to sulfilimines using a series of continuous loop reactors instead of a batch reactor. The advantages of the methods and systems provided include improved total yield, improved heat management, improved phase mixing, and/or improved volume management.

Abstract: Provided are methods and/or systems to convert sulfide intermediates to sulfilimines using a series of continuous loop reactors instead of a batch reactor. The advantages of the methods and systems provided include improved total yield, improved heat management, improved phase mixing, and/or improved volume management.

Abstract: An aldehyde composition derived by hydroformylation of a transesterified seed oil and containing a mixture of formyl-substituted fatty acids or fatty acid esters having the following composition by weight: greater than about 10 to less than about 95 percent monoformyl, greater than about 1 to less than about 65 percent diformyl, and greater than about 0.1 to less than about 10 percent triformyl-substituted fatty acids or fatty acid esters, and having a diformyl to triformyl weight ratio of greater than about 5/1; preferably, greater than about 3 to less than about 20 percent saturates; and preferably, greater than about 1 to less than about 20 percent unsaturates.

Abstract: An aldehyde composition derived by hydroformylation of a transesterified seed oil and containing a mixture of formyl-substituted fatty acids or fatty acid esters having the following composition by weight: greater than about 10 to less than about 95 percent monoformyl, greater than about 1 to less than about 65 percent diformyl, and greater than about 0.1 to less than about 10 percent triformyl-substituted fatty acids or fatty acid esters, and having a diformyl to triformyl weight ratio of greater than about 5/1; preferably, greater than about 3 to less than about 20 percent saturates; and preferably, greater than about 1 to less than about 20 percent unsaturates.

Abstract: A method of preparing an aromatic phosphine monosulfonate in zwitterionic form, such as dicyclohexylphenylphosphine monosulfonate zwitterion, involving contacting an aromatic phosphine with a sulfonating agent to provide a reaction mixture containing aromatic phosphine monosulfonate in acid form and unconverted sulfonating agent; quenching or removing substantially all of the unconverted sulfonating agent; partially neutralizing the aromatic phosphine monosulfonate in acid form to phase separate aromatic phosphine monosulfonate in zwitterionic form as a solid or neat liquid layer; and collecting the zwitterion as a solid or neat liquid. The zwitterion may be neutralized to form the corresponding aromatic phosphine monosulfonate metal salt, which is useful in preparing catalysts for hydroformylation processes.

Abstract: An aldehyde composition containing a mixture of mono-formyl-, diformyl-, and triformyl-substituted fatty acids and/or fatty acid esters having a di-aldehyde/tri-aldehyde weight ratio of less than 5/1 and an average functionality number from greater than 0.96 to less than 1.26. A monomer alcohol composition containing a mixture of mono-hydroxymethyl-, dihydroxymethyl-, and trihydroxymethyl-substituted fatty acids and/or fatty acid esters having a diol/triol weight ratio of less than 5/1 and an average functionality number from greater than 0.90 to less than 1.20. The monomer alcohol can be converted into an oligomeric polyol for use in the manufacture of polyurethane flexible foams.

Abstract: A non-aqueous hydroformylation process with liquid catalyst recycle involving a hydroformylation step and one or more stages of phase separation to recover a high molecular weight aldehyde product with efficient recovery of rhodium catalyst. The process includes a hydroformylation step to prepare a non-aqueous hydroformylation reaction product composition comprising one or more aldehyde products, one or more conjugated polyolefins, a rhodium-organophosphorus ligand complex, free organophosphorus ligand, and an organic solubilizing agent for said complex and said free ligand, and thereafter one or more stages of phase separation using added water under a carbon monoxide gas, hydrogen gas, or a mixture thereof. The process requires a specific range of total pressure for the hydroformylation, a specific range of total pressure for at least one of the separation stages, and a minimum sum of the total pressure of the hydroformylation step and the total pressure of the separation stage containing said gas.

Abstract: Polyurethanes, and rigid polyurethane foams in particular, are made using certain amides of modified fatty acids. The fatty acid groups are substituted hydroxymethyl, N-hydroxyalkyl aminoalkyl or hydroxy-substituted ester groups. The amide portion of the molecule contains hydroxyalkyl or other hydroxyl-substituted organic groups bonded to the amide nitrogen.

Abstract: An aldehyde composition derived by hydroformylation of a transesterified seed oil and containing a mixture of formyl-substituted fatty acids or fatty acid esters having the following composition by weight: greater than about 10 to less than about 95 percent monoformyl, greater than about 1 to less than about 65 percent diformyl, and greater than about 0.1 to less than about 10 percent triformyl-substituted fatty acids or fatty acid esters, and having a diformyl to triformyl weight ratio of greater than about 5/1; preferably, greater than about 3 to less than about 20 percent saturates; and preferably, greater than about 1 to less than about 20 percent unsaturates.

Abstract: A non-aqueous hydroformylation process with liquid catalyst recycle involving a hydroformylation step and one or more stages of phase separation to recover a high molecular weight aldehyde product with efficient recovery of rhodium catalyst. The process includes a hydroformylation step to prepare a non-aqueous hydroformylation reaction product composition comprising one or more aldehyde products, one or more conjugated polyolefins, a rhodium-organophosphorus ligand complex, free organophosphorus ligand, and an organic solubilizing agent for said complex and said free ligand, and thereafter one or more stages of phase separation using added water under a carbon monoxide gas, hydrogen gas, or a mixture thereof. The process requires a specific range of total pressure for the hydroformylation, a specific range of total pressure for at least one of the separation stages, and a minimum sum of the total pressure of the hydroformylation step and the total pressure of the separation stage containing said gas.

Abstract: A method of preparing an aromatic phosphine monosulfonate in zwitterionic form, such as dicyclohexylphenylphosphine monosulfonate zwitterion, involving contacting an aromatic phosphine with a sulfonating agent to provide a reaction mixture containing aromatic phosphine monosulfonate in acid form and unconverted sulfonating agent; quenching or removing substantially all of the unconverted sulfonating agent; partially neutralizing the aromatic phosphine monosulfonate in acid form to phase separate aromatic phosphine monosulfonate in zwitterionic form as a solid or neat liquid layer; and collecting the zwitterion as a solid or neat liquid. The zwitterion may be neutralized to form the corresponding aromatic phosphine monosulfonate metal salt, which is useful in preparing catalysts for hydroformylation processes.

Abstract: A process for preparing cyclic ethers which comprises contacting a carboxylated ether with a mixed metal oxide catalyst under conditions effective to produce the cyclic ether.

Abstract: A process for preparing ethers which comprises contacting a carboxylated ether with a metal oxide catalyst under conditions effective to produce the ether.

Abstract: A decarboxylation process which comprises contacting a carboxylated compound with a metal oxide catalyst under conditions effective to decarboxylate the carboxylated compound.

Abstract: .beta.-Hydroxyamines can be converted to the corresponding aziridines by contacting the amines with a molecular sieve, which has incorporated therein at least one alkali metal or alkaline metal, the preferred metal being cesium. Molecular sieves useful in the reaction include aluminosilicates, aluminophosphates and silicoaluminophosphates. The process is especially useful for the conversion of monoethanolamine to ethylenimine.

Abstract: Alkanolamines can be converted to a cyclic or a cyclic alkylamines and aziridines and/or other cyclic or acyclic alkanolamines by contacting the alkanolamines with a molecular sieve selected from the group consisting of (a) non-zeolitic molecular sieves; and (b) zeolites having a silicon:aluminum ratio of at least about 6, the contacting of the alkanolamine starting material with the molecular sieve being effected under conditions effective to convert the alkanolamine starting material into at least one of the specified products.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing an alkylamine by contacting an alcohol and at least one of ammonia, a primary amine, a secondary amine or a tertiary amine with a non-zeolitic molecular sieve under conditions effective to produce the alkylamine.

Abstract: Oximes can be converted to the corresponding amides by contacting the oximes with a non-zeolitic molecular sieve, which has in its calcined form an adsorption of isobutane of at least about 2 percent by weight of the non-zeolitic molecular sieve at a partial pressure of 500 torr and a temperature of 20.degree. C. The process is especially useful for the conversion of cyclohexanone oxime to caprolactam. The non-zeolitic molecular sieves can achieve improved conversion rates and selectivities as compared with conventional zeolite catalysts for the reaction.