Abstract: A process is described for splitting polyurethanes and polyurethaneureas, in which the polymer is first reacted with gaseous or liquid secondary aliphatic or cycloaliphatic amines, the secondary urea formed, after removal with hydrogen chloride, is split to the isocyanate, and the polyols or polyamines also formed in the reaction are worked up and purified. It is possible by the process according to the invention to work up polyurethanes, polyurethaneureas, etc., of any origin, and to break them down into the starting materials, specifically the isocyanates, polyols or polyamines, to form starting materials in very high quality, which can be reused for the synthesis of any polyurethanes or polyureas. The invention further provides for the preparation of secondary bis-ureas from polyurethanes or polyurethaneureas or/and ureas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for production of polymeric hydroxylalkyl terminated polysulphides, whereby monomeric hydroxylalkyl terminated polysulphides are reacted with formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst in the form of a solid acid, in particular, an acidic ion exchanger, in which the reaction water and optional added solvent and catalyst are separated off. The products are characterized by a very high uniformity (low polydispersity) and can advantageously be functionalized with subsequent reactions.

Abstract: A process for preparing dihydroxyethylene disulfide by reacting mercaptoethanol with oxygen, in which mercaptoethanol is reacted with oxygen or an oxygenous gas in the presence of ammonia and/or amines using copper salts or manganese salts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for production of polymeric hydroxylalkyl terminated polysulphides, whereby monomeric hydroxylalkyl terminated polysulphides are reacted with formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst in the form of a solid acid, in particular, an acidic ion exchanger, in which the reaction water and optional added solvent and catalyst are separated off. The products are characterized by a very high uniformity (low polydispersity) and can advantageously be functionalized with subsequent reactions.

Abstract: A method for the production of prepolymers by reaction of polysulphides with polyepoxides is disclosed, whereby polyepoxides are reacted with polysulphides, having at least two mercapto groups, in the presence of quaternary ammonium compounds as catalyst. The method permits a rapid quantitative reaction and gives uniform products with regard to functionality and the proportion of functional groups per weight unit. The products thus produced have stable, may be stored, may be cured in a very reproducible manner, or may be processed to give products with a defined property profile.

Abstract: A process for preparing dihydroxyethylene disulfide by reacting mercaptoethanol with oxygen, in which mercaptoethanol is reacted with oxygen or an oxygenous gas in the presence of ammonia and/or amines using copper salts or manganese salts.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing polymeric polysulfides containing terminal epoxy groups, according to which polysulfides containing terminal thiol groups are reacted with an excess of epichlorohydrin and alkaline lye, water is azeotropically distilled away with epichlorohydrin, the epichlorohydrin-containing epoxidized polysulfide solution is separated from the eliminated salt, the epichlorohydrin is distilled away, and the residue is optionally purified by means of thin film distillation. The reaction product is particularly suitable for the production of high-quality sealants, adhesives, and coatings. Said product has a high degree of purity and an extremely low chlorine content. The inventive method does not require any additional organic solvents and is very environmentally friendly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing polymer polysulfides comprising epoxy end groups, by reacting polysulfides comprising thiol end groups with epichlorohydrine in the presence of aqueous alkali lye. According to the invention, the polysulfide comprising thiol end groups is optionally dosed with aqueous soda lye into a recipient containing epichlorohydrine and optionally aqueous alkali lye, and the reaction mixture is finished. The inventive method is carried out in one step and has considerable advantages in terms of process technique. It especially enables savings to be made in terms of measuring and regulating techniques and enables energy to be saved. Furthermore, it is essentially risk-free and very environmentally friendly, and therefore enables pure products to be produced.

Abstract: A process is described for the production of N,N,N′,N′-tetra-(2-hydroxyethyl)-ethylene diamine in a solvent, in which ethylene diamine is reacted selectively with ethylene oxide in the absence of water in one or more saturated C3-C9 alcohols at a temperature from 120 to 220° C. and at a pressure from 2 to 60 bar in a molar ratio of 1:4, with a high yield. The conversion is preferably carried out in isopropanol, isomeric C7-C9 alcohol mixtures, C8 alcohol mixtures or C9 alcohol mixtures at a temperature from 140 to 180° C.

Abstract: A process is described for producing ester quats of the formula (I) ##STR1## where X.sup.- is an anion of an inorganic or organic acid, R.sub.a is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl group, R.sub.b and R.sub.c are each, independently of one another, a C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 alkylene group, and R.sub.d is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.22 fragment of a saturated and/or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid, m, n, p, and q are integers, m has a value from 1 to 3, n a value from 0 to 3, p a value from 0 to 1, m+n+p=4, and q has the value 1 or, if m=3, n=0, and p=1, the value 2, in which process a quaternary compound of the formula (II) ##STR2## where X.sup.-, R.sub.a, R.sub.b, R.sub.c, m, n, p, and q have the above meanings, is esterified, in the presence of an oxo acid of phosphorus and/or one of its alkali or alkaline-earth salts as a catalyst, with a saturated and/or unsaturated C.sub.1 to C.sub.22 carboxylic acid, alone or in a mixture, while withdrawing water.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing polyhydroxycarboxylic acids by the selective oxidation of di-, tri-, oligo- and polysaccharides in an alkaline medium using an oxygenous gas in the presence of palladium on a carrier as catalyst and bismuth as promoter at a palladium concentration in the reaction mixture of at least about 40 mg/l and a molar ratio of bismuth to palladium in the range of from about 1:5 to about 1:40, in which process towards the end of the reaction, as soon as a strong increase is observed in the oxygen concentration in the liquid phase, the oxygen supply is reduced until it is not more than about 20 ppm. In this manner, virtually all of the polysaccharide added beforehand is converted into the desired end product without an unacceptably high concentration of bismuth in the end product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing tert-butylamine from isobutene and ammonia in the presence of a silica alumina catalyst. The catalyst is in acid form, has an Si/Al ratio that has been adjusted by steam dealumination, has a crystallinity of at least 95%, and has an Na.sub.2 O content of less than 0.2 wt. %. The reaction is preferably conducted in the gas phase, with unreacted ammonia and unreacted isobutene being recycled into the reaction process. The selectivity of the catalyst for the formation of tert-butylamine is at least 99.5%.

Abstract: Gamma-butyrolactone is produced by catalytic hydrogenation of maleic anhydride in the vapor phase in the presence of copper chromite based catalysts in reduced form. The reaction is carried out using a substantially uniform catalyst derived substantially from the three components cupric oxide, chromic oxide, and silicon dioxide. The ratio of CuO to Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 to SiO.sub.2 is preferably about 78:20:2. It can prove advantageous to use an inert gas such as nitrogen as a diluent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing pyrrolidone and N-alkyl pyrrolidones from saturated or unsaturated 1,4-dicarboxylic acids or their anhydrides, hydrogen, and a primary amine, characterized in that the dicarboxylic acid or its anhydride is allowed to react in an appropriate reactor with hydrogen or ammonia via a first catalyst bed and the unisolated intermediate product is subsequently reacted with the primary amine or ammonia directly via a second, downstream catalyst bed.

Abstract: The process for the preparation of benzothiazolyl-2-sulphenamides, by reacting a 2-mercaptobenzothiazole or dibenzothiazolyl 2,2'-disulphide with a primary or secondary aliphatic or cycloaliphatic amine in the presence of hydrogen peroxide as oxidizing agent in an aqueous medium is distinguished in that an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution is metered at a temperature in the range from 30.degree. to 70.degree. C. into an aqueous suspension of the respective amine and the 2-mercaptobenzothiazole or dibenzothiazolyl 2,2'-disulphide in a ratio in the range between 1.0 and 1.5 mol of amine per mole of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole or per equivalent of dibenzothiazolyl 2,2'-disulphide, preferably in a quantity of below 1.35 mol per mole of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole or per equivalent of dibenzothiazolyl 2,2'-disulphide over a period of at least 60 minutes. The total quantity of water in the reaction mixture should not exceed 1500 g per mole of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing dibenzylamine by reacting benzaldehyde and ammonia in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenation catalyst in an inert organic solvent is characterized by the fact that the reaction is conducted with an ammonia ratio of >0.5 mol per mol benzaldehyde and with a hydrogenation catalyst containing a platinum metal and/or a ferrous metal on a carrier. The method is performed at low temperatures, preferably 40.degree.-90.degree. C. In particular, a high selectivity for dibenzylamine of more than 90% is achieved with practically complete benzaldehyde conversion.

Abstract: A demonstration device in the form of a single-story house comprises a body (26), a roof (28) and a base slab (30). The body (26) is composed of a number of prism-shaped building blocks (20-24) whose height is equivalent to the height of a story. Each body building block has an oblong, narrow lower side or base (42); when placed side by side, the blocks form the essentially cuboid house body (26) with the area of the base of the house. The roof (28) is a building block with sloping roof surfaces and a base surface (29) whose area is at least as large as that of the base of the house.

Abstract: A demonstration appliance has a human figure comprising a head region, a foot region with a convex downward or pointed foot surface, and a block whose height matches that of the foot region. The block comprises at least two, preferably three, superimposed separable layers and has an upward-opening recess for receiving the foot region. Said recess is formed by an opening in each layer. The opening in the first layer has an overdimension with respect to and around the lower part of the foot region which is lodged in the first layer, such that the latter alone loosely holds the foot region and, hence the figure, and, in the event of shaking, for example if the figure is lightly tapped, will not prevent tilting. The shape of the opening in the other layer is adapted to the corresponding part of the foot region so that the foot region lodged in the openings of the superimposed layers cannot be tilted from the vertical through an angle greater than +/-10.degree..

Abstract: A process for the production of thiuram polysulfides substituted by aliphatic, araliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radicals is disclosed. In this process, correspondingly substituted secondary amines having a pKa value of .gtoreq.8 are reacted with carbon disulfide and sulfur in a solvent at 0.degree. to 150.degree. C. in the presence of a metal-containing catalyst and oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas.By virtue of its high purity, the thiuram polysulfide obtainable in this way may be directly used for its intended purpose, for example as a vulcanization accelerator or sulfur donor.This process is particularly desirable for the substantially quantitative yields and selectivities and also for its high economy arising from the reaction being carried out in a single stage without expensive auxiliaries and from the elimination of an additional purification step.

Abstract: A process for the production of thiuram polysulfides substituted by aliphatic, araliphatic, cycloaliphatic aromatic and/or hydrocarbon radicals is disclosed. In this process, correspondingly substituted secondary amines are reacted with carbon disulfide and sulfur in a solvent at 0.degree. to 150.degree. C. in the presence of a tertiary amine, a metal-containing catalyst and oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas.By virtue of its high purity, the product obtained by this process may be used directly, i.e., without preceeding purification, for its intended purpose, for examples as a vulcanization accelerator or sulfur donor.This process is particularly desirable for the substantially quantitative yields and selectivities and also for its high economy arising from the reaction being carried out in a single stage without expensive auxiliaries and from the elimination of an additional purification step.