Abstract: Preparation of methyl formate by the reaction of carbon monoxide and methanol under conditions of elevated pressure and temperature in the presence of an alkali metal methylate, in whichA) the starting materials are mixed in a mixing zone, are allowed to react partially, and the reaction solution is saturated with CO andB) the reaction is allowed to reach completion in one or more secondary reaction zones without the addition of further starting materials.

Abstract: Aldehydes are obtained from the gaseous product of the hydroformylation of olefinically unsaturated compounds using a rhodium catalyst by a process (cf. FIG. 2) in which(a) this gaseous product is introduced, without being cooled or depressured, into a distillation column D,(b) the top fraction from this column is cooled in a condenser K so that the greater part of the aldehydes contained therein is condensed,(c) the condensate is separated, in a separator A, into a gas phase and a liquid phase,(d) the gas phase from A, after waste gas has been separated off, is again brought to the hydroformylation pressure by means of a compressor P, and is returned to the reactor as a recycle gas,(e) the liquid phase from A is returned to D, and(f) the aldehydes are taken off from column D as liquid bottom products and/or as a vaporous side stream.

Abstract: Formamide is manufactured continuously from methyl formate and gaseous ammonia. The reaction is carried out in a reactor at from 30 to 90.degree. C, from 5 to 20% by volume of the reactor output is drawn off continuously and fed to the formamide working-up stage, and the remainder of the reactor output is cooled, in an external circuit maintained by means of a pump, to from 25 to 60.degree. C and is mixed with the amount of fresh methyl formate required for steady-state operation, after which the appropriate amount of gaseous ammonia is introduced into the stream of liquid through a jet, by the sucking-jet principle, and the stream of liquid is recycled to the reactor.