Abstract: A catalyst for decomposing dinitrogen monoxide which is pure or present in gas mixtures comprises metallic silver applied to an alumina carrier with a BET surface area of from 5 to 25 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: Phthalic anhydride is prepared in a multiple tube reactor provided with separate salt baths, the temperature of the salt bath used for cooling the first layer of catalyst, as regarded in the direction of flow of the reaction mixture, being from 2.degree. to 20.degree. C. higher than that of the salt bath(s) associated with the following layer(s).

Abstract: Compositions of the formula IMo.sub.12 P.sub.a V.sub.b X.sub.c.sup.1 X.sub.d.sup.2 X.sub.e.sup.3 Sb.sub.f Re.sub.g S.sub.h O.sub.n (I),whereX.sup.1 is potassium, rubidium and/or cesium,X.sup.2 is copper and/or silver,X.sup.3 is cerium, boron, zirconium, manganese and/or bismuth,a is from 0.5 to 3.0,b is from 0.01 to 3.0,c is from 0.2 to 3.0,d is from 0.01 to 2.0,e is from 0 to 2.0,f is from 0.01 to 2.0,g is from 0 to 1.0,h is from 0.001 to 0.5 andn is a number determined by the valency and content of the elements different from oxygen in I, are used as catalysts for preparing methacrylic acid by gas-phase oxidation of methacrolein.

Abstract: 5-Methylbutyrolactone is prepared by a process in which a pentenoic ester of the formula IX--CO.sub.2 R (I),where X is CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, CH.sub.3 --CH.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 -- or CH.sub.3 --CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH-- and R is alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl or aryl, or a mixture of these esters is reacted with water at from 50.degree. to 350.degree. C. in the presence or absence of a diluenta) over a zeolite and/or phosphate catalyst orb) in the presence of from 0.01 to 0.25 mole of a sulfonic acid, a Lewis acid and/or a non-oxidizing mineral acid per mole of pentenoic ester or over from 0.

Abstract: Compositions of the formula IMO.sub.12 P.sub.a V.sub.b X.sup.1.sub.c X.sup.2.sub.d X.sup.3.sub.e Sb.sub.f Re.sub.g S.sub.h O.sub.n (I)whereX.sup.1 is potassium, rubidium and/or cesium,X.sup.2 is copper and/or silver,X.sup.3 is cerium, boron, zirconium, manganese and/or bismuth,a is from 0.5 to 3.0,b is from 0.01 to 3.0,c is from 0.2 to 3.0,d is from 0.01 to 2.0,e is from 0 to 2.0,f is from 0.01 to 2.0,g is from 0 to 1.0,h is from 0.001 to 0.5 andn is a number determined by the valency and content ofthe elements different from oxygen in I, are used as catalysts for preparing methacrylic acid by gas-phase oxidation of methacrolein.

Abstract: A method of isomerizing propargyl alcohol to acrolein, wherein propargyl alcohol is rearranged in the gas phase at a temperature of from 300.degree. to 550.degree. C. and a pressure of from 0.01 to 50 bar and in contact with a heterogeneous catalyst containing alkaline-reacting metal ions, and the use of propargyl alcohol as a depot substance for the liberation of acrolein.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of mixtures of isomeric cresols with a molar ratio of para- to meta-cresol of from 0.6:1 to 10:1 by isomerization of cresol mixtures or ortho- and/or metal-cresol on zeolite catalysts of the pentasil type in the gas phase at from 300.degree. to 600.degree. C. under from 0.01 to 50 bar entails the mean particle size of the zeolite catalyst being at leat 3 .mu.m, and the selectivity in the established test for the disproportionation of ethylbenzene to diethylbenzene isomers being at least 60% for para-diethylbenzene.

Abstract: Supported silver catalysts which contain one or more alkali metals are prepared in a two-stage process by doping a basic catalyst which contains silver in metallic form and may also contain lithium with the heavy alkali metal sodium, potassium, rubidium and/or cesium using an impregnating solution which contains the heavy alkali metal and one or more nitrates of the general formulaR.sup.+ NO.sub.3.sup.-wherein R.sup.+ is an ammonium, hydrazinium, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -monoalkylammonium, C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 -dialkylammonium, C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 -trialkylammonium or C.sub.4 -C.sub.12 -tetraalkylammonium cation.

Abstract: N-heterocycles of the general formulae (I) and (II) ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.4 to R.sup.9 are each hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkylaryl or cycloalkyl and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each an alkyl, alkylaryl, substituted alkyl or cycloalkyl group, are prepared by a process in which an olefin of the formula (III) or (IV) ##STR2## where R.sup.2 to R.sup.9 have the above meanings, is reacted with NH.sub.3 or with a primary amine of the formula H.sub.2 NR.sup.1, where R.sup.1 has the above meanings, in the presence of a zeolite as a catalyst.

Abstract: Organophosphorus compounds are prepared by reacting an unsaturated compound, such as a striaght-chain, branched or cyclic olefin or a diene having conjugated or nonconjugated double bonds, with a phosphine by a process in which phosphine and/or phosphine-containing compounds are subjected to an addition reaction with the unsaturated compounds in the presence of a solid heterogeneous catalyst. Particularly suitable heterogeneous catalysts are zeolites and phosphates.

Abstract: A catalytically active composition for the gas phase oxidation of propylene to acrolein and acrylic acid, of the general formulaMo.sub.12 Bi.sub.0.1-10 Fe.sub.0.8-12 [Co,Ni].sub.0.1-10 P.sub.0-2 A.sub.0-10 B.sub.0.001-1 O.sub.xwhere A is arsenic, antimony, tin, thallium, tungsten, an alkaline earth metal, zinc and/or chromium, B is at least one of the metals sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium and/or indium and X is the number determined by the atomic valences of the individual elements, is prepared by introducing all or some of the iron and molybdenum in the form of dried pulverulent iron molybdate gel into an aqueous solution or suspension of the other constituents and gelating the mixture by stirring and possibly heating, then comminuting, drying at elevated temperatures and finally calcining.

Abstract: Diamines of the formula ##STR1## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aralkyl or cycloalkyl and X is a group of the formula(CR.sup.4 R.sup.5).sub.m (II)where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 have the meanings given above for R.sup.1 and m is from 1 to 12, are prepared by a process in which a diamine of the formula ##STR2## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and X are the groups described above, is reacted with an olefin of the formula ##STR3## where R.sup.6 and R.sup.9 are each hydrogen or alkyl which is straight-chain in the .alpha.-position, in the presence of a zeolite as a catalyst.

Abstract: Unsaturated nitriles are prepared from lactones and NH.sub.3 by a process in which the reaction of the lactone with NH.sub.3 is carried out in the presence of a zeolite as a catalyst.A particularly suitable starting material is caprolactone and particularly suitable catalysts are zeolites of the pentasil type, for example aluminosilicate zeolites.

Abstract: Tetrahydrofurans are prepared in the gas phase from butane-1,4-diols which may be substituted by alkyl, alkenyl and/or aryl radicals in the carbon skeleton. The reaction is carried out in the presence of a borosilicate and/or iron silicate zeolite, preferably of the pentasil type, as catalyst.Other catalysts which may be used are zeolites doped with alkali metals and/or alkaline earth metals and/or transition metals and/or rare earth metals and/or noble metals.

Abstract: A silver catalyst containing lithium and cesium as promoters for the direct oxidation of ethylene with oxygen to give ethylene oxide is applied to a porous carrier and essentially consists of .alpha.-alumina and contains certain amounts of soluble calcium, aluminum, potassium and sodium salts. The carrier has a BET surface area of from 0.4 to 0.8 m.sup.2 /g, a pore volume of not less than 0.45 ml/g, the pores being equally accessible to cold and warm water, a bulk density of less than 700 kg/m.sup.3 and a shape which, in the reactor, provides a geometrical surface area of not less than 600 m.sup.2 /m.sup.3, on which more than 13% by weight of silver are applied as active component and more than 115 kg of silver are available per m.sup.3 of reactor, and from 100 to 300 ppm by weight of lithium and from 200 to 600 ppm by weight of cesium are present as promoters. A process for the preparation of the silver catalyst and its use for the oxidation of ethylene are described.

Abstract: Cyclopentanone is prepared from adipic esters by reacting adipic esters of the formulaR.sup.1 OOC--(CH.sub.2).sub.4 --COOR.sup.2where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 5 or 6 carbon atoms, aralkyl or aryl and R.sup.2 can additionally be hydrogen, in the gas or liquid phase at from 150.degree. C. to 450.degree. C. in the presence of zeolitic catalysts and/or phosphate catalysts, preferably zeolites of the pentasil type.

Abstract: Medicinal white oils and medicinal paraffins are prepared from petroleum fractions containing aromatics and nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur compounds, e.g. light and heavy atmospheric gas oils, vacuum gas oils and residues, which have been pretreated in a first stage by acid treatment or catalytic hydrogenation, by hydrogenation in a second stage over a nickel-containing catalyst under from 50 to 200 bar and at elevated temperatures, by a process in which the catalyst used in the second stage and present in the oxide form is reduced with a hydrogen-containing gas, passivated and then again activated with hydrogen, before the hydrogenation to medicinal white oils or paraffins is carried out.

Abstract: A molded supported catalyst which contains from 2 to 13% by weight of copper ions in the form of copper(II) chloride and/or copper oxychloride and from 0.2 to 3% by weight of alkali metal ion on a columnar carrier and has a diameter of from 4 to 7 mm and a height which is from 0.35 to 0.75 times the diameter is particularly suitable for preparing 1,2-dichloroethane by oxychlorination of ethylene.

Abstract: A silver catalyst for the direct oxidation of ethylene with oxygen to give ethylene oxide is applied on a porous carrier and essentially consists of .alpha.-alumina and contains certain amounts of soluble calcium, aluminum, potassium and sodium salts. The carrier has a BET surface area of from 0.2 to 0.8 m.sup.2 /g, a pore volume of not less than 0.5 ml/g, the pores being equally accessible to cold and warm water, and a bulk density of less than 650 kg/m.sup.3, and has a shape which, in the reactor, provides a geometric surface area of not less than 600 m.sup.2 /m.sup.3, on which more than 13% by weight of silver are applied as the active component, more than 110 kg of silver being available per m.sup.3 of reactor.

Abstract: A molded catalyst for reactions carried out under heterogeneous catalysis consists of a catalytically active material shaped into hollow cylinders, or of an inert carrier which is shaped into hollow cylinders and onto which catalytically active material is applied the external diameter of the hollow cylinders being from 3 to 20 mm, the internal diameter being from 0.1 to 0.7 times the external diameter and the length being from 0.2 times to twice the external diameter. The end faces of the hollow cylinder are curved so that the radius of curvature is from 0.4 to 5 times the external diameter.The novel catalysts are particularly useful for partial oxidation in the gas phase.