Abstract: Disclosed is a method of isolating the aromatic product formed when a substrate having the general formula is dehalogenated, forming a product mixture of copper salts and aromatic product, where X is the halogen removed from the substrate to form the aromatic product, R′ is COOH, COOR, COR, CN, COH(R)2, or SO3H, each R″ is independently selected from halogen, R, or OR or two vicinal R″ groups form one or more fused aromatic rings, R is alkyl from C1 to C18 or aryl from C6 to C18, and n is 1 to 4. Water in an amount about 1 to about 5 times the amount of the substrate is added to the product mixture, forming an organic phase that contains the aromatic product and an aqueous phase that contains the copper salts. If the density of the organic phase differs from the density of said aqueous phase by less than 0.1 g/cc, a suitable solvent is added to the product mixture in an amount sufficient to increase the differences between the organic and aqueous phases to at least 0.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of halogenating the ring of an aromatic compound. The aromatic compound is contacted with a halogenating agent in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst. The catalyst is the calcination reaction product of: (A) 51 to 99 wt % of a support which comprises at least one inorganic oxide or hydroxide of at least one metal that is at least divalent and forms a metal-to-oxygen matrix during calcination; and (B) 1 to 49 wt % of at least one dopant which comprises a compound that places an element that is at least divalent, bonded to oxygen atoms, into said matrix during said calcination, resulting in the formation of an acidic solid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of adding 1 to 4 chlorine or bromine atoms to an aromatic ring of compound that has at least one electron-withdrawing groups on that ring. The aromatic compound is reacted with a chlorinating agent or a brominating agent in the presence of about 0.1 to about 10 mole % of a Lewis acid catalyst at a temperature of ambient to about 100° C. and a pressure of about 10 to about 100 psig.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a mercaptan by reacting hydrogen sulfide with an olefin in the presence of a heterogeneous acidic catalyst. The catalyst can be made by calcining a mixture of a hydroxide, such as Zr(OH).sub.4 or Ti(OH).sub.4, with an acidic site donor, such as H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, (NH.sub.4).sub.2 SO.sub.4, or WO.sub.3.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of halogenating the ring of an aromatic compound. The aromatic compound is contacted with a halogenating agent in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst. The catalyst is the calcination reaction product of:(A) 51 to 99 wt % of a support which comprises at least one inorganic oxide or hydroxide of at least one metal that is at least divalent and forms a metal-to-oxygen matrix during calcination; and(B) 1 to 49 wt % of at least one dopant which comprises a compound that places an element that is at least divalent, bonded to oxygen atoms, into said matrix during said calcination, resulting in the formation of an acidic solid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of adding 1 to 4 chlorine or bromine atoms to an aromatic ring of compound that has at least one electron-withdrawing groups on that ring. The aromatic compound is reacted with a chlorinating agent or a brominating agent in the presence of about 0.1 to about 10 mole % of a Lewis acid catalyst and about 0.001 to about 0.1 equivalents of an iodine-containing cocatalyst at a temperature of ambient to about 100.degree. C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a mercaptan by reacting an aliphatic alcohol with hydrogen sulfide in a continuous gaseous phase reaction. The reaction is performed in the presence of a catalyst which comprises a catalytically active carrier that contains base and/or acid active sites, an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal bicarbonate, carbonate, oxide, or hydroxide, and a transition metal acid or alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt thereof. Selectivities of close to 100% are obtained.