Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a process for the synthesis of compounds with the general formula (II) or their respective alkali metal salts by oxidation of compounds of general formula (I) with oxygen in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst containing a metal of group 10 of the periodic table of the elements, wherein R1 and R2 and R3 are same or different and selected from H and C1-C6-alkyl, non-substituted or substituted with one or more moieties selected from COOH and O-R4 with R4 being selected from H and C1-C4-alkyl.

Abstract: Polytetrahydrofuran or C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 -alkylene oxide/tetrahydrofuran copolymers having a molecular weight of from 250 to 20,000 Dalton are prepared by the cationic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran or tetrahydrofuran and C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 -alkylene oxides in the prsence of a promoter by a process in which the catalyst used is a mixture of one or more C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -di- or tricarboxylic acids with boric acid.

Abstract: Preparation of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-piperazine by reacting triethanolamine with ammonia in the presence of hydrogen at from 100.degree. to 500.degree. C. and from 10 to 500 bar over a heterogeneous catalyst in which the catalytically active material contains from 20 to 85% by weight of ZrO.sub.2 or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 or mixtures thereof, from 1 to 30% by weight of at least one copper oxide, calculated as CuO, and from 1 to 60% by weight of at least one oxide of cobalt, nickel or molybdenum, calculated as CoO, NiO and MoO.sub.3, respectively.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of N-alkenylpyrrolidones of the general formula ##STR1## in which R denotes hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, by the reaction of an N-alkylpyrrolidone of the general formula ##STR2## in which R has the aforementioned meanings, and x and Y stand for OH, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkoxy or C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkoxycarbonyl, provided that one of the two radicals x and denotes hydrogen, at temperatures ranging from 200.degree. to 600.degree. C. and pressures ranging from 0.1 to 5 bar, wherein the process is carried out in the presence of an acid heterogenous catalyst except for an oxide of a Group IIb, Group IIIb, Group IVb, and Group VIb metal.

Abstract: The preparation of 3-arylacrylic acids and their derivatives I ##STR1## where Ar is aryl which can additionally have substituents which do not react with ketene and are stable under the conditions of the reaction described below, andR.sup.1 is hydrogen, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium or C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl,comprises a first stage in which a dialkyl acetal of an aromatic aldehyde of the formula II ##STR2## where R.sup.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, is reacted with ketene of the formula CH.sub.2 .dbd.C.dbd.O in the presence of catalytic amounts of a protic or Lewis acid to give a 3-arylpropionic acid derivative of the formula III ##STR3## and a second stage in which this intermediate III is reacted in the presence of acid or base and, in the case where R.sup.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl, additionally with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkanol to give the final product I.

Abstract: Preparation of vinyl glycols (I) ##STR1## (R.sup.1 to R.sup.6 =H, a carbo-organic radical, optionally substituted) in which an unsaturated diol of formula II ##STR2## is isomerized in the presence of a rhenium catalyst under neutral conditions. The compounds (I) serve as intermediates for the preparation of active substances and for the preparation of polymers.

Abstract: Muscone of the formula I ##STR1## is prepared by a process in which an open-chain 2,15-diketone of the general formula IICH.sub.3 --CO--X--CO--CH.sub.3 (II)whereX is one of the radicals--(--CH.sub.2 --).sub.12 -- (a)--CH.dbd.CH--(--CH.sub.2 --).sub.8 --CH.dbd.CH-- (b)--CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH--(--CH.sub.2 --).sub.6 --CH.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 --(c)--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH--(--CH.sub.2 --).sub.4 --CH.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 -- (d)or--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH--(--CH.sub.2 --).sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 -- (e)is brought into contact, at from 300.degree. to 400.degree. C. in the presence of from 5 to 15% by weight, based on the amount of catalyst, of water, in the gas phase, with a fixed-bed catalyst containing TiO.sub.2, CeO.sub.2 or ThO.sub.2 as the catalytically active compound and the unsaturated cyclic ketone formed by intramolecular aldol condensation is subjected to catalytic hydrogenation.

Abstract: Muscone of the formula I ##STR1## is prepared by a process in which an open-chain 2,15-diketone of the general formula IICH.sub.3 --CO--X--CO--CH.sub.3 (II)where X is one of the radicals--(--CH.sub.2 --).sub.12 -- (a)--CH.dbd.CH--(--CH.sub.2 --).sub.8 --CH.dbd.CH-- (b)--CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH--(--CH.sub.2 --).sub.6 --CH.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 --(c)--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH--(--CH.sub.2 --).sub.4 --CH.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 -- (d) or--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH--(--CH.sub.2 --).sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 -- (e)is brought into contact, at from 300.degree. to 400.degree. C. in the presence of from 5 to 15% by weight, based on the amount of catalyst, of water, in the gas phase, with a fixed-bed catalyst containing TiO.sub.2, CeO.sub.2 or the ThO.sub.2 as the catalytically active compound and the unsaturated cyclic ketone formed by intramolecular aldol condensation is subjected to catalytic hydrogenation.

Abstract: A process for preparing 1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene of the formula I ##STR1## comprises reacting p-cymene of the formula II ##STR2## with a hexene of the formula IIIa, IIIb and/or IIIc ##STR3## in the presence of a catalytic amount of aluminum halide and a catalytic amount of a triphenylmethyl compound of the formula IV ##STR4## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, nitro or halogen and X is hydrogen or halogen.

Abstract: 3,9-Dihydroxynonyne and its derivatives protected at the 9-OH function, of the general formula I ##STR1## where R is hydrogen or a conventional alcohol protective group, and processes for the preparation of the compounds I.