Abstract: In a process to make dithiodiglycol by oxidation of ?-mercaptoethanol with sulfur, an improved product is recovered when a 1-10 mol % excess of ?-mercaptoethanol is used and hydrogen sulfide is removed by vacuum or nitrogen sparge. A typical product contains 88.1 mol % (92.0 wt %) dithiodiglycol, 2.3 mol % (2.9 wt %) trithiodiglycol and 9.6 mol % (5.1 wt %) unreacted ?-mercaptoethanol. Reaction of this product with 35 to 50 wt % solution hydrogen peroxide reduces residual ?-mercaptoethanol to less than 0.02 wt % mercaptan. Residual water of about 3.6 wt % after hydrogen peroxide treatment is reduced to less than 1 wt % by vacuum stripping and/or nitrogen sparge or with a wiped film evaporator.

Abstract: A process is provided to produce a 2-alkene product from a 1-alkene-containing feed stream. The process comprises contacting the 1-alkene-containing feed stream in a reactor zone to isomerize the 1-alkene-containing feed stream to produce the 2-alkene product. More specifically, a process is provided to produce a 2-butene product from a 1-butene containing feed stream.

Abstract: In a process to make dithiodiglycol by oxidation of &bgr;-mercaptoethanol with sulfur, an improved product is recovered when a 1-10 mol % excess of &bgr;-mercaptoethanol is used and hydrogen sulfide is removed by vacuum or nitrogen sparge. A typical product contains 88.1 mol % (92.0 wt %) dithiodiglycol, 2.3 mol % (2.9 wt %) trithiodiglycol and 9.6 mol % (5.1 wt %) unreacted &bgr;-mercaptoethanol. Reaction of this product with 35 to 50 wt % solution hydrogen peroxide reduces residual &bgr;-mercaptoethanol to less than 0.02 wt % mercaptan. Residual water of about 3.6 wt % after hydrogen peroxide treatment is reduced to less than 1 wt % by vacuum stripping and/or nitrogen sparge or with a wiped film evaporator.

Abstract: A process is provided to produce a 2-alkene product from a 1-alkene-containing feed stream. The process comprises contacting the 1-alkene-containing feed stream in a reactor zone to isomerize the 1-alkene-containing feed stream to produce the 2-alkene product. More specifically, a process is provided to produce a 2-butene product from a 1-butene containing feed stream.

Abstract: A process for activating a hydrogenation catalyst in the presence of an activation agent containing a piperidine compound is disclosed. The thus-activated hydrogenation catalyst is employed as a hydrogenation catalyst in the hydrogenation of a pyridine compound to a piperidine compound.

Abstract: A process which can be used to produce an organic disulfide is provided. The process comprises contacting a mercaptan in the presence of an oxygen-containing fluid, a catalyst, optionally a cocatalyst, and further optionally a solvent or a surfactant or combination of a solvent and surfactant under a condition sufficient to oxidize the mercaptan to an organic disulfide.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing primary amines from an amine-containing stream. Particularly, a process is provided for removing primary amines from said amine-containing stream by reacting said primary amine with a dione. More particularly, a process is provided for removing n-amylamine from an amine-containing stream comprising piperidine by reacting n-amylamine with 2,5-hexanedione.

Abstract: A process which can be used for producing thiolcarbamates is provided wherein the process comprises contacting a reaction mixture with a hydrocarbyl chloride such as, for example, benzyl chloride under a condition which is sufficient to produce a product mixture wherein the reaction mixture comprises carbonyl sulfide, an amine such as, for example, a secondary amine, a solvent; the solvent comprises a tertiary amine; and the reaction mixture, hydrocarbyl halide, and solvent are each present in an amount sufficient to effect the production of a thiolcarbamate. Optionally, the reaction mixture can also comprise a metal hydroxide. Further optionally, the product mixture can be contacted with a metal hydroxide if the reaction mixture does not comprise a metal hydroxide.

Abstract: A process for co-production of an alkenyl aromatic compound such as, for example, styrene and t-butylstyrene, and an oxygenated sulfur-containing compound such as, for example, a sulfoxide or a sulfone is disclosed which comprises: (1) contacting, in the presence or absence of a catalyst, an .alpha.-methyl benzylic hydroperoxide with an organic sulfide compound to produce a mixture of an .alpha.-methyl benzylic hydroxide and an oxygenated sulfur-containing compound; (2) separating the .alpha.-methyl benzylic hydroxide from the sulfur-containing compound; (3) contacting the .alpha.-methyl benzylic hydroxide with a base to convert the .alpha.-methyl benzylic hydroxide to the alkenyl aromatic compound; and optionally, (4) recovering the alkenyl aromatic compound from the oxygenated sulfur-containing compound. The sulfoxide produced can be oxidized to a sulfone. The contacting of the .alpha.-methyl benzylic hydroxide with a base can also be carried out before the .alpha.

Abstract: Cyclic polyenes are selectively hydrogenated to cyclic monoenes under suitable hydrogenation conditions in the presence of an activated ruthenium catalyst complexes. The ruthenium catalyst complex is activated by hydrogenating a minimal amount of cyclic polyene under suitable hydrogenation conditions.

Abstract: A cobalt carbonyl phosphine complex useful for hydrogenation of cyclic polyenes to corresponding cyclic monoenes is prepared by reaction of dicobalt carbonyl and a phosphine compound in at least one non-oxygenated aliphatic solvent. Selective hydrogenation of the cyclic polyenes comprises an induction period during which the polyenes are contacted with the cobalt carbonyl complex catlayst under hydrogen pressure followed by decreasing the reaction temperature and pressure for a period of time sufficient to complete the hydrogenation.

Abstract: Aromatic hydrocarbons containing 6-10 carbon atoms per molecule are separated from close-boiling olefinic hydrocarbons by extractive distillation employing N-(.beta.-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidone and/or cyclohexanol as solvent.

Abstract: Cyclic polyenes are selectively hydrogenated to cyclic monoenes under suitable hydrogenation conditions in the presence of an activated ruthenium catalyst complexes. The ruthenium catalyst complex is activated by hydrogenating a minimal amount of cyclic polyene under suitable hydrogenation conditions.

Abstract: Cycloalkanes, preferably cyclohexane and/or cyclopentane, are separated from close-boiling alkanes by extractive distillation employing as solvent a mixture of (a) at least one N-hydroxyalkyl-2-pyrrolidone, preferably N-(.beta.-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidone, and (b) at least one saturated C.sub.5 -C.sub.9 alcohol, preferably cyclohexanol.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing high yields of 4,4'-difluorobiphenyl comprised of reacting a p-halofluorobenzene Grignard reagent with a p-halofluorobenzene coupling reagent in the presence of a palladium chloride triphenylphosphine catalyst.

Abstract: A process for producing an alkylated aromatic product having high selectivity to the thermodynamically preferred isomer by contacting meta-xylene and a C.sub.13 to C.sub.20 alpha-olefinic compound at a reaction temperature of about 40.degree. to about 80.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst comprising an aluminum halide and elemental iodine.

Abstract: Process is disclosed for the one reaction step preparation of 2-pyrrolidone by contacting with hydrogen, ammonia, at least one diluent and a catalyst consisting essentially of palladium on alumina; wherein the molar ratio of ammonia to succinic acid on succinic anhydride is about 1:1 to about 10:1.

Abstract: A one-step method for the reductive amination of a heterocyclic to produce a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic. The feedstock is contacted with a mixed metal catalyst in which the metal comprises palladium and one of ruthenium, rhodium or rhenium.

Abstract: A process for the production of .epsilon.-caprolactone wherein 4-penten-1-ol is reacted carbon monoxide in the presence of a ligand-stabilized Pd(II) catalyst complexed with a Group IVB metal halide.