Abstract: The process for preparing anilines by reaction of phenols with an amination agent in accordance with the present invention is disclosed, which process is characterized by carrying out the reaction of phenols with an amination agent in the presence of a low alkali and weakly acidic alumina catalyst having the alkali oxide content of less than 0.5% by weight, said alumina catalyst being obtained by firing an alumina catalyst containing in a dry state more than 80% by weight of alumina and less than 20% by weight of silica at a temperature of 600.degree.-900.degree. C., followed by acid treatment. According to the present invention, there are obtained such excellent effects that even when the reaction is carried out at a temperature lower than those employed in the case of conventionally well-known catalysts, the desired anilines can be prepared in high yields and high selectivity and, moreover, a high catalyst activity can be maintained over a long period of time.

Abstract: Propylene can be prepared in high yield and selectivity by dehydrating isopropanol in the presence of a .gamma.-alumina catalyst having a mean pore diameter of from 30 to 150 .ANG. with a standard deviation (.sigma..sub.n) of from 10 to 40 .ANG. based on statistic calculation from pore diameter and pore volume.

Abstract: A process for producing a phenol from the steps of:(a) partially hydrogenating a benzene, followed by separating the reaction mixture into respective components of a cyclohexene, a cyclohexane and a benzene;(b) oxidizing or hydrating the separated a cyclohexene into oxygen-containing compounds of a cyclohexane;(c) dehydrogenating the oxygen-containing compounds of a cyclohexane into a phenol;(d) dehydrogenating the cyclohexane separated in step (a) to convert the cyclohexane into a benzene; and(e) returning a part or all of hydrogen formed in steps (c) and (d) back to step (a).

Abstract: A process for producing 4,4'-diphenylmethane dicarbamates through one-stage condensation by reacting N-phenyl carbamates with a methylenating agent in presence of a zinc halide, as a catalyst. 4,4'-diphenylmethane dicarbamates can be produced with high selectivity and in high yield.

Abstract: An aniline is prepared by reacting a phenol with an amination agent in the presence of a specific porous .gamma.-alumina catalyst.

Abstract: A process for preparing 2-unsubstituted imidazoles which comprises reacting an .alpha.-hydroxycarbonyl compound with a formamide in such amounts as to make the molar ratio of said formamide to said hydroxycarbonyl compound not more than 2 at a reaction temperature of 100.degree.-170.degree. C. in an atmosphere of ammonia gas. According to this process, 2-unsubstituted imidazoles may be obtained in very high yields. In addition, because no great excess of formamide is used in carrying out the reaction, an effect of not requiring the recovery operation incident to decomposition of formamide is obtained as well. And by removing formic acid formed as a by-product by the reaction, a reactor and separation equipment such as a distillation column are not corroded, and imidazoles of a high purity can be obtained.

Abstract: A process for purifying an aldehyde-containing ketone, which comprises catalytically hydrogenating a crude ketone containing minor amounts of aliphatic aldehydes at a temperature of from room temperature to about 100.degree. C. and a pressure of from atmospheric pressure to 10 kg/cm.sup.2 .multidot.G, in the presence of hydrogen, a palladium-containing catalyst, and about 0.4 to about 15% by weight, based on the weight of the crude ketone, of an active hydrogen-containing compound having a higher boiling point than the ketone which is selected from the group consisting of water, aliphatic alcohols containing 3 to 7 carbon atoms, aliphatic carboxylic acids containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alicyclic alcohols containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms and alkylamines having an alkyl or cycloalkyl group containing 5 to 9 carbon atoms; distilling the hydrogenated product; and recovering a fraction containing the ketone.