Abstract: A process for preparing methanol in a liquid reaction medium by reaction of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst system consisting of an alkali metal alcoholate and a copper catalyst, wherein the liquid reaction medium in the reactor in addition to methanol and methyl formate contains at least 50% by volume of a non-polar organic solvent having a dielectricity constant which is lower than that of pure methanol at the same temperature.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol is prepared by the reaction of ethylene, molecular oxygen and water in the presence of an iodine catalyst and in the presence of a copper co-catalyst or promoter.

Abstract: Acrylonitrile is dimerized by reaction in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of (a) at least one metal compound of the formula M(X).sub.n wherein M is Zn or Co, X is an anion derived from an alkyl or aryl sulfonic acid or from a carboxylic acid containing at least two carbon atoms which is substituted by at least one of the groups, --F, --Cl, --Br, --I and --CN in the .alpha.--C-position relative to the acid group and n is a number equal to the valence of the metal M divided by the number of acid equivalents of X and (b) at least one nitrogen-containing Lewis Base which is (1) a tertiary monoamine of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol is prepared in an oxidation zone by the reaction of ethylene, molecular oxygen, and water in the presence of an iodine source to produce a liquid reaction product which is separated into a lower-boiling portion, a glycol fraction and a higher-boiling portion and the higher-boiling portion is recycled to the oxidation zone together with part of the lower-boiling portion.