Abstract: Good yields and selectivities are achieved in a process for preparing an isochroman-3-one of the formula (I) ##STR1## by reacting a 1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran of the formula (II) ##STR2## with carbon monoxide at a CO pressure of from 0.1 to 20 MPa in the presence of an ionic halide, a palladium catalyst and a dipolar aprotic solvent.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of N-acylglycine derivatives of the formula (I) ##STR1## which comprises reacting a carboxylic acid amide with an aldehyde in the presence of a solvent and an acid to give an acylaminomethylol and then carbonylating the acylaminomethylol in the presence of a cobalt carbonyl catalyst.

Abstract: Lacquer coatings are stripped from a large surface, e.g. aircraft and vehicle body surfaces, and the surface is simultaneously cleaned by a spraying device that carries at least three spraying units, each with at least one, preferably two, spray heads arranged in a row. Two outer spraying units flank one central spraying unit. The spraying device is secured to a free end of an outrigger arm on a mobile carriage, by a wrist mechanism, by a rod linkage, and by a mounting member (20a) tiltable by the rod linkage. The central spraying unit is directly secured to the tiltable mounting member while the two outer spraying units are secured by lazy tongues operable to track the contour of the large surface.