Abstract: A process is provided for preparing tricyclopentadienyl cerium as well as the mono and dicyclopentadienyl cerium intermediates which comprises slowly adding alkali metal cyclopentadienide to a solution of ceric ammonium nitrate, forming, in sequence, and stepwise, monocyclopentadienyl cerium dinitrate, dicyclopentadienyl cerium mononitrate, and tricyclopentadienyl cerium.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing ceric alkoxides, which comprises reacting ceric ammonium nitrate with an alcohol, including a lower aliphatic alcohol, under anhydrous conditions in the presence of an anhydrous base at a temperature within the range from about -30.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. but preferably from 0.degree. to about 150.degree. C. until ceric alkoxide and the nitrate salt of the base are formed; ceric alkoxides of higher alcohols can be prepared by transetherification of the resulting ceric alkoxide with the higher alcohol, either simultaneously or sequentially, at a temperature within the range from about -30.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C.

Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of p-hydroxy-benzyl-nitriles starting from the corresponding p-hydroxy-benzaldehyde, first reducing the p-hydroxy-benzaldehyde to the p-hydroxy-benzyl amine, a primary amine, with hydrogen in the presence of aqueous ammonia, preferably with the addition of small amounts of lower alkyl alcohol; and Raney nickel catalyst at low pressure; and then converting the amine to the p-hydroxy-benzyl-nitrile by reaction with sodium cyanide at elevated temperature; the first stage, the reduction, is applicable also to o- and m-hydroxy benzaldehydes.

Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of hydroxy benzene carboxaldehydes having the formula: ##STR1## wherein: R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkoxyalkyl, fluoroalkyl, and hydroxyalkyl oxyalkylene having from one to about twenty carbon atoms; hydroxyalkyl having at least two to about twenty carbon atoms; hydroxy; aldehyde CHO; and halogen;n.sub.1, n.sub.2 and n.sub.3 are zero or 1; and at least one of n.sub.1, n.sub.2 and n.sub.3 is 1; andx is zero, 1, 2, 3 or 4, which comprises:(1) condensing with a formaldehyde compound a phenol having the formula: ##STR2## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkoxyalkyl, fluoroalkyl, and hydroxyalkyl oxyalkylene having from one to about twenty carbon atoms; hydroxy; and halogen; andx is zero, 1, 2, 3 or 4,and unsubstituted in at least one ortho or para position in an aqueous reaction medium comprising phenol:HCHO in a molar ratio within the range from about 1:0.

Abstract: An improved process for producing meta-phenoxy benzoic acids and their lower alkyl esters in improved yields and with higher selectivity by reacting an alkali metal phenate with a lower alkyl ester of meta-halobenzoic acid in the presence of a copper sulfate catalyst.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing methyl heptenone by reacting a ketone mixture comprising prenyl-substituted methyl pentenones with a polyfunctional amine, optionally in the presence of an inorganic alkali. The yield of methyl heptenone can be increased by hydrolysis of the reaction product with water.

Abstract: A process for preparing allylic alcohols from allylic halides is provided by way of the intermediate formation of an ester in the presence of a water-insoluble ketone forming an azeotrope in water followed by saponification of the ester with alkali metal hydroxide, drying the alkali metal carboxylic acid salt formed during the saponification by azeotropic distillatiion with the ketone, thus obviating expensive separate recovery facilities and handling of the dried alkali metal carboxyolate salt. The overall process amounts to a hydrolysis of the allylic halide with aqueous alkali metal hydroxide and one reactor can serve for the whole process.

Abstract: A process is provided for the selective hydrogenation of the keto group of selected nonconjugated ketones in the presence of chromium-promoted Raney nickel, a strong base selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides and alcoholates, and methanol or ethanol, with, preferably, a small amount of water, and a small amount of nitrogen base, such as ammonia or an amine.

Abstract: A process is provided for the semihydrogenation of the olefinic group in the conjugated position to the carbonyl group in citral and homologues thereof to form citronellal and homologues thereof, and also for the hydrogenation of the aldehyde group of citronellal to form citronellol and homologues thereof. The dienic aldehyde is hydrogenated with hydrogen in the presence of chromium-promoted Raney nickel catalyst, and optionally, an inert solvent such as a lower aliphatic alcohol. The process is of particular application to the hydrogenation of citral and citronellal to citronellol.

Abstract: A process is provided for the semihydrogenation of the olefinic group in conjugated position to a carbonyl group in citral, a dienic aldehyde. The dienic aldehyde is hydrogenated with hydrogen in the presence of a palladium catalyst, a lower aliphatic alcohol, and an aqueous alkaline solution. The process is of particular application to the semihydrogenation of citral to citronellal.