Abstract: A process for the preparation of hydroquinone compounds comprising, reacting an aromatic hydroxy compound with an oxidizing agent in a biphasic solvent system. The reaction is carried out in the presence of a transition metal hydroxy phosphate catalyst to produce the corresponding hydroquinone compound.

Abstract: A continuous process comprising: contacting a mixture comprising dihydroxy aromatic compound, water and an alkylating agent with a catalyst system in the presence of a flowing carrier gas, to form a mono alkylated dihydroxy aromatic compound, wherein the catalyst system is obtained by the calcination of a catalyst precursor system comprising a metal oxide precursor, a transition metal element and a pore former.

Abstract: A process for forming a cycloalkylidene bisphenol comprises: reacting a cycloalkanone compound of formula: where [A] is a substituted or an unsubstituted aromatic group, R1–R4 independently represent a hydrogen or a C1–C12 hydrocarbyl group; and “a” and “b” are integers independently having values from 0–3; with an aromatic hydroxy compound of formula [A]-OH, where [A] is as previously described; at a mole ratio of greater than or equal to about 20, in the presence of a sulfonic acid type ion exchange resin catalyst crosslinked with greater than or equal to about 8 weight percent of divinylbenzene, and a promoter selected from the group consisting of a mercaptan compound and a resorcinol compound; to form a cycloalkylidene bisphenol of formula: where [A], R1–R4, “a” and “b” are as previously described. Moreover, any acid catalyst can be used with a resorcinol promoter.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of hydroquinone compounds comprising, reacting an aromatic hydroxy compound with an oxidizing agent in a biphasic solvent system. The reaction is carried out in the presence of a transition metal hydroxy phosphate catalyst to produce the corresponding hydroquinone compound.

Abstract: A method of preparing a polycyclic compound containing a ketone functionality comprising: reacting a mixture comprising a catalyst, a reactant compound and an amount of water greater than or equal to 3 weight percent (wt %) based on the weight of the reactant compound; wherein said catalyst comprises nickel and base and said reactant compound comprises at least two fused rings, A and B wherein ring A is a saturated ring or ring system having 5 to 7 cyclic carbons and substituted with a hydroxyl functionality and ring B is a non-aromatic unsaturated ring having 5 to 6 cyclic carbons; and converting the hydroxyl functionality of ring A to a ketone functionality and non-aromatic unsaturated ring B to a saturated ring.

Abstract: A continuous process comprising: contacting a mixture comprising dihydroxy aromatic compound, water and an alkylating agent with a catalyst system in the presence of a flowing carrier gas, to form a mono alkylated dihydroxy aromatic compound, wherein the catalyst system is obtained by the calcination of a catalyst precursor system comprising a metal oxide precursor, a transition metal element and a pore former.

Abstract: A process for producing a phenol product generally comprises a first step comprising reacting in a first reactor a feed stream comprising cumene hydroperoxide and water with an acid catalyst to produce an effluent comprising the phenol product, acetone, and at least 1% by weight residual cumene hydroperoxide, and a second step comprising passing the effluent into a second reactor and decomposing the residual cumene hydroperoxide, wherein during said process the ratio of phenol to acetone is maintained at a molar ratio of greater than 1:1, and wherein the water in each of the first and second steps is present in an amount more than 0 and less than or equal to 5 weight percent based on the total weight of the feed stream or effluent, and wherein the process is continuous.

Abstract: A polycarbonate comprises structural units derived from a compound comprising a ketone functionality and at least two fused rings, A and B wherein ring A is a saturated ring or ring system having 5 to 7 cyclic carbons and substituted with a ketone functionality and ring B is a saturated ring having 5 to 6 cyclic carbons

Abstract: A method of preparing a polycyclic compound containing a ketone functionality comprising: reacting a mixture comprising a catalyst, a reactant compound and an amount of water greater than or equal to 3 weight percent (wt %) based on the weight of the reactant compound; wherein said catalyst comprises nickel and base and said reactant compound comprises at least two fused rings, A and B wherein ring A is a saturated ring or ring system having 5 to 7 cyclic carbons and substituted with a hydroxyl functionality and ring B is a non-aromatic unsaturated ring having 5 to 6 cyclic carbons; and converting the hydroxyl functionality of ring A to a ketone functionality and non-aromatic unsaturated ring B to a saturated ring.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of benzoquinones and hydroquinones includes oxidizing an aromatic hydroxy compound with oxygen or an oxygen containing gas, a copper containing catalyst, and optionally a promoter to form the benzoquinone. A reduction reaction is employed to form the hydroquinone.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of benzoquinones and hydroquinones includes oxidizing an aromatic hydroxy compound with oxygen or an oxygen containing gas, a copper containing catalyst, and a promoter to form the benzoquonone. A reduction reaction is employed to form the hydroquinone.

Abstract: A process for forming a cycloalkylidene bisphenol comprises: reacting a cycloalkanone compound of formula: where [A] is a substituted or an unsubstituted aromatic group, R1-R4 independently represent a hydrogen or a C1-C12 hydrocarbyl group; and “a” and “b” are integers independently having values from 0-3; with an aromatic hydroxy compound of formula [A]-OH, where [A] is as previously described; at a mole ratio of greater than or equal to about 20, in the presence of a sulfonic acid type ion exchange resin catalyst crosslinked with greater than or equal to about 8 weight percent of divinylbenzene, and a promoter selected from the group consisting of a mercaptan compound and a resorcinol compound; to form a cycloalkylidene bisphenol of formula: where [A], R1-R4, “a” and “b” are as previously described. Moreover, any acid catalyst can be used with a resorcinol promoter.

Abstract: A metal oxide catalyst precursor composition comprises a pore former and a catalyst reagent.

Abstract: A process for separating sulfonic acid compounds from a phenolic solvent is provided by contacting the phenolic solvent with a hydrotalcite-type material (HTM). The process can be applied in the conventional industrial process for converting cumene to phenol to remove sulfonic acid compounds from the phenol product. A process and a facility for producing purified phenol by converting cumene to phenol are provided. In the conversion of cumene to phenol, the phenol often contains carbonyl-type impurities. The phenol and carbonyl-type impurities are reacted in the presence of a sulfonic acid cation exchange resin catalyst (IER) to produce a reaction product that may contain sulfonic acid compounds. The reaction product is contacted with an HTM to reduce the amount of sulfonic acid compounds which may be present and to produce a purified phenol-containing stream. The purified phenol-containing stream may be further purified using conventional separation techniques, such as distillation.

Abstract: A process for separating sulfonic acid compounds from a phenolic solvent is provided by contacting the phenolic solvent with a hydrotalcite-type material (HTM). The process can be applied in the conventional industrial process for converting cumene to phenol to remove sulfonic acid compounds from the phenol product. A process and a facility for producing purified phenol by converting cumene to phenol are provided. In the conversion of cumene to phenol, the phenol often contains carbonyl-type impurities. The phenol and carbonyl-type impurities are reacted in the presence of a sulfonic acid cation exchange resin catalyst (IER) to produce a reaction product that may contain sulfonic acid compounds. The reaction product is contacted with an HTM to reduce the amount of sulfonic acid compounds which may be present and to produce a purified phenol-containing stream. The purified phenol-containing stream may be further purified using conventional separation techniques, such as distillation.

Abstract: A metal oxide catalyst precursor composition comprises a pore former and a catalyst reagent.

Abstract: A process for converting carbonyl-type impurities contained in a phenolic solvent to high-boiling derivatives is provided by contacting the phenolic solvent with a hydrotalcite-type material (HTM). The phenol can be separated from the high-boiling derivatives using conventional separation techniques, such as distillation, so the invention also provides a process for separating carbonyl-type impurities, such as hydroxyacetone (HA), from a phenolic solvent. The process can be applied in the conventional industrial process for converting cumene to phenol to remove carbonyl-type impurities from the phenol product. A process and a facility for producing purified phenol by converting cumene to phenol are provided. In the conversion of cumene to phenol, the phenol often contains carbonyl-type impurities. The phenol and carbonyl-type impurities are reacted in the presence of an HTM to produce phenol and high-boiling derivatives.

Abstract: A method of preparing cumylphenol comprises reacting phenol and alpha-methylstyrene in the presence of an acid catalyst and an alkylbenzene. The method provides an inexpensive, selective process to cumylphenol.