Abstract: Process for the preparation of phenylpropanones having formula: ##STR1## R and R.sub.1, equal or different, being C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl groups or being coincident in the CH.sub.2 group of a heterocyclic ring, wherein the corresponding allylbenzenes are catalytically epoxidized by means of H.sub.2 O.sub.2, in a biphase system comprising an aqueous phase containing H.sub.2 O.sub.2 and an organic phase containing said allylbenzenes, a solvent immiscible with said aqueous phase and a catalyst having formula Q.sub.3 XW.sub.4 O.sub.24 (Q being a quaternary cation containing hydrocarbylic groups having on the whole from 20 to 70 C atoms, and X being P or As) and wherein the thus obtained epoxides are isomerized by heating at 90.degree.-150.degree. C., in the presence of catalytic amounts of LiI.

Abstract: There is described a process for preparing alkyl esters of methyltartronic acid by hydroxylation of methacrylic acid to alpha-methylglyceric acid with H.sub.2 O.sub.2, in an aqueous medium, in the presence of H.sub.2 WO.sub.4 and optionally of H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 or H.sub.3 AsO.sub.4 or alkaline salts thereof as catalysts, at pH<2 and at temperatures of from 50.degree. to 100.degree. C., by subsequent oxidation of alpha-methylglyceric acid to methyltartronic acid with HNO.sub.3 in excess or with O.sub.2, in an aqueous-alkaline medium, in the presence of Pd or Pt carried on carbon or oxides thereof as catalysts, at temperatures of 60.degree.-100.degree. C., and final esterification of methyltartronic acid with alcohols C.sub.1 -C.sub.4.

Abstract: Compositions of formula (I):Q.sub.3 XW.sub.4 O.sub.24-2n (I)wherein:Q represents a cation of an "onium" salt;X is either a P or an As atom; whilen is 0, 1 or 2.The preparative method consists in reacting an oxygenated tungsten (VI) derivative, an oxygenated P (V) or As (V) derivative, and hydrogen peroxide, in an aqueous acid phase, with and "onium" salt or a precursor thereof, if desired contained in an organic phase immiscible with the aqueous phase, at substantially room temperature. The oxygenated compounds of W (VI), P (V) or As (V) may be prepared "in situ" under the conditions of the reaction.Compositions (I), which appear as solids or as viscous oils, find use as oxidizing agents in general in oxidation processes, and especially as epoxidation catalysts for olefinic compounds, both in a homogeneous phase as well as in a heterogeneous phase, and preferably according to the phase-transfer technique, in the presence of oxidizing agents.

Abstract: Compositions of formula (I):Q.sub.3 XW.sub.4 O.sub.24-2n (I)wherein:Q represents a cation of an "onium" salt;X is either a P or an As atom; whilen is 0, 1 or 2.The preparative method consists in reacting an oxygenated tungsten (VI) derivative, an oxygenated P (V) or As (V) derivative, and hydrogen peroxide, in an aqueous acid phase, with an "onium" salt or a precursor thereof, if desired contained in an organic phase immiscible with the aqueous phase, at substantially room temperature. The oxygenated compounds of W (VI), P (V) or As (V) may be prepared "in situ" under the conditions of the reaction.Compositions (I), which appear as solids or as viscous oils, find use as oxidizing agents in general in oxidation processes, and especially as epoxidation catalysts for olefinic compounds, both in a homogeneous phase as well as in a heterogeneous phase, and preferably according to the phase-transfer technique, in the presence of oxidizing agents.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for the preparation of 2-(4'-nitrophenyl)-propionic acid of the formula (I): ##STR1## More particularly, this invention relates to a process for the preparation of 2-(4'-nitrophenyl)-propionic acid (I) starting from para-nitroethylbenzene (PNEB) by carboxylation in the presence of alkaline phenates (Na and K).The 2-(4'-nitrophenyl)-propionic acid (I) thus obtained finds a useful application as an intermediate for the preparation of chemical products.For instance, acid (I) may be hydrogenated catalytically until obtaining the corresponding amino-derivative which is then condensed with ortho-cyanobenzyl-bromides in order to give isoindoline (as described in Belgian Pat. No. 774985).

Abstract: A new process is disclosed for the synthesis of alkylene carbonates having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms in the chain, starting from a corresponding halohydrin having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.a, R.sub.b, R.sub.c and R.sub.d are independently hydrogen or alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl radicals and where X is a halogen, characterized in that said halohydrin is reacted with a bicarbonate of a quaternary -onium compound, where "-onium" means ammonium, phosphonium, arsonium or stibonium, preferably using an organic solvent as diluent and operating in the presence of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: There is disclosed a simple, economical process for preparing 2,5-dimethyl-3-(2H)-furanone by hydrolysis of the dimer of diacetyl at a temperature of 20.degree.C to 120.degree.C and in the presence of an acid, mineral or organic, or of a cationic resin, with elimination of a acetic acid.