Abstract: A new class of compounds, the alkyl 9-alkoxy-7-nonenoates, is disclosed. These compounds are important intermediates in the synthesis of sebacic acid.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the production of esters by reaction of an alkyl acyclic allylic ether such as 8-methoxy-1,6-octadiene with carbon monoxide in the presence of a halide of nickel, cobalt or iron as a catalyst and especially nickel iodide for the production of esters. Carbonylation of 8-methoxy-1,6-octadiene results in the production of methyl-3,8-nonadienoate; 2-(carbomethoxymethyl)-vinylcyclopentane; 2-(carbomethoxymethyl)-6-vinylcyclohexanone and 2-carbomethoxymethylbicyclo(3.3.0)-octan-3-one.

Abstract: 9-methoxy-7-nonenal may be isomerized in the presence of methanol and ruthenium chloride to provide 1,1,9,9-tetramethoxynonane. The rates of reaction are increased by pre-formation of 1,1,9-trimethoxy-7-nonene and removal of the water generated prior to conducting the isomerization reaction.

Abstract: A process for the telomerization of a conjugated alkadiene with an alkanol is disclosed for the production of an organo-oxyalkadiene. A palladium catalyst having a phosphine or stibene ligand is employed in a substantially oxygen-free environment and in the presence of a high boiling solvent so that the reaction products may be separated from the catalyst by distillation. Vacuum fractional distillation is a preferred method for separating the products.

Abstract: The hydroformylation of olefins to produce aldehydes is disclosed employing an ionic metal complex catalyst where the ionic charge is on either the metal or on a ligand in a polar solvent followed by extracting the aldehyde by means of a hydrocarbon solvent to minimize any deleterious effect on the catalyst which can occur when the aldehyde is separated by other means such as distillation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the production of esters by reaction of an alkyl acyclic allylic ether such as 8-methoxy-1,6-octadiene with carbon monoxide in the presence of a halide of nickel, cobalt or iron as a catalyst and especially nickel iodide for the production of esters. Carbonylation of 8-methoxy-1,6-octadiene results in the production of methyl-3,8-nonadienoate; 2-(carbomethoxymethyl)-vinylcyclopentane; 2-(carbomethoxymethyl)-6-vinylcyclohexanone and 2-carbomethoxymethylbicyclo(3.3.0)-octan-3-one.

Abstract: A mixture of 1,3-butadiene, carbon monoxide and a monoalkanol of the general formula ROH in which R is a straight or branched chain alkyl group of from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms is reacted in the presence of catalyst to provide alkyl nonadienoate ester at high levels of productivity and little, if any, catalyst decomposition, employing as catalyst, a palladium-ligand complex comprising:(a) a member selected from the group consisting of zerovalent palladium, a palladium-containing composition which provides zerovalent palladium under reaction conditions and palladium (II) salt;(b) a strong ligand selected from the group consisting of tertiary phosphine having a pKa in water of not greater than about 6, a phosphite of the general formula (R.sup.1 O)(R.sup.2 O)(R.sup.3 O)P in which each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is an alkyl group having at least 9 carbon atoms, an aryl group or an alkaryl group, an arsine of the general formula R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 As in which each of R.sup.1, R.sub.2 and R.sup.

Abstract: A mixture of 1,3-butadiene, carbon monoxide and a monoalkanol of the general formula ROH in which R is a straight or branched chain alkyl group of from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms is reacted in the presence of catalyst to provide alkyl nonadienoate ester at high levels of productivity and little, if any, catalyst decomposition, employing as catalyst, a palladium-ligand complex comprising:(a) a member selected from the group consisting of zerovalent palladium, a palladium-containing composition which provides zerovalent palladium under reaction conditions and palladium (II) salt;(b) a strong ligand selected from the group consisting of tertiary phosphine having a pKa in water of not greater than about 6, a phosphite of the general formula (R.sup.1 O) (R.sup.2 O) (R.sup.3 O)P in which each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is an alkyl group having at least 9 carbon atoms, an aryl group or an alkaryl group, an arsine of the general formula R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 As in which each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.

Abstract: A mixture of 1,3-butadiene, carbon monoxide and a monoalkanol of the general formula ROH in which R is a straight or branched chain alkyl group of from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms is reacted in the presence of catalyst to provide alkyl nonadienoate ester at high levels of productivity and little, if any, catalyst decomposition, employing as catalyst, a palladium-ligand complex comprising:(a) a member selected from the group consisting of zerovalent palladium, a palladium-containing composition which provides zerovalent palladium under reaction conditions and palladium (II) salt;(b) a strong ligand selected from the group consisting of tertiary phosphine having a pKa in water of not greater than about 6, a phosphite of the general formula (R.sup.1 O) (R.sup.2 O) (R.sup.3 O)P in which each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is an alkyl group having at least 9 carbon atoms, an aryl group or an alkaryl group, an arsine of the general formula R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 As in which each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.

Abstract: Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), a high-octane blending agent for motor fuels, is prepared in high yield by the process which comprises reacting isobutylene and methanol in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of at least one heterogeneous catalyst selected from the group consisting of boron phosphate, blue tungsten oxide and crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite having a silica to alumina mole ratio of at least about 12:1 and a constraint index of from 1 to about 12.