Abstract: Reduction in the content of acetals or ketone acetals in a reaction mixture containing at least 10 moles alcohol per mole acetal or ketone acetal can be achieved hydrogenolytically when the reaction mixture is hydrogenated at 80° to 250° C. at a hydrogen partial pressure of 0.5 to 30 MPa in the presence of activated carbon charged with noble metal as catalyst.

Abstract: The acid-catalyzed intermolecular etherification of mono- or polyhydric alcohols and acid-catalyzed ether cleavage in the presence of water may be improved if etherification or ether cleavage is carried out in the presence of an acid catalyst and, additionally, a hydrogenation catalyst under a hydrogen atmosphere. The process relates in particular to the etherification of diols, triols and tetrols with the formation of hydroxyethers.

Abstract: &bgr;-Hydroxyaldehydes are produced by a method in which 1,2-oxiranes are reacted with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of transitional metal compounds which are modified with phosphorus-oxygen ligands or nitrogen-oxygen ligands and which act as a catalyst.

Abstract: A method of producing hydrogen cyanide by the gas-phase reaction of methane with ammonia at elevated temperature and an ammonia/methane ratio of 1.001 to 1.1. The conducting of the gaseous reaction mixture through a corona discharge causes the reaction to start at temperatures below 1000.degree. C. without the action of a catalyst. This results in considerable savings of the necessary investment expenses as well as of the running costs for energy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of five-membered or six-membered cyclic ethers, in particular of anhydropolyols, by acid-catalysed cyclodehydration of polyols that contain at least two hydroxyl groups with a spacing enabling ring formation--that is to say, preferably with a spacing of 4 or 5 C atoms. The invention is directed in particular towards the production of anhydrotetritols, anhydropentitols and, particularly preferred, anhydrohexitols, from tetritols, pentitols and hexitols, respectively.

Abstract: A process for the production of primary and/or secondary amines from imines or nitriles, comprising an aminating hydrogenation of imine or of nitrile with hydrogen in the presence of ammonia, of a hydrogenation catalyst based on cobalt, nickel, ruthenium or mixtures of these metals and of a base, at a temperature within the range of 50.degree. C. to 200.degree. C. and at a pressure within the range of 0.3 to 30 MPa. The yield of amine is increased by the use of a quaternary ammonium hydroxide as base. Preferably a tetraalkylammonium hydroxide is used in a quantity of from 0.01 to 100 mMol per mol of amine or of nitrile. The process is suitable in particular for the production of isophoronediamine from isophorone nitrile imine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a simplified method of producing .+-.2-azabicyclo?2.2.1!hept-5-en-3-one from cyclopentadiene and sulfocyanides by reacting cyclopentadiene with sulfonylcyanides without the use of organic solvents.

Abstract: A process is described for the production of a suspension of cyanuric chloride in an aqueous liquid, more particularly, water. Molten cyanuric chloride is sprayed using a spray arrangement comprising a spray nozzle immersed in the aqueous liquid. Blockages in the nozzle during the critical start and stop phases are avoided by passing superheated steam through those parts of the spray arrangement which come into contact with the cyanuric chloride melt before and after the spraying process. A particularly reactive cyanuric chloride suspension is obtained by spraying a mixture of cyanuric chloride melt and superheated steam.

Abstract: Chloromethyl thiocyanate is prepared by reacting bromochloromethane with an alkali or alkaline earth thiocyanate or with ammonium thiocyanate in the presence of water and an onium salt as a catalyst.

Abstract: Isothiocyanates of the formula (I)r -- n.dbd.c.dbd.s (i)in which R is a straight or branched alkyl group with 1 to 18 carbon atoms, preferably methyl, and wherein the alkyl group can be substituted once or more by --OH, --OR.sup.1 or --SR.sup.1 and where R.sup.1 is an alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or R is cycloalkyl with 3 to 8 carbon atoms, benzyl or phenyl in which the aromatic nucleus can be substituted once or more by a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, a hydroxyl group, or --R.sup.1, --OR.sup.1 or --SR.sup.1 or R is a pyridyl or thiazolyl group prepared by reacting (1) a dithiocarbamate of the general formula (II) ##STR1## where R is as defined above and Me is an alkali atom, one valence of an alkaline earth metal atom or the ammonium group whose hydrogen atoms can be substituted by R with (2) a cyanogen halide, preferably cyanogen chloride, in the presence of water.