Abstract: Disclosed is a process for esterifying and/or transesterifying a polymer having a polyethylenic backbone and pendant acid and/or ester moieties comprising contacting a melt of the polymer with a transesterifying compound so that the polymer undergoes esterification and/or transesterification but not alcoholysis. The esterified or transesterified polymer also has pendant ester moieties which differ in kind and/or number from the unreacted polymer. In one embodiment, the process also comprises adding an amount of a transition metal salt that is effective to promote oxygen scavenging. Also in a further embodiment, the process comprises irradiating the transesterified polymer with actinic radiation to reduce the induction period before oxygen scavenging commences. Also disclosed are compositions comprising a component which comprises an ethylenic or polyethylenic backbone and a pendant or terminal moiety comprising a benzylic, allylic, or ether-containing radical.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for esterifying and/or transesterifying a polymer having a polyethylenic backbone and pendant acid and/or ester moieties comprising contacting a melt of the polymer with a transesterifying compound so that the polymer undergoes esterification and/or transesterification but not alcoholysis. The esterified or transesterified polymer also has pendant ester moieties which differ in kind and/or number from the unreacted polymer. In one embodiment, the process also comprises adding an amount of a transition metal salt that is effective to promote oxygen scavenging. Also in a further embodiment, the process comprises irradiating the transesterified polymer with actinic radiation to reduce the induction period before oxygen scavenging commences. Also disclosed are compositions comprising a component which comprises an ethylenic or polyethylenic backbone and a pendant or terminal moiety comprising a benzylic, allylic, or ether-containing radical.

Abstract: A process for the production of an ionomers containing ethylenically-unsaturated structural units comprising contacting:(a) a terpolymer containing structural units produced from (i) at least one .alpha.-olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms; (ii) at least one ester of alpha, beta-ethylenically-unsaturated carboxylic acids; and (iii) at least one carboxylic acid with;(b) an inorganic metal-containing base under conditions effective to convert at least a portion of acid functionalities to inorganic metal salts thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for esterifying and/or transesterifying a polymer having a polyethylenic backbone and pendant acid and/or ester moieties comprising contacting a melt of the polymer with a transesterifying compound so that the polymer undergoes esterification and/or transesterification but not alcoholysis. The esterified or transesterified polymer also has pendant ester moieties which differ in kind and/or number from the unreacted polymer. In one embodiment, the process also comprises adding an amount of a transition metal salt that is effective to promote oxygen scavenging. Also in a further embodiment, the process comprises irradiating the transesterified polymer with actinic radiation to reduce the induction period before oxygen scavenging commences. Also disclosed are compositions comprising a component which comprises an ethylenic or polyethylenic backbone and a pendant or terminal moiety comprising a benzylic, allylic, or ether-containing radical.

Abstract: An improved oxygen scavenging system is provided. The system involves an oxygen scavenging phase containing at least one oxygen-scavenger and a second phase comprising at least one catalyst effective in catalyzing a scavenging reaction. The oxygen scavenging phase is substantially devoid of any catalyst of the scavenging reaction and the second phase is effectively separate from the oxygen scavenging phase. Nevertheless, the oxygen scavenging system provides excellent scavenging capabilities while avoiding many of the prior art problems, such as undesired oxidation during high temperature processing when the system is incorporated into a multi-layer film.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for esterifying and/or transesterifying a polymer having a polyethylenic backbone and pendant acid and/or ester moieties comprising contacting a melt of the polymer with a transesterifying compound so that the polymer undergoes esterification and/or transesterification but not alcoholysis. The esterified or transesterified polymer also has pendant ester moieties which differ in kind and/or number from the unreacted polymer. In one embodiment, the process also comprises adding an amount of a transition metal salt that is effective to promote oxygen scavenging. Also in a further embodiment, the process comprises irradiating the transesterified polymer with actinic radiation to reduce the induction period before oxygen scavenging commences.Also disclosed are compositions comprising a component which comprises an ethylenic or polyethylenic backbone and a pendant or terminal moiety comprising a benzylic, allylic, or ether-containing radical.

Abstract: A composition for, and an improved process of, enhancing petroleum recovery from a petroleum reservoir by injecting into the reservoir a surfactant composition which includes at least one anionic surfactant component and a non-ionic surfactant component in which the components are proportioned to synergistically decrease the viscosity of emulsions in the reservoir over the effect of either component alone.

Abstract: A method of enhanced oil recovery using foam to improve the effectiveness of steam to mobilize viscous crude, either for steam stimulation in a single well or for steam drive between wells. A new surfactant composition having branched alkyl aromatic sulfonates as the effective agent for the steam foamer is used because of its ability to foam in the presence of substantial pore volumes of residual oil and thereby mobilize significant amounts of producible oil by diverting steam to less-permeable zones.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of carboxylic acid esters to homologous carboxylic acid esters which comprises reacting a carboxylic acid ester having from two to about twenty carbon atoms with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a heterogeneous sulfided catalyst comprising nickel, optionally in admixture with a co-catalyst selected from the elements of Group VI-B of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of carboxylic acids, alcohols, aldehydes or the secondary products thereof which comprises reacting an alcohol having from one to about twenty carbon atoms with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a heterogeneous sulfided catalyst comprising cobalt in admixture with a co-catalyst selected from the elements of Groups V-B, VI-B and the Actinide series of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of dialkyl ethers to homologous carboxylic acid esters and alcohols which comprises reacting a dialkyl ether having from two to about twenty carbon atoms with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a heterogeneous sulfided catalyst comprising nickel, optionally in admixture with a co-catalyst selected from the elements of Group VI-B of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of carboxylic acids, alcohols, aldehydes or the secondary products thereof which comprises reacting an alcohol having from one to about twenty carbon atoms with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a heterogeneous sulfided catalyst comprising nickel in admixture with a co-catalyst selected from the elements of Groups V-B, VI-B and the Actinide series of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of carboxylic acid esters to homologous carboxylic acid esters which comprises reacting a carboxylic acid ester having from two to about twenty carbon atoms with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a heterogeneous sulfided catalyst comprising cobalt, optionally in admixture with a co-catalyst selected from the elements of Group VI-B of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: Preparation of dialkyl oxalates by the oxidative carbonylation of alcohols which comprises reacting carbon monoxide with an alcohol in the presence of a catalytic amount of a catalyst comprising palladium in complex combination with a ligand and in the presence of a stoichiometric amount of a quinone. Advantageously, carboxylic acid cocatalysts may be employed in addition to the palladium-containing catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of dialkyl oxalates by the oxidative carbonylation of alcohols which comprises reacting a mixture of carbon monoxide and oxygen with an alcohol in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst comprising palladium and thallium on carbon.

Abstract: Preparation of dialkyl oxalates by the oxidative carbonylation of alcohols which comprises reacting a mixture of carbon monoxide and air with an alcohol in the presence of a catalytic amount of a catalyst comprising palladium in complex combination with a ligand, a small amount of a quinone, and a redox agent.Advantageously the reaction is carried out in the presence of a solvent.