Abstract: There are disclosed a 4-alkoxy-1,3-dioxane-5-carbonitrile which is a novel compound represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein R represents a lower-alkyl group, and which is useful as an intermediate for the synthesis of Vitamin B.sub.1, and a process for preparing the novel compound by subjecting a 3-alkoxy-2-propenenitrile to reaction with a formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst.

Abstract: An improved catalyst suitable for use in the production of an unsaturated carboxylic acid by the catalytic vapor phase oxidation of an unsaturated aldehyde is provided. In this catalyst, a heat-resistant inorganic substance, such as alumina, silica-alumina and silicon carbide, having a particle diameter of 3 through 10 mm, an apparent porosity of 35 through 60%, a water absorption of 20 through 50%, an average pore diameter of not less than 40 microns, a specific surface area of not more than 2 m.sup.2 /g and a bulk specific gravity of 1.5 through 2.0 is used for supporting a composition containing molybdenum, phosphorus, vanadium and the alkali metals. The use of the above-mentioned carrier results in the advantages that the unsaturated carboxylic acid, such as methacrylic acid, can be selectively produced from the unsaturated aldehyde at a high yield and that the mechanical strength of the catalyst is remarkably improved.

Abstract: Benzene is catalytically oxidized in the vapor phase with oxygen in the presence of an alcohol to be converted to phenol. The catalyst used is represented by the formula: M.sub.a Ag.sub.b P.sub.c O.sub.d wherein M is selected from zinc, titanium, zirconium, tin, bismuth and vanadium, Ag is silver, P is phosphorus and O is oxygen, and a=1, b=0.005.about.5 and c=0 to 6. Phenol is obtained at an enhanced yield even though the catalytic oxidation is carried out at a relatively low temperature as compared with conventional catalytic oxidation processes.

Abstract: A catalyst for the ammoxidation of propylene to prepare acrylonitrile with a high yield thereof comprising an oxide composition of the empirical formula (I)Mo.sub.a Co.sub.b Ni.sub.c Fe.sub.d Bi.sub.e V.sub.f Ca.sub.g K.sub.h X.sub.i Si.sub.j O.sub.k (I)wherein X is zirconium and/or chromium, the subscripts a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i and j respectively denote the number of the respective atoms of the elements, when a=10, b=0 to 8, c=0 to 8, (b+c)=2 to 10, d=0.3 to 7, e=0.01 to 3, f=0.01 to 2, g=0.01 to 5, h=0.05 to 0.5, i=0 to 2, j=10 to 50, and the subscript k denotes the number of oxygen atoms which satisfies the average valency of the elements other than oxygen and the ratio a:k being in a range of 10:30 to 80, which catalyst is prepared by preparing an aqueous slurry containing respective element-containing compounds, by spray drying the aqueous slurry to prepare a dried solid precursory catalyst and, finally, by calcining the precursory catalyst as a temperature of from 500.degree. to 750.degree. C.

Abstract: Acrylonitrile is produced from propylene in an excellent percent conversion of propylene, percent selectivity to acrylonitrile and percent yield of acrylonitrile, by bringing, at an elevated temperature, a reaction feed containing propylene, molecular oxygen and ammonia, each in gas phase, into contact with a catalyst consisting essentially of an oxide composition of the empirical formula:Mo.sub.a Co.sub.b Ni.sub.c Fe.sub.d Bi.sub.e X.sub.d Ti.sub.g O.sub.hwherein X represents at least one atom of an element selected from vanadium and tellurium; the subscripts a, b, c, d, e, f and g respectively denote the numbers of the respective atoms of the elements, the ratio a:b:c:d:e:f:g being in the range of 10:0 to 10:0 to 10:1 to 7:0.08 to 1.1:0.01 to 1:1 to 15, and the ratio of a to the sum of b and c being in a range of 10:3 to 10, and; the subscript h represents the number of oxygen atoms which satisfies the average valency of the elements, the ratio a:h being in a range of 10:36.7 to 84.1.

Abstract: Acrolein or methacrolein is produced in a high percent of yield by a catalytic oxidation of propylene or isobutylene in the presence of a catalyst of the empirical formula:Mo.sub.10 Co.sub.0.about.10 Ni.sub.0.about.10 Fe.sub.0.1.about.5 Bi.sub.0.001.about.3 Al.sub.0.05.about.10 Ti.sub.1.about.15 A.sub.0.about.4 O.sub.33.2.about.99wherein A denotes at least one alkali metal atom and the sum of the numbers of cobalt atoms and the nickel atoms is 1 to 10 per 10 atoms of molybdenum, which catalyst has an excellent crushing strength and exhibits a high catalyst activity.

Abstract: An improved catalyst suitable for use in the production of acrylonitrile by the catalytic ammoxidation of propylene in a fluidized bed reactor is provided. This catalyst contains 40 to 60% by weight of silica, in terms of SiO.sub.2 , and 60 to 40% by weight of a composition having the formula:Mo.sub.10 Co.sub.2-8 Ni.sub.0-8 Fe.sub.0.1-7 Bi.sub.0.1-3 Zr.sub.0.1-4 A.sub.0.01-1 X.sub.0-5 O.sub.32.5-78.5wherein A is the alkali metals, X is Ti, Te, V, Mn, Cr, W and/or Sn, provided that the total number of Co and Ni atoms is 2 to 10, and has 150 to 500 A of the average pore radius, 0.2 to 0.5 cm.sup.3 /g of the total pore volume and 30 to 60 m.sup.2 /g of the specific surface area. This catalyst has an improved attrition resistance and acrylonitrile can be produced, in the presence of this catalyst, at a high yield by the ammoxidation reaction of propylene in a fluidized bed reactor.

Abstract: A process for preparing a diester of a dicarboxylic acid having two more carbon atoms than the unsaturated hydrocarbon used as a starting material, which comprises subjecting an unsaturated hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and an ester of nitrous acid to catalytic vapor phase reaction at a temperature of 50.degree. to 200.degree. C. in the presence of a platinum group metal or a salt thereof and a halogen compound.

Abstract: Methacrolein is catalytically oxidized into methacrylic acid in the vapor phase at a temperature of 200.degree. to 450.degree. C. The catalyst used is comprised of molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium and/or cesium, vanadium, silver and/or tellurium, and oxygen, and represented by the formula:Mo.sub.12 P.sub.a A.sub.b V.sub.c X.sub.d O.sub.ewherein A is K and/or Cs and X is Ag and/or Te, and a=0.5-5, b=0.1-4, c=0.05-3, d=0.001-2 and e is a positive number required by the valence states of the other elements present.

Abstract: A process for preparing a diester of a dicarboxylic acid having two more carbon atoms than the unsaturated hydrocarbon used as the starting material, which comprises subjecting an unsaturated hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and an alcohol to reaction in the presence of a platinum group metal or a salt thereof; a compound selected from the group consisting of nitric acid, a nitrogen oxide and an ester of nitrous acid; and a halogen compound.

Abstract: Disclosed is a water resistant catalyst for reducing nitrogen oxides with ammonia, which catalyst comprises barium sulfate and vanadium(IV)oxide sulfate which has peaks at 940 cm.sup.-1 and 510 cm.sup.-1 in an infrared absorption spectrum.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vapor phase catalytic oxidation process for preparing an aliphatic carboxylic acid ester of a monoaromatic compound having 1 to 2 hydroxymethyl substituents, such as benzyl acetate, p-methylbenzyl acetate, p-xylylenediacetate, benzyl propionate and benzyl butyrate. A gaseous feed comprised of a benzene compound having 1 to 2 methyl substituents, an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 2 to 4 carbon atoms and molecular oxygen is contacted with an improved catalyst. The metal ingredients of the catalyst consist essentially of (a) palladium, (b) arsenic and (c) at least one metal selected from alkali metals and alkali earth metals, and the atomic ratio of palladium:arsenic:the alkali or alkali earth metal is 1:0.05-4:0.1-10.

Abstract: Methacrolein is produced in a high yield by catalytically oxidizing isobutylene at a temperature of from 250.degree. to 500.degree. C. by using a catalyst represented by the formula:Mo.sub.a Co.sub.b Fe.sub.c Bi.sub.d Cs.sub.e X.sub.f Y.sub.g O.sub.hwherein X is either both vanadium and palladium, Y is at least one member selected from titanium, nickel, tin and zirconium, a=12, b=2-12, c=0.5-7, d=0.1-5, e=0.0005-0.5, f=0.01-2, g=0-5 and h is a positive number proportional to the number of oxygen atoms satisfying the average valency of the metal atoms stated in the formula, which catalyst has a high resistance to compression and abrasion and exhibits a high catalytic efficiency, mechanical strength and durability.

Abstract: Acrylonitrile can be catalytically produced with a high yield by bringing, at an elevated temperature, preferably of 300.degree. to 470.degree. C., a reaction feed containing propylene, ammonia and molecular oxygen into contact with a catalyst consisting of an oxide composition of the empirical formula: Mo.sub.a Co.sub.b Fe.sub.c X.sub.d O.sub.e wherein X denotes at least one atom of an element selected from phosphorus, arsenic, antimony and bismuth and wherein the ratio a:b:c:d:e is in a range of 12:4 to 9:1 to 5:0.01 to 0.07:39.5 to 52.7, said catalyst being prepared by providing an aqueous mixture containing molybdenum-, cobalt- and iron-containing compounds and a phosphorus-, arsenic-, antimony- or bismuth-containing compound, converting the aqueous mixture into a dried solid mixture and calcining the solid mixture at a temperature of at least 550.degree. C.

Abstract: Unsaturated hydrocarbons having 4 to 6 carbon atoms are catalytically oxidized into maleic anhydride by using a catalyst, which consists essentially of oxides of (A) vanadium, (B) phosphorus, (C) titanium and (D) optionally at least one element selected from sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zirconium, boron, manganese, silver and molybdenum in the atomic ratios defined by the following formulaVP.sub.a Ti.sub.b X.sub.c O.sub.dwherein X is the element (D) set forth above and a=1.0 to 5.0, b=2.0 to 12.0 and c=0 to 1.0, and which catalyst is prepared by calcining a mixture of a vanadium-containing compound and titanium dioxide at a temperature of 650.degree. C. to 1,500.degree. C., incorporating into the mixture a phosphorus-containing compound and optionally the element "X"-containing compound and, then, heating the resulting mixture.

Abstract: Isobutylene is catalytically oxidized in the vapor phase with molecular oxygen to form methacrolein. The catalyst used consists essentially of metal oxides and is represented by the formula:Mo.sub.a Bi.sub.b Fe.sub.c Co.sub.d Zr.sub.e X.sub.f Ti.sub.g O.sub.hwherein Mo=molybdenum, Bi=bismuth, Fe=iron, Co=cobalt, Zr=zirconium, X=calcium and/or zinc, Ti=titanium and O=oxygen, and the subscripts indicating the atomic ratios of the respective metals to bismuth are: a=5-20, b=1, c=0.2-5, d=1-10, e=0.01-2, f=0.01-2, and g=0.01-1. The catalyst exhibits little or no reduction in mechanical strength during the oxidation reaction and results in an enhanced yield of methacrolein.

Abstract: A process for preparing protocatechualdehyde or a 3-alkoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde which comprises subjecting catechol or a 2-alkoxyphenol to reaction with glyoxylic acid in a basic aqueous medium in the presence of a catalyst containing one or more compounds selected from aluminium oxide, silicon oxide and hydrated aluminium oxide in an amount of not less than 0.01 g per 1 g of the starting catechol or 2-alkoxyphenol at a temperature of 0.degree. to 50.degree. C., and then oxidizing the thus obtained reaction mixture in a basic medium.

Abstract: Maleic anhydride is prepared by the catalytic oxidation of unsaturated hydrocarbons having 4 to 6 carbon atoms, at a temperature of from 350.degree. to 500.degree. C., in the presence of a catalyst which is produced by a method wherein a mixture of a titanium oxide and a vanadium compound in an atomic ratio of from 1 to 15 is calcined at a temperature of from 630.degree. to 1000.degree. C. to prepare a precursory catalyst, and wherein a gas mixture containing an organic phosphorus compound and a carrier gas is brought into contact with a mass of the percursory catalyst at a supply rate of the phosphorus compound being from 0.01 to 10 millimoles/hr per 1 ml of the mass of the percursory catalyst and at a temperature of from 350.degree. to 600.degree. C. during when a total amount of from 0.3 to 30 millimoles of the phosphorus compound per 1 ml of the mass of the precursory catalyst passes through the mass of the precursory catalyst.

Abstract: A process for preparing a diester of a dicarboxylic acid having two more carbon atoms than the unsaturated hydrocarbon used as a starting material, which comprises subjecting an unsaturated hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and an alcohol to reaction in the presence of a platinum group metal in combination with one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of nitric acid, a nitrogen oxide and an ester of nitrous acid.

Abstract: Unsaturated hydrocarbons having 4 to 6 carbon atoms are catalytically oxidized into maleic anhydride by using a catalyst, which consists essentially of oxides of (A) vanadium, (B) phosphorus, (C) titanium and (D) optionally at least one element selected from sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zirconium, boron, manganese, silver and molybdenum in the atomic ratios defined by the following formulaVP.sub.a Ti.sub.b X.sub.c O.sub.dwherein X is the element (D) set forth above and a=1.0 to 5.0, b=2.0 to 12.0 and c=0 to 1.0, and which catalyst is prepared by calcining a mixture of a vanadium-containing compound and titanium dioxide at a temperature of 650.degree. C. to 1,500.degree. C., incorporating into the mixture a phosphorus-containing compound and optionally the element "X"-containing compound and, then, heating the resulting mixture.