Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for selectively producing acetic acid and/or methyl acetate by the gas phase carbonylation of methanol with carbon monoxide; an improved process for producing acetic anhydride directly from the methyl acetate; and a novel method for sustaining the life time of a carbonylation or a hydroformylation catalyst by pretreating the carbon monoxide or the synthesis gas to be used in carrying out the gas phase carbonylation or the hydroformylation.

Abstract: Acetic ester is produced economically by a gas phase carbonylation of methanol with carbon monoxide followed by a transesterification. Specifically, the inventive process comprises (a) carbonylating methanol in a gas phase with carbon monoxide to produce a mixture of acetic acid and methyl acetate; (b) separating from the production mixture the acetic acid, and a mixture of the methyl acetate and the co-catalyst; (c) further separating said methyl acetate and the co-catalyst and recycling the separated co-catalyst to the carbonylation reactor; (d) introducing the separated methyl acetate into a lower region of a transesterification reactor at a temperature of above its boiling point; (e) introducing an C.sub.

Abstract: Ethanol is produced economically by a gas phase carbonylation of methanol with carbon monoxide followed by a hydrogenation.

Abstract: A process for preparing phthalic acid esters of formula (I) which comprises reacting the phthalic acids of formula (II) with an aliphatic alcohol in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of the dialkyltinoxides of formula (III): ##STR1## wherein R and R.sub.1 are the same or different and include both straight and branch chain aliphatic alkyl groups containing 4 to 13 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are straight or branch chain aliphatic alkyl groups containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms.