Abstract: There is disclosed a process for preparing unsaturated ketones especially terpenoid ketones, by subjecting a substituted propargyl alcohol of formula (II) ##STR1## wherein R is a group containing 1 or 2 substituted or unsubstituted alkyl- or alkylene units containing 4 carbon atoms each to a thermal treatment sufficient to rearrange its structure in order to obtain structurally isomeric unsaturated ketones of formula I ##STR2## wherein one of the substituents X.sub.3 and X.sub.4 is hydrogen and the other and Z.sub.2 together form a bond. The process can be effected in the presence of an isomerization catalyst, which leads to high percentage of .alpha...beta.,.gamma...delta.-unsaturated ketones. The ketones of formula I are useful as perfumes and as intermediates for the production of terpenoid compounds.

Abstract: A 1,1,1-trihalogeno-4-methyl-3-penten-2-ol is prepared by thermally isomerizing 1,1,1-trihalogeno-4-methyl-4-penten-2-ol. The isomerization reaction may be catalyzed by an acid or a transition metal of Group 6B, 7B or 8 of the Periodic Table of Elements, or a compound thereof. The 1,1,1-trihalogeno-4-methyl-3-penten-2-ol thus prepared is useful as a synergist for herbicides or a physiologically active compound, and, additionally, is useful as a starting material for the synthesis of 2,2-dimethyl-3-(2',2'-dihalogenovinyl)-cyclopropane carboxylic esters which are active ingredients of insecticides.

Abstract: When 1-halogeno-3-alkene-2-ol is reacted with an ortho-carboxylic ester and/or a ketene acetal, a .gamma.-halogeno-.delta.-unsaturated-carboxylic ester is obtained as a main reaction product. When this intermediate is treated with a basic substance, a substituted cyclopropane-carboxylic ester is formed. This ester can be used as an insecticide or an agricultural chemical as it is or after the alcohol residue of the ester has been converted to other alcohol residue.

Abstract: A process for obtaining a stereospecific nerolidol at the .DELTA..sup.6 -position thereof by rectifying a mixture of .DELTA..sup.6 -cis-nerolidol and .DELTA..sup.6 -trans-nerolidol in rectification column having from 10 to 100 theoretical plates with a reflux ratio of from 2 to 200 at a temperature below 230.degree. C. under reduced pressure to separate each stereospecific nerolidol from said mixture.

Abstract: 1,1,1-Trihalogeno-4-methyl pentenes and 1,1-dihalogeno-4-methyl-1,3-pentadienes are produced. These compounds are of value as intermediates for the production of pyrethrin analogs which are of use as insecticides or agricultural chemicals.

Abstract: A process for preparing stereospecific farnesylacetic acid and ester thereof by rectifying a mixture of .DELTA..sup.4,8 -trans- and .DELTA..sup.4 -cis-.DELTA..sup.8 -trans-farnesylacetic acids or esters thereof or .DELTA..sup.4,8 -trans- and .DELTA..sup.4 -cis-.DELTA..sup.8 -trans-farnesylacetic acid or esters thereof or a mixture of four isomers of the said farnesylacetic acids or esters thereof.

Abstract: 2,7,10,15,18,23-Hexamethyltetracosane is a novel compound. This compound is prepared [1] by hydrogenating 2,7,10,15,18,23-hexamethyltetracosa-1,6,18,23-tetraene-11,13-diyne-10,15-d iol [itself a novel compound] or 2,7,10,15,18,23-hexamethyltetracosa-11,13-diyne-10,15-diol, dehydrating the hydrogenated intermediates, and thence hydrogenating the dehydrated precursors, or [2] by selectively, partially hydrogenating the said 10,15-diol compounds and thence hydrogenolyzing the precursor diols, or [3] by hydrogenolyzing the said 10,15-diol compounds, or [4] by hydrogenolyzing the hydrogenated intermediates of the reaction [1]. The compound, 3,6,11-trimethyl-undeca-6,11-dien-1-yl-3-ol, a starting material intermediate, is also a novel compound.

Abstract: 2-Substituted or unsubstituted geranyl actic acid esters represented by the general formula [I], ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon and R.sub.5 is the same as R.sub.2, R.sub.3 or R.sub.4 hereinafter defined, are prepared by reacting linalool (II) with 2-substituted or unsubstituted ortho acetic acid ester derivatives represented by the general formula [III] ##STR2## wherein R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, which are the same or different, each represents an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group, in the presence of an acidic catalyst.

Abstract: Novel 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosane-10,15-diol derivatives. Such derivatives are prepared by hydrogenation of 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-11,13-diyne-10,15-diol derivatives and used as starting materials for preparing squalane.

Abstract: Unsaturated alcohols represented by the general formulas (I) and (II) below ##STR1## wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon radical, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are hydrogen or lower alkyl groups, and R and R.sub.2 may be linked together are mutually isomerized in the presence of a catalyst comprising a transition metal compound of Groups V, VI and VII of the Mendeleev Periodic Table.

Abstract: An organic halide (1) having the general formula: ##STR1## wherein X is a halogen atom, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group or a halogenated hydrocarbon group, R.sup.1 may be a group having the formula: ##STR2## wherein R is an aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic radical, and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 may be a group consisting of -CH.sub.2 OH or its esters; is produced by reacting an organic halide (2) having the formula: ##STR3## wherein X, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is the same as above, respectively; with the compound having the formula: ##STR4## wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is the same as above, respectively, in the presence of a cationic catalyst at the temperature of from -78.degree. C. to 80.degree. C.

Abstract: Process for producing substituted ketones from the reaction between organic halides and ketones having replaceable active hydrogen atoms on the carbon atom(s) alpha to the carbonyl group, in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide unitilizing phosphonium salts as the catalyst, which salts have the following formula: ##EQU1## wherein said R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are the same or different and are branched or straight chain alkyl of 1-30 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 6-10 carbon atoms, aryl of 6-10 carbon atoms aralkyl or alkaryl wherein the aryl and alkyl are as above defined and X.sup.- is an inorganic or organic anion.

Abstract: A process for producing substituted ketones is disclosed comprising reacting an organic halide with a ketone which has a replaceable hydrogen atom on the carbon atom in the .alpha.-position to the carbonyl group, in the presence of an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide and at least one basic nitrogen catalyst such as certain primary amines, secondary amines, tertiary amines, quaternary ammonium salts or betaine-type quaternary ammonium salts.

Abstract: Novel 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-11,13-diin-10,15-diol derivatives. Such derivatives are prepared by oxydative coupling of 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-1-in-3-ol derivatives or by ethynylation of 6,10-dimethylundecan-2-on derivatives with diacetylene and used as starting materials for preparing squalane.

Abstract: An alkyne-10,15-diol is synthesized by coupling a 3-alkynol containing methyl groups by using as a catalyst a complex comprised of a halide of a metal of Group VII of the Periodic Table coordinated with an organic phosphorus compound.The so-obtained diol can be formed into squalane [2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl tetracosane] by hydrogenolysis, a combination of hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis or a combination of hydrogenation, dehydration and hydrogenation.