Abstract: A process for producing an aromatic carbonate by reacting an aromatic monohydroxy compound with carbon monoxide and molecular oxygen, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of: (a) palladium or a palladium compound (component (a)); (b) a redox catalyst (component (b)); (c) a heteropoly-acid or salt thereof (component (c)); and (d) a quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt (component (d)), and under dehydration conditions. According to the present invention, an aromatic carbonate can be produced from an aromatic monohydroxy compound by a simple process economically and efficiently.

Abstract: A process for producing an aromatic carbonate by reacting an aromatic monohydroxy compound with carbon monoxide and molecular oxygen, wherein

Abstract: A plant metabolism regulating agent comprising as an active ingredient an alpha,beta or beta,gamma-un-saturated carboxylic acid or its derivative. It is useful for controlling the metabolism of a plant, facilitating the growth of a beneficial plant such as cereals by inhibiting the growth of undesirable plants or eradicating them, regulating the growth of a plant and dwarfing a plant.

Abstract: A plant growth promoter comprising as an active ingredient for plant growth promotion at least one phenylglycine selected from the group consisting of(1) monomeric phenylglycines,(2) N-phenylglycylphenylglycines, and(3) cyclic dimers of phenylglycines.

Abstract: A plant growth promoter comprising as an active ingredient for plant growth promotion at least one phenylglycine selected from the group consisting of(1) monomeric phenylglycines,(2) N-phenylglycylphenylglycines, and(3) cyclic dimers of phenylglycines.

Abstract: A module comprising a plurality of members for obtaining a gas having a specified gas concentrated therein from a mixture of at least two gases, each of said members comprising (a) a solid support plate and (b) a composite film comprised of a porous sheet-like material and one or a plurality of ultrathin solid membranes supported on the porous sheet-like material with a thickness of about 50 to about 5000 .ANG..

Abstract: A fluorescent composition consisting essentially of(1) a polymer having a solubility parameter of at least about 9 such as polyethylene terephthalate etc. and(2) one or more organic fluorescent substances, at least one of said fluorescent substances showing difficult solubility such as anthraquinonic pigments, said fluorescent composition being characterized by the fact that when it is formed into a film having a thickness of about 1 mm, the film has a non-transmission index PTi (%), as defined by the following equation, of not more than 10,PTi=PAs-PAbwherein PAs is the percent light absorption at 800 nm of said film of the fluorescent composition, and PAb is the percent light absorption at 800 nm of a film having a thickness of about 1 mm of the polymer in the fluorescent composition.

Abstract: A process for producing ultrathin solid membranes from a solvent solution of an addition polymer derived from an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon monomer or a conjugated unsaturated hydrocarbon monomer in a solvent composed mainly of a volatile, substantially water-immiscible organic liquid medium capable of dissolving the addition polymer and another organic compound having a distribution coefficient k, which is the ratio of the concentration of the other organic compound in the organic liquid medium to that in water, of from 0.5 to 35. The solvent satisfies the equationc.sub.1 -(a.sub.1 +b.sub.1).gtoreq.25wherein c.sub.1 is the surface tension (dynes/cm) of water, a.sub.1 is the surface tension (dynes/cm) of the solution of the addition polymer in the solvent, and b.sub.1 is the interfacial tension (dynes/cm) between the solvent solution and water.

Abstract: An ultrathin solid membrane is composed substantially of a silicon-containing copolymer consisting substantially of recurring units derived from a silicon-containing allyl monomer and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and/or a diene monomer. The ultrathin solid membrane is useful for obtaining a specified gas, such as oxygen, in a concentrated state, from a mixture of two or more gases, such as air.

Abstract: A solid heat-generating composition utilizing the heat of hydration of calcium oxide, comprising calcium oxide and a solid substance supplying water capable of reacting with calcium oxide such as a solid substance having water of absorption, adsorption or crystallization, and an organic compound which yields water by an intramolecular or intermolecular reaction at elevated temperature. The composition can be utilized in various applications utilizing heat generation, for example for thawing and heating frozen foods, controlled releasing of agricultural chemicals such as insecticides or repellents, warming human body, etc.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte having high electron conductivity and high oxide ion conductivity, which is composed of a sintered body consisting substantially of (a) an oxide of cobalt, (b) an oxide of at least one metal selected from strontium and lanthanum, and (c) an oxide of at least one metal selected from bismuth and cerium. This solid electrolyte is useful for selectively separating oxygen from a gaseous atmosphere having a high oxygen partial pressure into a gaseous atmosphere having a low oxygen partial pressure.

Abstract: An oxygen scavenger composition consisting essentially of[I] as essential components,(a) an alkali metal sulfide, and(b) at least one oxidation promoter selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, silica-alumina, silica-magnesia and inorganic materials containing one of them as a main ingredient; and[II] as optional components,(c) at least one oxidation promoter aid,(d) a water-insoluble or sparingly water-soluble, inert filler, and/or(e) water in a hydrous or hydrated condition,a heat-generating composition of said composition being capable of scavenging at least 5 ml of oxygen per gram of the composition in air at 20.degree. C. during the period of one hour after oxidation reaction has substantially begun and a heat-generating structure comprising said composition and a film having an oxygen permeability of 0.01 to 50 cc/cm.sup.2 .multidot.min..multidot.O.sub.2 partial pressure (1 atm.), said film covering the composition over an area of 0.2 to 10 cm.sup.2 per gram of said composition.

Abstract: An oxygen scavenger composition consisting essentially of(a) metallic iron, and(b) at least one oxidation promoter selected from the group consisting of sodium silicate hydrates, silicic acid, sodium alum and sodium borate hydrates, andoptionally(c) at least one oxidation promoter aid which is a metal halide compound, and/or(d) a water-insoluble or sparingly water-soluble inert filler;a heat-generating composition having an initial rate of oxygen scavenging of at least 5 ml per gram of said composition in the air at 20.degree. C. during a period of one hour after the oxidation reaction was substantially begun, said composition consisting substantially of the metallic iron (a), a sodium silicate hydrate, and/or silicic acid as an oxidation promoter (b), the oxidation promoter aid (c) and optionally the filler (d);a deoxygenating structure comprising the oxygen scavenger composition and a film having an oxygen permeability of at least 0.005 ml/cm.sup.2.min.atm. (O.sub.

Abstract: An unsaturated carbonyl compound, for example, one expressed by the following formula, ##STR1## is prepared by maintaining at an elevated temperature a novel allyl acetal of a .beta.,.gamma.-unsaturated aldehyde, for example, one expressed by the following formula ##STR2## The allyl acetal can be derived, for example, for 3-methyl-3-butenal-1 having 5 carbon atoms and prenyl alcohol having 5 carbon atoms. Thus, the unsaturated aldehyde having the increased number of carbon atoms can be formed in a high yield by a relatively simple reaction.

Abstract: The oxidative coupling of benzene or benzene derivatives to form the corresponding diphenyls, comprising contacting benzene or a benzene derivative, such as toluene, with molecular oxygen using as a catalyst .beta.-diketo complexes of palladium such as acetylacetone-palladium complex. Use of at least one zirconium compound such as zirconium oxystearate in conjunction with the catalyst gives an increased catalytic activity. The diphenyls are intermediates for production of dyestuffs, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, and also find application in the preparation of high-molecular-weight polyesters and polyamides.

Abstract: Process for preparing a trans-.alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated aldehyde or a cis-.alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated aldehyde at high conversions and selectivities, which comprises isomerizing a cis-.alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated aldehyde to its corresponding trans-.alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated aldehyde or vice versa by heating the starting aldehyde at a temperature of 30.degree. to 400.degree. C. in the presence of an acid catalyst having a pKa of 1 to 7 in the presence or absence of a solvent. If desired, the resulting isomerization mixture can be separated into the constituent geometric isomers. The isomerization mixture or the separated isomers can be used as pharmaceuticals, their intermediates, or essential ingredients of perfumes and cosmetics.

Abstract: An inclusion complex compound comprising (a) meta-cyclophane and (b) a trans-terpenoid of the formula ##STR1## wherein n is an integer of 1 to 9; A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 each represent (1) a hydrogen atom, (2) a halogen atom, (3) an inorganic group containing an oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atom, (4) an organic group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or (5) an organic group containing an oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atom and 1 to 5 carbon atoms; and C* is the carbon atom of a carbonyl or methylene group,Included by the meta-cyclophane. This inclusion complex compound can be prepared by contacting the meta-cyclophane with a mixture containing the trans-terpenoid. A trans-terpenoid can be separated from a mixture containing it by utilizing an inclusion complex compound of it with meta-cyclophane.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of pyridines, which comprises contacting in the vapor phase saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon of more than one carbon atom, ammonia, and molecular oxygen, with the catalyst composed of solid acid containing at least tellurium, said solid acid containing the acid of which acid strength (Ho) is not weaker than 4.8.

Abstract: The oxidative coupling of benzenecarboxylic acid esters to form the corresponding biphenylpolycarboxylic acid esters, comprising contacting a benzenecarboxylic acid ester having at least one hydrogen atom bonded to the nuclear carbon atom of the benzene ring, such as methyl benzeate, with molecular oxygen in a liquid phase using a catalyst comprising at least one compound selected from organic carboxylates of palladium, such as palladium acetate and .beta.-dikete complexes of palladium, such as acetylacetone-palladium complex. Use of at least one zirconium compound, such as zirconium oxystearate in conjunction with the catalyst gives rise to an increased catalytic activity.

Abstract: The oxidative coupling of benzene or benzene derivatives to form the corresponding diphenyls, comprising contacting benzene or a benzene derivative, such as toluene, with molecular oxygen using as a catalyst organic carboxylates of palladium such as palladium acetate. Use of at least one zirconium compound such as zirconium oxystearate in conjunction with the catalyst gives rise to an increased catalytic activity. The diphenyls are intermediates for production of dyestuffs, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, and also find application in the preparation of high-molecular-weight polyesters and polyamides.