Abstract: N-acetyl-para-aminophenol is prepared by contacting 4-hydroxyacetophenone oxime with a Beckmann rearrangement catalyst in an alkyl alkanoate reaction solvent. An integrated process is disclosed wherein 4-hydroxyacetophenone is reacted with a hydroxylamine salt and a base to obtain 4-hydroxyacetophenone oxime, the oxime product is extracted from the resulting reaction mixture with a substantially water-immiscible solvent, and the mixture of oxime and substantially water-immiscible solvent is contacted with a Beckmann rearrangement catalyst to produce N-acetyl-para-aminophenol. Novel Beckamnn rearrangement catalysts are used to limit by-product formation in the ester solvent.

Abstract: N-acetyl-para-aminophenol is prepared by subjecting 4-hydroxyacetophenone oxime to a Beckmann rearrangement in the presence of a thionyl chloride catalyst and an alkyl alkanoate as the reaction solvent. An integrated process is disclosed wherein 4-hydroxyacetophenone is reacted with a hydroxyl amine salt and a base to obtain the ketoxime of the ketone, e.g., 4-hydroxyacetophenone oxime, extracting the ketoxime product from the reaction with alkanoate ester and subjecting the ketoxime dissolved in the ester to a Beckmann rearrangement in the presence of a thionyl chloride catalyst.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing N-acyl-acyloxy aromatic amine, such as 4-acetoxyacetanilide by reacting a hydroxy-aromatic ketoxime with a carboxylic acid anhydride, e.g. acetic anhydride, in the presence of phosphoric or oxalic acid as a Beckmann rearrangement catalyst. Preferably the ketoxime is prepared by reacting a hydroxy aromatic ketone such as 4-hydroxyacetophone with a hydroxyl amine salt, and the ketone is obtained by the Fries rearrangement of a phenolic ester, e.g. phenyl acetate or the Friedel-Crafts acylation of a phenolic compound, e.g. phenol, with an acylating agent, e.g. acetic acid.

Abstract: A process for producing methyl formate is described by the dehydrogenation of methanol over a catalyst produced by reducing a precursor comprising copper oxide and a spinel structure support comprising the oxides of zinc and aluminum, said precursor containing 10 to 80 percent copper.

Abstract: A normally liquid hydrocarbon having a minimum boiling point of about 425.degree. F. is utilized to provide the liquid seal in a vacuum pump which intakes a gaseous light ends stream resulting from a process for the production of ethyl acrylate by the reaction of ethylene with acrylic acid in the presence of a sulfuric acid catalyst. Upon contact in the vacuum pump, the gaseous light ends are partially absorbed into the normally liquid hydrocarbon, with the normally liquid hydrocarbon being recovered by fractionation.

Abstract: Acrolein and other light ends are removed from the effluent of a process for the production of acrylic acid by the vapor phase catalytic oxidation of acrolein or an acrolein precursor, such as propylene, by passing the effluent to the base of a fractionation tower and contacting such with the descending stream of liquid within the tower so as to partially condense the condensibles in the effluent, a portion of the liquid bottoms being recycled to the upper portions of the tower and a portion withdrawn as crude acrylic acid product. Acrolein is removed overhead.

Abstract: Phenolic compounds, such as phenol itself, are formed by oxidizing the corresponding aromatic aldehyde precursors, in the vapor phase, with molecular oxygen, the gaseous oxidation product being cooled in the presence of an inert diluent to prevent formation of tarry condensation products. In a particular embodiment a mixture of toluene and benzaldehyde is reacted with oxygen to convert the benzaldehyde to phenol while a portion of the toluene is oxidized to benzaldehyde which is recycled. The products are separated by solvent extraction.