Abstract: A process for preparing an aryl chloroformate is disclosed that involves the reaction of a phenol with phosgene in the presence of a cyclic urea.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 4-substituted imidazoles of the general formula ##STR1## in which R denotes C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.20 cycloalkyl, aryl, and C.sub.7 -C.sub.20 aralkyl,whereina) N-formyl-.alpha.-aminonitriles of the general formula I ##STR2## in which R has the meanings stated above and A stands for carbonyl, are reacted, at a temperature ranging from 20.degree. to 200.degree. C. and a pressure ranging from 20 to 500 bar, with hydrogen in the presence of hydrogenation catalysts andb) the resulting N-formyl-1,2-diamines of the general formula ##STR3## in which R and A have the meanings stated above and n stands for 0 or 1, are reacted over a cyclization/dehydrogenation catalyst at a temperature ranging from 200.degree. to 600.degree. C. and a pressure ranging from 0.001 to 5 bar.

Abstract: The preparation of an alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl chloride by the reaction of a corresponding alcohol with phosgene or thionyl chloride in the presence of a phosphine oxide acting as catalyst, wherein the catalyst used is an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or cyclic/aliphatic phosphine oxide.

Abstract: 1-Nitroanthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid of the formula I ##STR1## is prepared by treating novel 2-substituted 1-nitroanthraquinones of the general formula II ##STR2## where R is --CH.dbd.CH--R.sup.1 or --CH.sub.2 --CHO, where R.sup.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -dialkylamino or a cyclic 5- or 6-membered amine which may contain further hetero atoms, with oxidizing agents free of heavy metal.