Abstract: Provided is an explosive body X, i.e., an explosive body for nanodiamond synthesis, includes at least an explosive main body (10) that includes a frustum part (11) and a columnar part (12). The frustum part (11) includes an upper bottom surface (11a) including an open end of a hole (H), in which a triggering unit is received, and an angled side surface (11b) forming an imaginary apex angle ? on the upper bottom surface (11a) side. The columnar part (12) is formed contiguous with the frustum part (11) on an opposite side of the frustum part (11) to the upper bottom surface (11a) of the frustum part (11) and extends in a direction away from the upper bottom surface (11a). The explosive body for nanodiamond synthesis is suitable for improving the yield in nanodiamond synthesis by a detonation method.

Abstract: In the presence of a catalytic system, an alcohol having “n” carbon atom(s) or a derivative thereof is allowed to react with carbon monoxide in a reactor 3 continuously, a higher bp catalyst component is separated from the resultant reaction mixture by a catalyst-separating column 5 to give a crude mixture, the crude mixture is fed to a higher bp component-separation column 8 to separate an overhead fraction from a bottom fraction containing at least a carboxylic acid having “n+2” carbon atoms, the overhead fraction is fed to a carboxylic acid-separating column 11, and are distilled in the presence of at least water and an ester of the carboxylic acid with the alcohol to separate a overhead fraction containing at least the ester and water from a bottom fraction containing the carboxylic acid having “n+1” carbon atoms. The overhead fraction from the carboxylic acid-separating column is fed to an aldehyde-separating column 14 to remove an overhead fraction containing an aldehyde.

Abstract: In the presence of (1) an oxidizing catalyst comprising an imide compound such as N-hydroxyphthalimide, or (2) an oxidizing catalyst comprising such imide compound and a transition metal element-containing compound as a co-oxidizing agent (e. g., oxides, halides, complexes, hetero polyacid salts) a hydrocaron, an alcohol, an aldehyde, or a ketone as a substrate is brought into contact with molecular oxygen for oxidation. In the above-described oxidation process, the water content of the oxidizing reaction system is 200 mol or lower relative to 1 mol of the imide compound. According to the present invention, a substrate is efficiently oxidized with molecular oxygen under mild conditions, and there can be obtained the object compound(s) of high quality.

Abstract: A series of steps of (A) a step for bringing a cycloalkane into contact with molecular oxygen (oxidizing reactor 2) in the presence of an oxidizing catalyst having an imide unit of the following formula (I): wherein X represents oxygen atom or hydroxyl group; (B) a step for separating the catalyst, and by-produced acid component or a derivative thereof from the reaction mixture (filter 3, extracting column 4, hydrolyzing unit 7, saponifying unit 8); and (C) steps for separating the cycloalkane, a cycloalkanol, and a cycloalkanone from the reaction mixture individually (distilling columns 5, 6, 9, and 10) makes it possible to produce cycloalkanones efficiently. A first component (lower-boiling point component) containing the cycloalkane and a second component (higher-boiling point component) containing the cycloalkanone and cycloalkanol may be separated from the reaction mixture, and the cycloalkanone and the cycloalkanol may be separated from the higher-boiling point component.

Abstract: In a process of the present invention for producing a bridged cyclic polycarboxylic acid t-butyl ester, a bridged cyclic polycarboxylic halide of following Formula (1): (wherein ring Z is a bridged cyclic carbon ring; X is a halogen atom; and m denotes an integer of 2 or more, where ring Z may have a substituent) is allowed to react with t-butyl alcohol or its alkali metal salt to thereby yield an ester of following Formula (2): (wherein tBu is a t-butyl group; and ring Z and m have the same meanings as defined above.) This process can commercially efficiently produce a bridged cyclic polycarboxylic acid t-butyl ester. The compound of Formula (1) can be prepared by allowing a bridged cyclic polycarboxylic acid of following Formula (3): (wherein ring Z is a bridged cyclic carbon ring; and m denotes an integer of 2 or more, where ring Z may have a substituent) to react with a halogenating agent.

Abstract: In the presence of an oxidizing catalyst, a &bgr;-isophorone derivative of the following formula (1) is oxidized in a solvent substantially from acid components (organic carboxylic acids) to form a ketoisophorone derivative of the following formula (2). The amount of the acid component in the solvent is 0 to 4,000 ppm (weight basis). The oxidizing catalyst is a complex salt of a transition metal and an N,N′-disalicylidenediamine. In the reaction, a cyclic base may further be employed as a co-catalyst. The solvent separated from the reaction mixture may be recycled to the oxidation reaction after removal of the acid component contained therein.

Abstract: &bgr;-isophorone is formed by isomerizing &agr;-isophorone in the presence of an isomerizing catalyst (an aliphatic C5-20 polycarboxylic acid) in an isomerizing-reaction unit 1. The &bgr;-isophorone thus formed is oxidized with oxygen in an inert solvent in the presence of an oxidizing catalyst (a complex salt of a transition metal and an N,N′-disalicylidenediamine) in an oxidizing-reaction unit 2, thereby forming ketoisophorone. After removing a low-boiling point component, which is an impurity (non-conjugated cyclic ketone), from the reaction mixture using a distilling unit 3, a high-boiling component (oxidizing catalyst) is separated in a distilling unit 4, and then ketoisophorone is separated from the solvent in the separation unit 5. Thereafter, the solvent containing 0 to 5,000 ppm (weight basis) of the impurities and substantially free from ketoisophorone is recycled to the oxidizing reaction through a recycling line 6.

Abstract: A hydroquinone diester derivative represented by the formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different, each representing an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group is crystallized from a reaction mixture containing the hydroquinone diester derivative, and the resulting product in crystallized form is washed. A solvent for the crystallization is composed of an organic carboxylic acid and water, and the crystallized product is washed with warm or hot water of 40° C. or above. In the formula (1), R1 and R2 are C1-4alkyl groups.

Abstract: &bgr;-isophorone is formed by isomerizing &agr;-isophorone in the presence of an isomerizing catalyst (an aliphatic C5-20 polycarboxylic acid) in an isomerizing-reaction unit 1. The &bgr;-isophorone thus formed is oxidized with oxygen in an inert solvent in the presence of an oxidizing catalyst (a complex salt of a transition metal and an N,N′-disalicylidenediamine) in an oxidizing-reaction unit 2, thereby forming ketoisophorone. After removing a low-boiling point component, which is an impurity (non-conjugated cyclic ketone), from the reaction mixture using a distilling unit 3, a high-boiling component (oxidizing catalyst) is separated in a distilling unit 4, and then ketoisophorone is separated from the solvent in the separation unit 5. Thereafter, the solvent containing 0 to 5,000 ppm (weight basis) of the impurities and substantially free from ketoisophorone is recycled to the oxidizing reaction through a recycling line 6.

Abstract: A carbonylation catalytic system comprises (A) a combination of (A1) a Group VIII metal source of Periodic Table of the Elements (e.g., palladium, palladium chloride) supported on a carrier, (A2) a ligand such as triphenylphosphine and (A3) an acid such as an alkylsulfonic acid, or (B) a combination of (B1) the Group VIII metal source except for palladium (e.g., a platinum compound), (B2) a ligand such as triphenylphosphine and (B3) an electron donative compound having an electron donability .DELTA..nu.D of not less than 2 (for instance, an amine such as a heterocyclic tertiary amine). The catalytic system (B) may further comprise (B4) an acid such as methanesulfonic acid.

Abstract: A carbonylation catalytic system comprises (A) a combination of (A1) a Group VIII metal source of Periodic Table of the Elements (e.g., palladium, palladium chloride) supported on a carrier, (A2) a ligand such as triphenylphosphine and (A3) an acid such as an alkyl-sulfonic acid, or (B) a combination of (B1) the Group VIII metal source except for palladium (e.g., a platinum compound), (B2) a ligand such as triphenylphosphine and (B3) an electron donative compound having an electron donability .DELTA..nu.D of not less than 2 (for instance, an amine such as a heterocyclic tertiary amine). The catalytic system (B) may further comprise (B4) an acid such as methanesulfonic acid.