Abstract: A process for preparing an orthosilicic acid tetraester of a monoalkyl ether of an aliphatic glycol having 2 to 6 carbon atoms which comprises contacting silicon, iron silicide or ferrosilicon with a monoalkyl ether of an aliphatic glycol having 2 to 6 carbon atoms in the aliphatic chain in the presence of the corresponding orthosilicic acid tetraalkoxy alkyl ether at a temperature between 125 and 250.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for preparing an orthosilicic acid tetraalkyl ester having 2 to 6 carbon atoms in the ester group which comprises contacting metallic silicon with an alcohol corresponding to the ester group in the presence of the corresponding alkali alcoholate:A. in the presence of a surface active substance;B. in the presence of a compound containing a methoxy group; orC. under pressure at a temperature above the boiling point of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A process for preparing an orthosilicic acid tetraalkyl ester having 2 to 6 carbon atoms in the ester group which comprises contacting metallic silicon with an alcohol corresponding to the ester group in the presence of the corresponding alkali alcoholate:A. in the presence of a surface active substance;B. in the presence of a compound containing a methoxy group; orC. under pressure at a temperature above the boiling point of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Preparation of alkoxymethylene malonic acid ester of formula: ##STR1## wherein R and each R' is an alkyl group, by reaction of malonic acid diester and ortho formic acid triester. The reaction is performed in the presence of a carboxylic acid or a carboxylic acid anhydride and a Lewis acid. The ortho ester is initially present in amount of at least 1,4 mols per mole of the malonic acid ester starting material. Alcohol formed during the reaction is removed during the reaction.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an alcohol-free alkali or alkaline earth metal alcoholates dissolved in inert solvent which comprises contacting at least an equimolar amount of an alkali or alkaline earth metal dissolved in an inert solvent with an alcohol at an elevated pressure and at a temperature of at least that at which crystal alcohol splits off from the corresponding alkali or alkaline earth metal alcoholate and below the temperature at which said alcoholate decomposes under the prevailing pressures.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an alcohol-free alkali or alkaline earth metal alcoholates dissolved in inert solvent which comprises contacting at least an equimolar amount of an alkali or alkaline earth metal dissolved in an inert solvent with an alcohol at an elevated pressure and at a temperature of at least that at which crystal alcohol splits off from the corresponding alkali or alkaline earth metal alcoholate and below the temperature at which said alcoholate decomposes under the prevailing pressures.

Abstract: Alkali metal hydrides, obtained by reacting alkali metals in liquid form with hydrogen in the presence of alkali metal hydrides, are obtained in coarsely crystalline form by continuously introducing into the reaction vessel containing constantly agitated alkali metal hydride only so much alkali metal in liquid form which corresponds stoichiometrically to the amount of hydrogen reacted and maintaining the unreacted metal concentration at 3 weight percent or less of the pre-introduced metal hydride present. In preferred aspect, the pre-introduced metal hydride is agitated by mixing means at a circumferential velocity of 0.5 to 2 meters/second and maintained at 250.degree.-310.degree.C., to yield hydride crystals in the range of 100 to 1000 microns. The hydride thus obtained may be ground in an inert hydrocarbon mixture to a finer particle material still having a relatively low surface area and recovered as a stabilized, non-sticking, non-self ignitable alkali metal hydride product.

Abstract: In the production of sodium aluminum hydride by reaction of an aluminum chloride etherate with sodium hydride in an inert liquid dispersing agent, the improvement which comprises using as said sodium hydride reagent coarse-grained sodium hydride which is first ground in said dispersing agent to a particle size less than about 12 microns; preferably the inert dispersible agent is tetrahydrofurane or a lower alkyl ether of a lower alkylene glycol, whereupon the resulting sodium aluminum hydride dissolves in the reaction medium.