Abstract: A process for the catalytic hydroformylation of olefins having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms, in which the hydroformylation is carried out in one or more stage(s) and a mixture comprising at least one olefin and an aldehyde in a molar ratio of aldehyde to olefin of from 0.005:1 to 0.2:1 is used as feed in at least one of these stages which is carried out in the presence of an unmodified cobalt complex as catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing high-purity diisobutene by reaction of isobutene or isobutene-containing hydrocarbon mixtures over a solid acidic ion-exchange resin containing sulfonic acid groups whose protons have been partly replaced by metal ions and to the use of the diisobutene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing tert-butanol (TBA) by reacting an isobutene-containing hydrocarbon mixture with water over a solid acid catalyst in a reactor cascade, wherein at least one reactor is supplied alternately with two different isobutene-containing hydrocarbon mixtures, of which one has both a higher tert-butanol content and a higher water content than the other mixture.

Abstract: Carboxylic esters are prepared by a process, which comprises reacting dicarboxylic or polycarboxylic acids or their anhydrides with alcohols in a liquid medium with the concomitant removal of water formed by the esterification reaction by azeotropic distillation together with the alcohol in the medium, wherein the amount of liquid removed from the reaction medium by azeotropic distillation is replaced in whole or in part with the alcohol.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing full esters of alicyclic polycarboxylic acids from partial esters of aromatic polycarboxylic acids by hydrogenation of the partial ester followed by esterification of this compound.

Abstract: A process for preparing salts of methallylsulfonic acid in which the reaction mixture produced from the sulfonation is diluted with water and neutralized with a base.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mixtures of alicyclic polycarboxylic esters with high cis content, to a process for their preparation by ring-hydrogenation of the corresponding aromatic polycarboxylic esters, and also to the use of the mixtures.

Abstract: Isobutene in isobutenic hydrocarbon mixtures is oligomerized over a solid acidic ion exchange resin, said acidic ion exchange resin containing, for example, sulfonic acid groups, some of whose protons have been exchanged for metal ions.

Abstract: Olefins having from 5 to 24, in particular from 5 to 12, carbon atoms are hydroformylated by reacting an olefin or a mixture of olefins in the presence of an unmodified cobalt catalyst in a single-stage process in a reactor at a temperature of from 100° C. to 220° C. and a pressure of from 100 bar to 400 bar, to obtain an aldehyde, an alcohol or a mixture thereof. An aqueous bottom phase and an organic phase are present in the reactor, the aqueous bottom phase is mixed with the organic phase, and a concentration of the cobalt catalyst, calculated as metallic cobalt, in the aqueous bottom phase is in the range from 0.4 to 1.7% by mass based on the total weight of the aqueous bottom phase. A level of the aqueous bottom phase in the reactor is kept constant during steady-state operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process, which includes: in a homogeneous liquid phase including water, and over a fixed-bed catalyst, continuously hydrogenating at least one hydroformylation product obtained from a hydroformylation of one or more C4-16 olefins to produce at least one output mixture; wherein the fixed-bed catalyst includes at least one element of transition group eight of the Periodic Table of the Elements; wherein the output mixture includes at least one corresponding alcohol and from 0.05 to 10% by weight of water; and wherein in a steady-state operation of the process, from 3 to 50% more hydrogen is fed to the hydrogenation than is consumed by the hydrogenation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process, which includes: contacting at least one C4-hydrocarbon stream which includes isobutene with methanol over at least one acid catalyst and preparing methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and a substantially isobutene-free C4-hydrocarbon mixture; wherein in a first stage in one or more first reactors, the isobutene reacts with the methanol over an acid catalyst to form an equilibrium mixture which includes MTBE, remaining isobutene and methanol; the equilibrium mixture is fed to a second stage which includes a reactive distillation column; and in the reactive distillation column, the remaining isobutene reacts with methanol over an acid ion exchange resin to form MTBE; wherein the reactive distillation column is operated at a pressure ranging from 3 to 15 bar abs., a reaction zone temperature ranging from 55° C. to 75° C., and a reflux ratio of less than 1.

Abstract: A multi-stage synthesis is effective for preparing 1-olefins from aldehydes. The aldehyde is condensed with acetone to form an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated ketone. The unsaturated ketone is hydrogenated to yield a saturated alcohol. By dehydrating the saturated alcohol a 1-olefin is obtained. The olefin can be isolated in high yield and purified.

Abstract: Aldehydes are prepared in a hydroformylation apparatus by the multiphase hydroformylation reaction of one or more olefins with hydrogen and carbon monoxide, where the continuous phase contains a solvent mixture and the hydroformylation catalyst is present in the continuous phase, at least one olefin is present in the dispersed phase, and the loading factor of the tube reactor is greater than or equal to 0.8.

Abstract: A process for preparing salts of methallylsulfonic acid in which the reaction mixture produced from the sulfonation is diluted with water and neutralized with a base.

Abstract: Olefins having from 5 to 24, in particular from 5 to 12, carbon atoms are hydroformylated by reacting an olefin or a mixture of olefins in the presence of an unmodified cobalt catalyst in a single-stage process in a reactor at a temperature of from 100° C. to 220° C. and a pressure of from 100 bar to 400 bar, to obtain an aldehyde, an alcohol or a mixture thereof. An aqueous bottom phase and an organic phase are present in the reactor, the aqueous bottom phase is mixed with the organic phase, and a concentration of the cobalt catalyst, calculated as metallic cobalt, in the aqueous bottom phase is in the range from 0.4 to 1.7% by mass based on the total weight of the aqueous bottom phase. A level of the aqueous bottom phase in the reactor is kept constant during steady-state operation.

Abstract: Aldehydes are prepared by a process, which comprises: hydroformylating olefins having 3 to 21 carbon atoms under an atmosphere of CO/H2 in the presence of a rhodium catalyst in a hydroformylation reactor; and upon discharging the reaction product from the reactor, a) separating the discharged material into a gaseous phase and a liquid phase, b) separating the liquid phase into a top fraction containing unconverted olefins and aldehydes and a bottoms fraction containing the rhodium catalyst, and c) cooling the bottoms fraction below the temperature of the material discharged from the hydroformylation reactor and feeding a gas containing carbon monoxide into the bottoms fraction.

Abstract: Olefins are hydroformylated to give alcohols and/or aldehydes in a plurality of hydroformylation stages, each of which comprises: a) hydroformylating olefins having a carbon atom content of 6 to 24 carbon atoms in the presence of a cobalt- or rhodium catalyst in a reactor to the point of conversion of olefin reactant to product of 20 to 98%; b) removing the catalyst from the resulting liquid discharged from the reactor; c) separating the resulting liquid hydroformylation mixture into a low-boiler fraction comprising olefins and paraffins, and a bottoms fraction comprising aldehydes and/or alcohols; and d) reacting the olefins present in the low-boiler fraction in subsequent process stages comprising steps a, b and c and combining the bottoms fractions of process steps c) of all process stages.

Abstract: A multi-stage synthesis is effective for preparing 1-olefins from aldehydes. The aldehyde is condensed with acetone to form an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated ketone. The unsaturated ketone is hydrogenated to yield a saturated alcohol. By dehydrating the saturated alcohol a 1-olefin is obtained. The olefin can be isolated in high yield and purified.

Abstract: &agr;,&bgr;-Unsaturated keto compounds are prepared by base-catalyzed aldol condensation of aldehydes and/or ketones having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms, comprising: reacting the aldehydes and/or ketones with an aqueous catalyst solution under adiabatic reaction conditions; and separating the reaction mixture obtained by rapid distillation into a top product comprising water, aldehyde and/or ketone and a bottom product comprising &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated keto compounds and aqueous catalyst phase.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process, which includes: