Abstract: A process for the production of chlorofluorocarbon-free, urethane- or urethane- and urea-containing, soft-elastic, semirigid or rigid moldings having a cellular core and a compacted peripheral zone and an essentially pore-free, smooth surface involves reactinga) an organic and/or modified organic polyisocyanate withb) at least one relatively high-molecular-weight compound containing at least two reactive hydrogen atoms, and, if desired,c) a low-molecular-weight chain extender and/or cross-linking agent,in the presence ofd) a blowing agent,e) a catalyst,f) at least one microporous activated charcoal and/or microporous carbon molecular sieve which preferably has a mean pore diameter with a frequency of occurrence of more than 40% in the range from 0.3 to 3 nm, a pore volume of from 0.20 to 1.4 ml/g and a BET surface area of from 500 to 2500 m.sup.2 /g, and, if desired, further additives andg) assistants,in a closed mold with compaction.

Abstract: Phenylacetaldehydes of the structure (I) ##STR1## where the substituents X are 2,4-dichloro, difluoro, trifluoro, tetrafluoro, p-trifluoromethyl, 2-methyl-4-fluoro, haloalkoxy or haloalkylthio radicals or are adjacent Cl, F, CF.sub.3, alkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy and/or haloalkylthio radicals.

Abstract: Unsaturated monoesters of the formula (I) ##STR1## are prepared from diesters of the formula (II) ##STR2## where the radicals R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 in the formulae (I) and (II) are identical to each other and each is hydrogen, straight-chain or branched alkyl or alkenyl of from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylene of from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, aryl, alkylaryl or aralkyl, by reaction in the presence of a zeolite and/or phosphate as a catalyst with the elimination of a carboxylic acid R.sup.6 COOH where R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, n being an integer from 1 to 10.

Abstract: 5-Methylbutyrolactone is prepared by a process in which a pentenoic ester of the formula IX--CO.sub.2 R (I),where X is CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, CH.sub.3 --CH.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 -- or CH.sub.3 --CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH-- and R is alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl or aryl, or a mixture of these esters is reacted with water at from 50.degree. to 350.degree. C. in the presence or absence of a diluenta) over a zeolite and/or phosphate catalyst orb) in the presence of from 0.01 to 0.25 mole of a sulfonic acid, a Lewis acid and/or a non-oxidizing mineral acid per mole of pentenoic ester or over from 0.

Abstract: A platinum-on-graphite catalyst having a platinum content of from 0.01 to 5% w/w, wherein the graphite support has an apparent density of from 1.7 to 2.2 g/ml and the use thereof as a hydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing optically active alcohol derivatives, which are useful as fungicides, herbicides or plant growth regulators, represented by the formula, ##STR1## by carrying out the asymmetric reduction of a ketone compound represented by the formula, ##STR2## with a boron hydride-reducing agent modified with an optically active amino alcohol represented by the formula, ##STR3## and also relates to the boron hydride type compound obtained by reacting the above optically active amino alcohol with a boron hydride compound and its production method.

Abstract: Vinyl ethers of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are identical to or different from one another, each being hydrogen, straight-chain or branched alkyl or alkenyl of up to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylene of from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, aryl, alkylaryl, alkenylaryl, aralkyl and aralkenyl of from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, halogen-substituted aryl or heterocyclyl, and in addition the radicals R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 or R.sup.1 and R.sup.3, together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded, can form a cycloalkane, cycloalkene or a heterocycle, and R.sup.4 is alkyl, alkylaryl or aralkyl, are prepared by eliminating an alcohol from an acetal/ketal of the formula ##STR2## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.

Abstract: Copper-containing catalysts for low temperature shift conversion at from 150.degree. to 300.degree. C. and under from 10 to 40 bar, which additionally contain aluminum and zinc, if necessary in the form of the compounds or oxides and are prepared by coprecipitation, the copper-containing catalysts containing potassium and having a BET surface area adapted to the potassium content, and the potassium content being brought to 0.1-3.0% by weight at a BET surface of from 30 to 160 m.sup.2 /g, are used for the preparation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide from carbon monoxide and water.

Abstract: Alkoxylates of active hydrogen compounds having a peaked molecular weight distribution are prepared by reacting the active hydrogen compound with an alkylene oxide of from 2 to 4 carbon atoms using iron oxides as alkoxylation catalysts.

Abstract: A platinum-on-graphite catalyst having a platinum content of from 0.01 to 5% w/w, wherein the graphite support has a particle size of from 1 to 600 .mu.m and the following particle size distribution:______________________________________ 183 to 600 .mu.m 15% v/v .+-. 15% absolute 68.3 to 183 .mu.m 30% v/v .+-. 20% 31.0 to 68.3 .mu.m 25% v/v .+-. 20% 17.1 to 31.0 .mu.m 15% v/v .+-. 10% 5.2 to 17.1 .mu.m 12% v/v .+-. 10% .sup. <5.2 .mu.m 5% v/v .+-. 5%.

Abstract: Chlorofluorocarbon-free urethane-containing, soft-elastic moldings having a cellular core, a compacted peripheral zone and an essentially pore-free smooth surface are produced by reactinga) an organic and/or modified organic polyisocyanate withb) at least one relatively high-molecular-weight compound containing at least two reactive hydrogen atoms and, if desired,c) a low-molecular-weight chain extender and/or crosslinking agent,in the presence ofd) a blowing agent,e) a catalyst,f) a crystalline, microporous molecular sieve having a cavity diameter of less than 1.3 nm and comprising metal oxides or metal phosphates, and, if desired, further additives andg) assistants,in a closed mold with compaction, expediently by RIM.

Abstract: Pyridines of the formula ##STR1## where the individual radicals R.sup.1 may be identical or different and are each hydrogen or an aliphatic radical are prepared by reactinga) a 2-alkoxy-2,3-dihydro-4H-pyran of the formula ##STR2## or b) a glutaraldehyde of the formula ##STR3## where R.sup.1 has the abovementioned meansings and R.sup.2 is an aliphatic radical, with ammonia in the presence of an acidic, solid catalyst.

Abstract: Substituted pyridines of the formula ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is alkyl of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, are prepared by reacting a mixture of acrolein and alkanals of the formula ##STR2## with ammonia in the presence of zeolites as catalysts.

Abstract: 4-oxaaldehydes of the formula ##STR1## are prepared by catalytic isomerization of 1,3-dioxanes by a process in which a 1,3-dioxane of the formula ##STR2## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are identical or different and are each hydrogen, a straight-chain or branched alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl radical of not more than 18 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl radical of 5 to 8 carbon atoms, an aryl, alkylaryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl or alkenylaryl radical of 5 to 16 carbon atoms or a heterocyclic radical and furthermore R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 and/or R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded may form a cycloalkane, a cycloalkene or a heterocyclic structure, and the stated radicals may furthermore carry substituents which are inert under the reaction conditions, and R.sup.3 is hydrogen or straight-chain or branched alkyl, is isomerized using a metal oxide catalyst, which has been treated with an acid, and/or a silica phase having a zeolite structure.

Abstract: Cyclic 6-membered to 8-membered 1,2-vinylenedioxy compounds of the general formula I ##STR1## where A is ##STR2## R.sup.1 to R.sup.7 independently of one another are each hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.16 -alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkynyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, aryl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.10 -alkylphenyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.10 -phenalkyl, C.sub.8 -C.sub.10 -phenalkenyl or a heterocyclic structure, or R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, R.sup.2 and R.sup.4, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, R.sup.2 and R.sup.6, R.sup.3 and R.sup.6, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 or R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 together form a cycloaliphatic or heterocyclic ring, and R.sup.1 to R.sup.7 may furthermore carry substituents which are inert under the reaction conditions, and n is 0 or 1, are prepared by a process in which a cyclic 2-oxymethyl-1,3-dioxa compound or one of its derivatives of the general formula II ##STR3## where R.sup.1 to R.sup.7, A and n have the abovementioned meanings, and R.sup.8 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: Olefinically unsaturated carboxylic esters having a terminal ester group and of the general formulae Ia and IbR.sup.1 --CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH--(CH.sub.2).sub.r--1 --COOR.sup.2 (Ia)R.sup.1 --CH.dbd.CH--(CH.sub.2).sub.r --COOR.sup.2 (Ib)and, if desired, further double bond isomers, where R.sup.1 is hydrogen or an organic radical, R.sup.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl and r is from 1 to 20, are prepared by a process in which an .alpha.-substituted .alpha.,.omega.-(n-alkylenedicarboxylic ester) of the general formula II ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 and r have the abovementioned meanings and R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, is converted over an acidic heterogeneous catalyst at from 150.degree. to 800.degree. C. and under from 0.01 to 50 bar.

Abstract: Phenylacetaldehydes of the general formula I ##STR1## where each of R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 is independently of the others hydrogen, halogen, unsubstituted or halogen-substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxyl, alkylthio or cycloalkyl, are prepared by converting glycidic esters of the general formula II ##STR2## where each of R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 is as defined above and R.sup.6 is tertbutyl or i-propyl, in the presence of zeolites and/or phosphates and/or phosphoric or boric acid on a carrier material and/or acidic metal oxides as catalysts.

Abstract: Aldehydes and ketones are prepared from epoxides of the formula ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkoxy or aralkyl and R.sup.3 has the same meanings or is hydrogen, by a catalytic rearrangement reaction in the presence of various catalysts, in particular zeolites of the pentasil type.

Abstract: Dien-1-ols of the general formula I ##STR1## where the radicals R.sup.1 to R.sup.7 are identical to or different from one another and each is hydrogen or straight-chain or branched alkyl of 1-12 carbon atoms and n is 1-14, are prepared by dehydrating a hydroxyalkenyl tert-butyl ether of the formula II ##STR2## in the presence of an acidic catalyst at elevated temperatures and essentially at the same time splitting off the tert-butyl protective group, as is 9-hydroxydodec-10-enyl 1-tert-butyl ether which is useful as an intermediate for synthesizing 8,10-dodecadienol.

Abstract: .alpha.-Ketocarboxylic esters ##STR1## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are identical to or different from one another and are each hydrogen or straight-chain or branched alkyl, alkenyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy cycloalkyl or halogen and R.sup.6 is unbranched lower alkyl, are prepared by reacting glycidic esters of the formula ##STR2## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are each as defined above, in the presence of zeolites or phosphates and/or phosphoric acid or boric acid on a carrier material and/or acidic metal oxides as catalysts and are used for preparing phenylacetic esters.