Abstract: A process for the preparation of glyceryl carbonate by causing glycerol to react with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a Group Ib, Group IIb, or Group VIIIb catalyst as per the Periodic Table at temperatures ranging from 0.degree. to 180.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of 1,2-propylene glycol, wherein dihydroxyacetone is hydrogenolytically converted to 1,2-propylene glycol in a single stage using a catalyst.

Abstract: Arycolaldehyde, glyceraldehyde, C.sub.4 - and C.sub.5 -sugars or mixtures thereof are prepared in a self-condensation of formaldehyde by reacting formaldehyde or a formaldehyde donor in the presence of a mesoionic catalyst of the formula ##STR1## wherein X is nitrogen or CR.sup.3, Y is sulfur or selenium or NR.sup.4, and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 can be identical or different and each can represent an aliphatic, aryl, aralkyl or heteroaryl group which is unsubstituted or which bears substituents which have only a negligible effect on the catalytic activity of said mesoionic catalyst, with the proviso that R.sup.2 together with R.sup.4 can form a C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 -alkylene or alkenylene bridge or a C.sub.6 -C.sub.14 -arylene bridge, and wherein R.sup.5 is hydrogen, the hydroxymethyl group -CH.sub.2 OH or the hydroxymethylhydroxymethyl group --CH(OH)(CH.sub.2 OH).

Abstract: A process for preparing mixtures of 3-aminopropionitrile of the formula IH.sub.2 N--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CN (I)and ethylene cyanohydrin of the formula IIHO--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CN (II)comprises reacting bis(2-cyanoethyl) ether of the formula IIINC--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CN (III)with ammonia at from 50 to 170.degree. C. and under from 1 to 500 bar thermally or in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst.

Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure: Aminopropionitriles of the general formula I ##STR1## where R is hydrogen or methyl, wherein ammonia is reacted with an acrylonitrile of the general formula II ##STR2## where the substituents have the abovementioned meanings, in a molar ratio of from 1:1 to 500:1 over a heterogeneous catalyst at from 40.degree. to 180.degree. C. and from 10 to 350 bar.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a 2-(3-aminopropyl)-cycloalkylamine of the general formula I ##STR1## in which the subscript n is an integer from 1 to 4, from a 2-(2-cyanoethyl)-cycloalkanone of the general formula II ##STR2## in which the subscript n has the meaning stated, wherein the following stages are carried out in discrete reaction chambers:a) the 2-(2-cyanoethyl)-cycloalkanone of formula II is reacted in a first reaction chamber with excess ammonia over an acidic heterogeneous catalyst at a temperature from 20.degree. to 150.degree. C. and a pressure of from 15 to 500 bar, andb) in a second reaction chamber, the reaction product from stage a) is hydrogenated at a temperature of from 60.degree. to 150.degree. C. and a pressure of from 50 to 300 bar in the presence of excess ammonia over a catalyst containing cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, and/or some other noble metal, which catalyst optionally contains a basic component or is supported on neutral or basic supporting material.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of N-substituted pyrrolidones by the catalytic hydrogenation of maleic anhydride, maleic acid and/or fumaric acid in the presence of a primary amine and a solvent, at elevated temperature and pressure, wherein a catalyst is used which contains cobalt and at least one of the elements manganese, copper, phosphorus, molybdenum and/or sodium.

Abstract: A process for the continuous synthesis of dialkyl carbonates of the general formula I ##STR1## in which R denotes C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, by reaction of C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: A process is described for isolating tetrahydrofuran from mixtures containing tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-butanediol, -butyrolactone and succinic acid esters, in which the mixtures are heated to from 150.degree. to 250.degree. C. in the presence of phyllosilicates, the resultant tetrahydrofuran and water of reaction are removed from the reaction mixture by distillation, and the tetrahydrofuran is separated from the distillate.

Abstract: A process is described for the preparation of propylene glycol and ethylene glycol from formaldehyde, the first step involving conversion of the formaldehyde into a mixture of polyhydroxyl compounds in a conventional manner in an alkaline medium by self-condensation and the second step involving catalytic hydrogenolysis of this mixture with a hydrogen consumption of at least 0.5 mol of hydrogen per mol of formaldehyde employed for forming the polyhydroxyl compounds.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 1,4-butanediol by catalytically hydrogenating maleic anhydride in the presence of an alcohol, at elevated temperature and elevated pressure and with the aid of a cobalt-containing catalyst comprises partially hydrogenating the reaction mixture in a first hydrogenation step at from 100.degree. to 200.degree. C. and at from 30 to 200 bar and subsequently post-hydrogenating the product of this first hydrogenation step, without further work-up at higher temperature and pressure than in the first hydrogenation step, in a second hydrogenation step at from 200.degree. to 300.degree. C. and at from 200 to 350 bar.

Abstract: 6-Aminocaproic esters are prepared by reacting alkyl 5-formylvalerates with excess ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of ruthenium catalysts at elevated temperature under superatmospheric pressure in liquid ammonia as reaction medium.

Abstract: 3-Dialkylaminopropionitriles ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl which may furthermore be bonded to form a 5-membered or 6-membered ring, bis-(2-cyanoethyl) ether IINC--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CN IIand, if desired, ethylenecyanohydrin IIIHO--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CN IIIare prepared jointly by a process in which(a) acrylonitrile and water are reacted in the presence of a base at from 60.degree. to 150.degree. C. to give a mixture of acrylonitrile, water and bis-(2-cyanoethyl) ether II, the base being a mineral base, a quaternary nitrogen base or a mixture of these,(b) this mixture is reacted at about 0.degree.-50.degree. C.

Abstract: Caprolactam is prepared in a process comprising the following steps:(a) reacting the 5-formylvaleric ester with liquid ammonia as reaction medium and hydrogen in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst in liquid phase at from 80.degree. to 140.degree. C. under a hydrogen partial pressure of from 40 to 100 bar,(b) replacing the reaction medium ammonia by an aromatic hydrocarbon having a boiling point of from 80.degree. to 240.degree. C. which is liquid under the reaction conditions,(c) heating the resulting mixture in liquid phase under superatmospheric pressure at 230.degree.-350.degree. C. to form caprolactam, and(d) isolating caprolactam from the resulting reaction mixture.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of 1,4-butanediol or tetrahydrofuran or both by the catalytic hydrogenation of maleic anhydride, succinic anhydride, maleic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, or the alkyl esters of these acids at temperatures of from 100.degree. C. to 350.degree. C. and pressures of from 50 bar to 350 bar over a catalyst containing cobalt as the active metal and one or both of the elements copper and phosphorus, if necessary in the presence of an aliphatic alcohol.

Abstract: Alkyl pentenoates are prepared by(a) reacting butadiene or a butadiene-containing hydrocarbon mixture with carbon monoxide and an alkanol in the presence of a tertiary aromatic heterocyclic nitrogen base and a cobalt carbonyl catalyst at from 80.degree. to 160.degree. C. under from 100 to 1,000 bar to obtain a reaction mixture which contains alkyl pentenoate, C.sub.6 -diester, tertiary nitrogen base, alkanol, butadiene, hydrocarbon and by-product,(b) substantially removing from the reaction mixture obtained any excess hydrocarbon, nitrogen base, alkanol and alkyl pentenoate by distillation to obtain a residue which contains cobalt carbonyl catalyst,(c) bringing the residue which contains cobalt carbonyl catalyst into contact with a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen at elevated temperature and elevated pressure, and(d) recycling the residue which contains cobalt carbonyl catalyst into alkyl pentenoate synthesis stage (a).

Abstract: Alkyl pentenoates are prepared by reacting butadiene with carbon monoxide and an alkanol in the presence of a cobalt carbonyl complex and a tertiary, aromatic heterocyclic nitrogen base at from 80.degree. to 160.degree. C. under from 100 to 1,000 bar in the presence of from 0.1 to 10% by volume of hydrogen, based on the amount of carbon monoxide used.

Abstract: In an improved process for the preparation of 6-aminocaproates by reacting a 5-formylvalerate with ammonia and hydrogen using an alkanol as a solvent in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst at elevated temperatures and under superatmospheric pressure, the improvement comprises carrying out the reaction at from 40.degree. to 95.degree. C.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol is prepared from carbon monoxide and hydrogen in homogeneous liquid phase under superatmospheric pressure and at elevated temperature in the presence of a rhodium-containing catalyst and in the presence of an organic solvent, the organic solvent used being a C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 -n-alkanol and the concentration of this alkanol, based on the total amount of the mixture, constantly being maintained at not less than 50% by weight.

Abstract: Caprolactam is prepared by a process in which(a) the 5-formylvalerate is reacted with excess ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of an alkanol as the solvent and in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under superatmospheric pressure in the liquid phase at from 40.degree. to 130.degree. C.,(b) excess ammonia and hydrogen are separated off from the reaction mixture,(c) the resulting reaction mixture is reacted with water at elevated temperatures with simultaneous removal of alkanols, and(d) the reaction mixture thus obtained is heated to 150.degree.-370.degree. C. and .epsilon.-caprolactam is obtained.