Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing acetic acid in which methyl formate is isomerized into acetic acid with a catalyst containing at least one of Pd, Ru and Ir, at least one compound of said metals or a mixture thereof, and a promoter of a halide compound in the presence of carbon monoxide. This process can be carried out under mild reaction conditions and acetic acid is obtained in high yield.

Abstract: A process for producing vinyl acetate which comprises reacting acetic anhydride with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising(a) a metal belonging to Group VIII of the Periodic Table or a compound of the metal, and(b) (i) an acidic substance, or (ii) a halideis disclosed.

Abstract: A resin composition for optics is disclosed, which mainly comprises a graft copolymer comprising a styrene resin and an aromatic polycarbonate each having a specific molecular weight at a specific ratio of molecular weight and weight, said composition having a micro disperse phase of not more than 0.5 .mu.m. The resin composition has a reduced optical strain and an excellent micro disperse phase and is, therefore, suitable for use as optics.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing vinyl acetate from methanol, carbon monoxide and hydrogen which comprises the following five steps:(a) methanol is hydrocarbonylated in a hydrocarbonylation zone to produce ethanol, acetaldehyde, methyl acetate and dimethylacetal, and the products are separated in a separation zone;(b) methyl acetate is carbonylated in a carbonylation zone to produce acetic anhydride;(c) the acetaldehyde and dimethylacetal produced in the step (a) and the acetic anhydride produced in the step (b) are converted to ethylidene diacetate and methyl acetate; (d) the ethylidene diacetate produced in the step (c) is thermally decomposed to vinyl acetate and acetic acid, and the products are separated in a separation zone; and(e) the methyl acetate produced and separated in the step (a), (c) or (d) is supplied to the carbonylation step (b).

Abstract: A process for producing ethylidenediacetate which comprises reacting methyl acetate or dimethyl ether, carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of catalyst comprising as a secondary-component at least one material selected from the group consisting of, iodides and bromides and as a main component combination of (1) at least one material selected from the group consisting of nickel and nickel compounds, at least one material selected from the group consisting of cobalt and cobalt compounds under substantially anhydrous conditions is disclosed. According to the present invention synthesis of ethylidenediacetate is achieved by using a cheaper catalyst than the prior catalyst.

Abstract: A process for producing a carboxylic acid which comprises reacting a hydrocarbyl alcohol with carbon monoxide in the presence of a metal catalyst selected from nickel or cobalt, a halide and a specific promoter is disclosed. According to the present invention, formation rate of carboxylic acid is high.

Abstract: A process for producing acetic anhydride which comprises reacting methyl acetate or dimethyl ether with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising (a) nickel or a nickel compound and (b) at least one halide selected from the group consisting of bromides, iodides and mixtures thereof, and together with a specific co-catalyst which is disclosed. According to this invention acetic anhydride is produced by using highly active non-expensive catalyst and co-catalyst.

Abstract: A process for producing acetic anhydride which comprises reacting methyl acetate or dimethyl ether with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising (a) nickel or a nickel compound, (b) at least one halide selected from the group consisting of bromides, iodides and mixtures thereof and (c) at least one organic nitrogen group compound and together with a specific co-catalyst is disclosed. According to this invention acetic anhydride is produced by using highly active non-expensive catalyst and co-catalyst.

Abstract: A process for producing vinyl acetate which comprises decomposing ethylidene diacetate in the presence of at least one compound selected from fluorides, bromides, chlorides, iodides, halogens and mixtures thereof is disclosed. According to this invention decomposition rate of ethylidene diacetate is high and selectivity to vinyl acetate is also high.

Abstract: A process for producing a carboxylic acid and/or its ester, which comprises reacting an alcohol or ether with carbon monoxide in the presence of elemental nickel or a nickel compound, iodine or an iodine compound and an organic compound of a trivalent nitrogen-group element; wherein the iodine or iodine compound is selected from the following formulae (I) to (IV),RX.sub.n (I)wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or alkylene group, X represents an iodine or bromine atom, and n is an integer of 1 to 3, at least one of n.multidot.X's being an iodine atom,I.sub.2 or I.sub.3 - (II)RCOI (III)wherein R represents an alkyl group,MI.sub.2 (IV)wherein M represents an alkaline earth metal, and the amount of the iodine or iodine compound is such that the amount of the free iodine or iodine compound not chemically bonded to the nickel or nickel compound or the organic compound of a nitrogen-group element is at least 0.

Abstract: A process for preparing a carboxylic acid anhydride by reacting an aliphatic carboxylic acid ester or an ether with carbon monoxide in the presence of elemental nickel or a nickel compound, iodine or an iodine compound and an organic compound of a trivalent nitrogen-group element; wherein said iodine or iodine compound is selected from the following formulae (I) to (IV),RX.sub.n (I)wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or alkylene group, X represents an iodine or bromine atom, n represents an integer of 1 to 3, and at least one of n X's is an iodine atom,I.sub.2 or I.sub.3.sup.- (II)RCOI (III)wherein R represents an alkyl group, andMI.sub.2 (IV)wherein M represents an alkaline earth metal, and is used in an amount such that the free iodine or iodine compound not chemically combined with said nickel or nickel compound or with said organic compound of a nitrogen-group element is present in an amount of at least 0.

Abstract: A process for producing an aliphatic carboxylic acid and an aliphatic carboxylic acid esters ofa phenol which comprises reacting a phenol of the general formula ##STR1## wherein n is an integer of 1 to 6, m is an integer of 0 to 5, the sum of n and m is 6, and R represents hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, carbinol, acyl, acyloxy, formyl, carboxy, halogen, sulfo, nitro, nitroso, amino, amido, or cyano, and two or more R groups may be the same or different, and the substituents R may be bonded to each other to form a penta- or hexa-carboxylic or heterocyclic ring, and an aliphatic carboxylic acid ester or an aliphatic ether with carbon monoxide, and separating and recovering the aliphatic carboxylic acid from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: In a process for producing a carboxylic acid or its ester by reacting an alcohol or an ether with carbon monoxide, the improvement wherein the reaction is performed in the presence of, as a solvent, an aryl ester of an aliphatic carboxylic acid represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein n is an integer of 1 to 5, R.sub.1 represents hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or alkenyl, and R.sub.2 represents hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, hydroxymethyl, acyl, acyloxy, formyl, carboxy, hydroxy, halogen, sulfo, nitro, nitroso, amino, acid amide or cyano, and two or more R.sub.2 groups may be the same or different, and the substituents R.sub.2 may be bonded to each other to form a penta- or hexa-carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring.

Abstract: Adenine is prepared by reacting at least one member selected from the class of diaminomaleonitrile and diaminofumaronitrile, a formic acid derivative and at least one member selected from the class of ammonia and ammonium salts in the presence or absence of a solvent.