Abstract: Synthesis of dialkyl oxalates by the oxidative carbonylation of liquid monohydric saturated alcohols of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms with carbon monoxide and oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalytic amount of a catalyst comprising palladium or a salt thereof in combination with vanadium in the oxide (V.sub.2 O.sub.5, V.sub.2 O.sub.4, V.sub.2 O.sub.3) form and titanium or a non-hydrolyzable salt thereof, said catalyst being present in a heterogeneous phase.

Abstract: A catalyst suited for use in the sweetening of petroleum distillates (by oxidizing mercaptans to disulfides) which is formed of a metal complex of a polyaminoalkylpolycarboxylic acid deposited directly on a basic anion exchange resin. The method of making the source by exchanging a metal cation on an acidic resin; forming a complex by the action of a polyaminoalkylpolycarboxylic acid upon said resin; and exchanging the complex so formed on a basic anion exchange resin.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of catalyst systems containing (a) dibenzothiazyl disulphide, (b) carboxylates and/or organic complex compounds of manganese, iron, nickel or cobalt and (c) organic bases selected from the group consisting of guanidines and tertiary amines optionally containing inert substituents, as reaction accelerators for the oxidative hardening of plastics precursors containing mercapto groups.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixed bed catalyst for the oxychlorination of ethene, alpha olefins and aromatics. More specifically, this invention relates to a catalyst having an impeded center which excludes reactants, or prevents products from forming in the interior of the catalyst. The impeded center may be made inaccessible or it may be inert to reaction. Thin layers of high specific surface area carrier material cover the outer surface of the impeded center. An agent capable of catalyzing oxychlorination reactions is added to the layered catalytic carrier material.

Abstract: Synthesis of dialkyl oxalates by the heterogeneous catalyzed oxidative carbonylation of liquid monohydric saturated alcohols of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms with carbon monoxide and oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalytic amount of a catalyst comprising palladium or a salt thereof in combination with a crystalline vanadium-phosphorus-manganese containing compound.

Abstract: The use of fluorocarbons during the multiphase oxidation of olefins to ketones with Wacker-type catalysts improves reaction efficiency.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic oxidation of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in general and anthracene in particular in an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a ceric ammonium nitrate catalyst system wherein turnover ratios are increased by: (1) use of acetic acid as solvent; (2) use of pure molecular oxygen as the oxygen-containing gas; (3) use of ammonium vanadate as a promoter; and (4) addition of acetic anhydride to react with water produced as a by-product of the oxidation reaction. By use of the filtrate, remaining after removal of anthraquinone by filtration, to catalyze the oxidation of fresh anthracene, and by addition of nitric acid to restore catalytic activity after a series of oxidation reactions, anthraquinone is produced from anthracene in a continuous system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a catalyst comprising an inert, particulate, inorganic support onto which has been deposited a group II or III metal hydrocarbyl complex of chromium and at least one additional complex or compound of a transition metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, molybdenum, and titanium. The catalyst is activated by heating in the range 200.degree. C.-1200.degree. C. Also disclosed is the process for the polymerization of .alpha.-olefins in the presence of said catalyst.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol and lower monohydric alcohols are prepared from syngas in good yield by contacting a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen with a catalyst system comprising a ruthenium-containing compound and a special substituted aromatic compound both dispersed in a low melting quaternary phosphonium salt and heating the resulting mixture at a temperature of at least 150.degree. C. and a pressure of at least 500 psi for sufficient time to produce the desired ethylene glycol and monohydric alcohols, and then removing the same from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an aqueous polymerization medium comprising (1) a catalyst composition which contains (a) an organometallic compound and (b) a transition metal compound wherein said catalyst composition is microencapsulated in a polyene product; and (2) water. This invention also discloses an aqueous polymerization medium comprising (1) a catalyst composition which is prepared by dissolving in an inert organic solvent containing at least one polyene (a) a transition metal compound, and (b) an organometallic compound; and (2) water. This aqueous polymerization medium is very useful in the polymerization of unsaturated hydrocarbon monomers. It is of greatest value in the polymerization of conjugated diolefin monomers into stereo-regulated polymers.

Abstract: A novel and effective catalyst system is provided for application in the preparation of alkenyl esters of carboxylic acids by transesterification reaction. The catalyst system consists of a palladium compound as the main ingredient and a cocatalyst formed of an alkali metal compound and a copper compound, at least one of which is a halide. The catalyst ingredients are adsorbed on a solid catalyst carrier, so that repeated use of the combined catalyst or a continuous operation of the reaction can easily be facilitated.

Abstract: A process and a foam produced therefrom are disclosed in which multi-functional isocyanate, water, a catalytic amount of a urea polymerization catalyst, and a catalytic amount of an isocyanurate polymerization catalyst are reacted to form a rigid, closed cell, urea-modified polyisocyanurate foam suitable for use for retrofitting wall cavities with insulating material. The urea polymerization catalyst and the isocyanurate polymerization catalyst are present in the reaction mixture in relationship to the multi-functional isocyanate and water in amounts so as to produce a foam setting after substantially complete rising thereof. Activator compositions for preparing such foams are also disclosed.

Abstract: The process for the stabilization of polycondensation catalysts and the stabilization composition used in such process for producing polyesters and copolyesters by the polycondensation of dicarboxylic acid and an aliphatic glycol using certain metal-containing polycondensation catalysts in conjunction with a stabilization composition formed as the reaction product of phosphoric acid, meta-phosphoric acid, superphosphoric acid or mixtures thereof and an aliphatic epoxide having between 2 and about 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for substituting for a halogen atom attached to the nuclear carbon atom of an aromatic ring, a substituent of the formula --O--R wherein R represents alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or benzyl, which process comprises reacting the halogen-substituted aromatic compound with an alcoholate of the formula M.sup.n+ [O--R].sub.n.sup..crclbar. wherein M is an alkali metal atom or alkaline earth metal atom, n is the valency of M, and R is as defined above, in the presence of an active catalyst mixture comprising (i) a formic acid ester of an organic alcohol having the formula R.sup.2 --O--CO--H wherein R.sup.2 is as defined for R above; and (ii) a cuprous salt; in a liquid medium which is a solvent for the catalyst mixture and in which the halogen-substituted aromatic compound is at least partially soluble, under substantially anhydrous conditions and a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The invention further relates to a catalyst used in the above process.

Abstract: A curvature composition for curing polyurethane prepolymers prepared from hindered aliphatic diisocyanates, comprising (a) a C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 diol, (b) a C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 aminodiol and (c) a catalytically effective amount of a curing catalyst, and containing 50-99 equivalents of hydroxyl from the diol (a) and 1-50 equivalents of hydroxyl and amino groups from the aminodiol (b) per 100 equivalents of isocyanate groups of the polyurethane prepolymer.

Abstract: Optionally-foamed polyurethanes are produced by reacting polyisocyanates with organic compounds containing at least two isocyanate-reactive hydrogen atoms and having a molecular weight in the range from 400 to 10,000, in the presence of activators corresponding to the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 may be the same or different and represent C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.14 -aryl or C.sub.7 -C.sub.30 -alkaryl,X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 may be the same or different and represent halogen or a radical of the formula --OR.sup.5, --SR.sup.6 or ##STR2## with the proviso that X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 cannot both represent a halogen atom,R.sup.5, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 may be the same or different and represent a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.14 -aryl or C.sub.7 -C.sub.30 -alkaryl and 1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.

Abstract: A catalyst for use in homogeneous catalysis comprises a backbone of at least 5 carbon atoms chain length, which may comprise aromatic moieties and also hetero atoms, a polar moiety at one of the ends of the backbone and a ligand moiety at its other end, such ligand moiety being adapted to form a complex with a metal ion. A process of hydrogenation or of hydroformylation comprises contacting an aqueous phase containing a catalyst as defined above, with an organic phase comprising the reactant, introducing hydrogen or a hydrogen-carbon monoxide mixture with agitation until the reaction is terminated, separating the phases and recovering the desired reaction products from the organic phase.

Abstract: A process for hydroxylating olefins using a supported osmium catalyst such as Os.sub.3 (CO).sub.12 adsorbed on a support, such as MgO, and optionally in conjunction with a co-catalyst such as NaI, is disclosed.

Abstract: The change in the crush strength of a catalyst particle as it is transformed from a catalyst precursor to a finished catalyst by calcination is controlled by the method comprising:1. Preparing a catalyst precursor containing at least one metal element,2. Adjusting the volatile portion of the catalyst precursor to a predetermined level,3. Adjusting the water content of the volatile-adjusted precursor of (2) to a predetermined level,4. Forming the catalyst particle from the water-adjusted precursor of (3), and5. Transforming the catalyst precursor particle of (4) into a finished catalyst particle by calcination.

Abstract: Compositions consisting of the reaction product or complex resulting from the mixing of a transition metal compound such as a tetraalkoxy titanium compound and an organo compound of magnesium, aluminum, boron or lithium such as a dialkyl magnesium compound are useful in the preparation of catalysts for polymerizing .alpha.-olefins at ultra-high efficiencies at high polymerization temperatures.

Abstract: A silica-containing composition suitable for supporting chromium to produce a catalyst capable of giving high melt flow olefin polymers for such applications as injection molding and the like requiring a narrow molecular weight distribution, is produced by treating a silica-containing material at an elevated temperature with either (1), CO, (2) a bromine or iodine component, or (3) an oxygen-containing sulfur component, more specifically a carbon, oxygen and sulfur-containing component. Thereafter, anhydrous chromium can be added, for instance, by means of a hydrocarbon solution of a soluble chromium compound, and the resulting composition activated in air to produce a catalyst. The bromine or iodine treated silica contains bound bromine of iodine if the treating agent is HBr, HI, an organic halide of Br or I or elemental Br or I used in conjunction with a reducing agent.