Abstract: It is possible to produce an optically active fluoroalkyl chloromethyl alcohol with a high optical purity and a good yield by treating a fluoroalkyl chloromethyl ketone with a microorganism having an activity for asymmetrically reducing the ketone or an enzyme having the activity. Then, it is possible to obtain a fluoroalkyl ethylene oxide by treating the alcohol with a base. Industrial implementation of the production method of the present invention is easy.

Abstract: The invented process produces phthalic anhydride through gas-phase catalytic oxidation of ortho-xylene and/or naphthalene with an oxygen-containing gas using one or more fixed bed reactors. In the process, the gas-phase catalytic oxidation process is performed in three or more individual catalytic layers, and the conversion rates of ortho-xylene and/or naphthalene in the individual layers are controlled within specific ranges. The process is capable of providing phthalic anhydride in a high yield, is capable of minimizing deterioration of catalysts with time, and is capable of continuously stably producing phthalic anhydride in safety, even when a high concentration material gas is fed.

Abstract: Polyalkylene substituted carboxylic acylating agents which contain chlorine are synthesized by chlorine induced condensation of polyalkylenes and .alpha.-.beta. unsaturated carboxylic groups are treated with sulfur to reduce chlorine content of the carboxylic acylating agent.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for the recovery of airborne anhydrides such as anhydride vapor or dust wherein these airborne anhydrides are contacted with hot glycol, such as diethylene glycol, in the liquid phase to first dissolve and then react with the airborne anhydrides yielding a useable by-product, such as half-esters. In the preferred embodiment, first airborne anhydrides are introduced at the top of a venturi where the anhydrides are contacted with diethylene glycol of at least 270.degree. F. The airborne anhydrides dissolve in the glycol and then react with the glycol to form a solution of half-esters and glycol. The venturi enhances the contact between the glycol and the first airborne anhydrides, facilitating the dissolution of the anhydrides in the glycol. Second airborne anhydrides are introduced at the discharge side of the venturi such that the second airborne anhydrides dissolve in unreacted hot glycol and then react to form additional half-esters.

Abstract: Process for the purification of organic polyanhydrides to substantially-completely remove trace metals, such as for the production of metal-free electronic grade polymers. The process comprises decyclizing in an aqueous vehicle to form the polyacid, treating with an adsorption agent, crystallizing the polyacid, filtering and reconverting to the polyanhydride which is substantially free of trace metals. The purified polyanhydride can be reacted with other metal-free monomers to form metal-free polymers having excellent insulating properties for use in electrical components.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of five-membered ring dicarboxylic acid anhydrides from aqueous solutions of the corresponding dicarboxylic acids which entails (a) washing the aqueous solution of the dicarboxylic acid with a water-insoluble tertiary amine, and separating the resulting amine-acid salt from the water layer; and (b) adding an aromatic hydrocarbon entrainer for the water, removing the entrainer/water azeotrope by distillation and separating the five-membered ring dicarboxylic acid anhydride after phase separation; or adding an aliphatic hydrocarbon entrainer for the water, removing a ternary azeotropic mixture consisting of a hydrolytically stable anhydride, water and entrainer by distillation and separating the five-membered ring dicarboxylic acid anhydride after phase separation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing naphthoquinone from phthalic anhydride produced by the air oxidation of naphthalene or mixtures containing naphthalene. Specifically, crude phthalic anhydride containing naphthoquinone is treated at a temperature of 180.degree.-280.degree. C. with an unsaturated aliphatic oil produced by the polymerization of 1,3-dienes and optionally isomerized having a molecular weight of 800-5,000, and optionally in the presence of 1-40 ppm of alkali ions, relative to the crude phthalic anhydride.

Abstract: A thermal process for the decarboxylation and dehydration of aromatic acid residue to convert such residue to grindable form and recover the solvent of reaction therefrom.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of high-purity phthalic anhydride, which comprises exposing crude phthalic anhydride obtained by vapor-phase catalytic oxidation of ortho-xylene to contact with a gas containing molecular oxygen at an elevated temperature in the presence of an alkali metal salt of at least one carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of maleic acid, succinic acid and benzoic acid, and optionally a manganese-containing alloy, and subsequently subjecting the resultant reaction mixture to distillation.