Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming a phosphonate diester compound from a ligand hydrolysis product (LHP) of a phosphite ligand used in a nickel-phosphite hydrocyanation catalyst, such as for conversion of 3-pentenenitrile to adiponitrile, which serves to eliminate acidic LHP compound for a hydrocyanation reaction milieu where the acidic LHP can catalyze further catalyst ligand destruction. The invention further provides phosphonate disester compounds prepared by alkylation of diarylphosphite LHP in the presence of a nickel-phosphite catalyst comprising a bidentate ligand, and a continuous hydrocyanation process for production of adiponitrile wherein catalyst ligand breakdown is inhibited through inactivation of ligand hydrolysis products towards further breakdown. A method of stabilizing a hydrocyanation catalyst is provided.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a cheaper and practical protocol for the construction of a wide variety of o-cyanocin-namonitrile and their structural analogues that proceeds with good yields in a single step using CuCN as the only reagent.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for preparing triterpenoids such as 2-cyano-3,12-dioxoolean-1,9-dien-28-methyl ester and derivatives thereof from oleanic acid, ursolic acid, betulinic acid, sumaresinolic acid or hederagenin.

Abstract: A process for preparing aromatic nitriles from corresponding chloroaromatics by reaction with cyanides.

Abstract: This invention has its objects to provide a process for producing a butyric acid ester derivative of the above general formula (2) which is capable of removing various impurity byproducts whose formation cannot be avoided by the prior art technology, particularly the compound of the above general formula (1), with good efficiency.This invention is related to a process for producing a butyric acid ester derivative of the general formula (2) which comprises treating a mixture containing a compound of the following general formula (1) with an addition reagent capable of adding itself to said ethylenic bond to thereby convert said compound of the general formula (1) to an addition product which can be easily separated from said butyric acid ester derivative of the general formula (2) and a process for producing a butyric acid ester derivative of the general formula (2) which comprises reacting a compound of the general formula (3) with a salt of prussic acid by a flow method.HOCH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.

Abstract: Processes for hydrocyanation of nonconjugated acyclic aliphatic monoolefins, monoolefins conjugated to an ester group, or monoolefins conjugated to a nitrile group which utilize a catalyst precursor composition comprising a bidentate phosphite ligand and zero-valent nickel preferably in the presence of a Lewis acid prompter. Catalyst precursor compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: The process for producing 5-amino-3-methylpyrazole includes the steps of reacting 2,3-dichloropropene with a cyanogenating agent in the presence of a cuprous salt and water at a pH of 3-8 to obtain at least one intermediate selected from the group consisting of 3-chloro-3-butenonitrile and 2,3-butadienenitrile; reacting the at least one intermediate with a base in the presence of water at a pH of 12.5 or above to obtain 2-butynenitrile; and reacting the 2-butynenitrile with hydrazine. This process is advantageous in that it enables the production of 5-amino-3-methylpyrazole in high yield without using any reagent which may produce fire. 5-Amino-3-methylpyrazole is a useful intermediate for medicines, agricultural chemicals, photographic chemicals, etc.

Abstract: Process of polyene hydrocyanation, in particular diene hydrocyanation, wherein a promotionally effective amount of any acid with a pK.sub.a above about 2 and below and 14, preferably aryl alcohols such as phenol and cresols, is used.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of 4-fluorophenols of formula ##STR1## wherein n is 0 to 3, each R independently represents a halogen atom or an alkyl, alkoxy, cyano or optionally substituted amino group and Z represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or a cyano group characterized by reacting a fluorohalocyclohexadienone of formula ##STR2## wherein X represents a halogen atom, with a compound of formula A-Z, wherein Z is as defined above and A represents a hydrogen or alkali metal atom, provided that when both A and Z are hydrogen, the reaction is carried out in the additional presence of a Group VIII metal hydrogenation catalyst, and 4-fluorophenols of formula I per se wherein Z is a CN group.

Abstract: Organosilicon compounds referred to as silacrown ethers or "silacrowns" are of the general formula: ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are organic radicals or hydrogen and n is an integer between 4 and 10 inclusive. Silacrown ethers are prepared by reacting polyethylene glycol with substituted silanes under conditions promoting cyclization over polymerization. Silacrown ethers may be employed as phase-transfer catalysts in solution or immobilized on siliceous supports.