Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The method includes removing at least a portion of acids from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to certain aspects includes controlling the level of acids in the hydrocarbon stream by use of adsorbents or basic solutions.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The method includes removing at least a portion of mercury containing compounds from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to certain aspects includes controlling the level of organic, ionic or suspended mercury compounds by first converting these compounds to elemental mercury or to inorganic mercury compounds and then removing them by use of an adsorbent bed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The method includes removing at least a portion of glycols from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to certain aspects includes controlling the level of glycols and in particular, dimethyl ethers of polyethylene glycol in the hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The method includes removing at least a portion of hydrides of arsenic, phosphorus, antimony, silicon, and boron from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to certain aspects includes controlling the level of hydrides of arsenic, phosphorus, antimony, silicon, and boron in the hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The method includes removing at least a portion of heavy hydrocarbon compounds including C2+ hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to certain aspects includes controlling the level heavy hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon stream by use of adsorbents, physical separators or cryogenic separation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The method includes removing at least a portion of carbon dioxide from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to certain aspects includes controlling the level of oxygen in the hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The method includes removing at least a portion of carbon monoxide from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to certain aspects includes controlling the level of carbon monoxide in the hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The method includes removing at least a portion of solids from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to certain aspects includes controlling the level of inorganic and organic solids in the hydrocarbon stream by use of adsorbent beds, filters, cyclone or gravity separators.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The method includes removing at least a portion of carbon dioxide from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to certain aspects includes controlling the level of carbon dioxide in the hydrocarbon stream by contacting a stream with a physical or a chemical solvent.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The method includes removing at least a portion of water from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to certain aspects includes controlling the level of water in the hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The method includes removing at least a portion of acids from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to certain aspects includes controlling the level of acids in the hydrocarbon stream by use of adsorbents or basic solutions.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The method includes removing at least a portion of heavy metals from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to certain aspects includes controlling the level of heavy metals in the hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The method includes removing at least a portion of sulfur containing compounds from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to certain aspects includes controlling the level of sulfur containing compounds in the hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to certain aspects includes controlling the level of water, carbon dioxide and other condensable contaminants in the hydrocarbon stream by use of a fluid separation assembly such as a supersonic inertia separator. In addition, one or more adsorbent beds may be used to remove remaining trace amounts of condensable contaminants. The fluid separation assembly has a cyclonic fluid separator with a tubular throat portion arranged between a converging fluid inlet section and a diverging fluid outlet section and a swirl creating device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The method includes removing at least a portion of organic oxygenates from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to certain aspects includes controlling the level of organic oxygenates in the hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The method includes removing at least a portion of mercury from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to certain aspects includes controlling the level of mercury and mercury containing compounds in the hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of enantiomerically enriched amino aldehydes and amino alcohols, wherein a corresponding enantiomerically enriched amino nitrile is subjected to hydrogenation in the presence of hydrogen, a hydrogenation catalyst, preferably a Pd-catalyst and a mineral acid. For the preparation of an amino aldehyde hydrogen preferably is present at a hydrogen-pressure between 0.1 and 2 MPa, in particular between 0.5 and 1 MPa. The amino aldehyde preferably is isolated in the form of a chemically and configurationally stable derivative. For the preparation of an amino alcohol, preferably at least during part of the hydrogenation hydrogen is present at a hydrogen-pressure between 2 and 10 MPa, in particular between 4 and 6 MPa. In a preferred embodiment the hydrogen-pressure initially is between 0.5 and 2 MPa and subsequently, after most of the nitrile starting material is converted, the hydrogen pressure is increased to a value between 2 and 10 MPa.

Abstract: Nonmetallic, chiral organic catalysts are used to catalyze the 1,4-addition of an aromatic nucleophile to an ?,?-unsaturated aldehyde. The aromatic nucleophile may be an N,N-disubstituted aniline compound, or an analog thereof. The reaction is efficient and enantioselective, and proceeds with a variety of substituted and unsubstituted aromatic nucleophiles and aldehydes. The invention also provides a method for the deamination of aromatic N,N-disubstituted amines such as those resulting from the 1,4-addition of an aromatic nucleophile to an ?,?-unsaturated aldehyde.

Abstract: Nonmetallic organic catalysts are provided that facilitate the enantioselective reaction of &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated aldehydes. The catalysts are chiral imidazolidinone compounds having the structure of formula (IIA) or (IIB) or are acid addition salts thereof, wherein, in one preferred embodiment, R1 is C1-C6 alkyl, R2 is tri(C1-C6 alkyl)-substituted methyl, R3 and R4 are hydrogen, and R5 is phenyl optionally substituted with 1 or 2 substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxyl, and C1-C6 alkyl. The chiral imidazolidinones are useful in catalyzing a wide variety of reactions, including cycloaddition reactions, Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions, and Michael additions.

Abstract: There are disclosed are a method for producing at least one compound selected from a carbonyl compound and a hydroxy adduct compound by an oxidative cleavage or addition reaction of an olefinic double bond of an olefin compound, which contains reacting an olefin compound with hydrogen peroxide, utilizing as a catalyst, at least one member selected from (a) tungsten, (b) molybdenum, or (c) a tungsten or molybdenum metal compound containing (ia) tungsten or (ib) molybdenum and (ii) an element of Group IIIb, IVb, Vb or VIb excluding oxygen, and a catalyst composition.

Abstract: A method of reacting a solution comprising a mixture of chemical compounds which are in chemical equilibrium with one another with at least one further chemical compound (9) is provided. The method comprises the following steps: fractionation of the solution by means of a separation method to give at least two fractions (5, 6) which are enriched in different chemical compounds of the mixture; and reaction of a fraction (5) with the further chemical compound or compounds (9). The fractionation is advantageously carried out using a film evaporator (1). Unreacted fractions (6) can be recirculated via a residence time vessel (3) back to the fractionation step. The method is particularly suitable for reactions of an aqueous formaldehyde solution in which various components of the solution (formaldehyde, methylene glycol, polyoxymethylene glycols) react in different ways.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of citral is provided by the catalyzed rearrangement of dehydrolinalool to citral. The rearrangement is carried out in the presence of a molybdenum compound of the general formula MoO2X2 wherein X signifies an acetylacetonate or halide ion, and a dialkyl or diaryl sulphoxide as the catalyst system, in the presence of an organic acid having a pK value in the range of about 4.0 to about 6.5 and in an apolar aprotic organic solvent.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of dihydrocitral, a valuable intermediate, through the catalyzed rearrangement of dihydrodehydrolinalool by carrying out the rearrangement in the presence of a molybdenum compound of the general formula MoO2X2 wherein X signifies an acetylacetonate or halide ion, and a dialkyl or diaryl sulphoxide as the catalyst system, in the presence of an organic acid having a pK value in the range of about 4.0 to about 6.5 and in an aprotic organic solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel intermediates for the preparation of vitamin A and carotenoids, corresponding to the following formula (I): ##STR1## in which X is a carbon atom; n is equal to 1 or 2; R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, which may be identical or different, each independently represent hydrogen, alkyl containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkenyl containing 2 to 11 carbon atoms or aryl, each alkyl and alkenyl may be linear, branched or cyclic, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 can together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a cycloaliphatic compound which is optionally substituted; and R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7 and R.sub.8, which may be identical or different, each independently represent hydrogen, alkyl containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms or alkenyl containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms, each alkyl or alkenyl being linear, or if containing sufficient numbers of carbon atoms, may also be branched or cyclic, or an aryl containing 6 to 10 carbon atoms, or any two of R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.

Abstract: A novel process for the manufacture of .gamma.-acetoxytiglic aldehyde ("C.sub.5 -aldehyde"), which is known as an important starting material for the production of vitamin A acetate from a (.beta.-ionylidenethyl)triphenylphosphonium halide and C.sub.5 -aldehyde, comprises treating a pentenyn-3-ol of the formula HC.tbd.C--C(CH.sub.3)(OH)--CH.dbd.C(R).sub.2 (II), wherein both R's signify either hydrogen or methyl, with ozone, preferably in a lower alkanol R.sup.1 OH, wherein R.sup.1 signifies C.sub.1-4 -alkyl, to obtain an aldehyde 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-butynal of the formula HC.tbd.C--C(CH.sub.3)(OH)--CHO (III). The aldehyde III may be converted to the C.sub.5 -aldehyde by conventional means.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of olefinic aldehydes and intermediates is disclosed. The condensation of an .alpha.,.omega.-dihalide with a metal acetylide gives an acetylenic halide which can be reduced to give an olefinic halide, then oxidized to give the desired olefinic aldehyde or the acetylenic halide can be oxidized first to give an acetylenic aldehyde and then reduced to give the desired olefinic aldehyde.

Abstract: A process for removing alkynes from hydrocarbon mixtures, particularly those containing butadiene by reacting the alkynes with hydroxyl group containing organic compounds in the presence of a silver exchanged ion-exchange resin and separating the products formed from the unreacted components of said mixture.