Abstract: Process for the conversion of organic halides to organic aldehydes is provided wherein a mixture consisting essentially of organic halide and dimethyl sulfoxide is first heated to a temperature of about 40.degree.-100.degree. C. for a time in the range of about 0.1-12 hours, then sodium bicarbonate is added and thereafter the resulting mixture further heated to a temperature in the range of about 90.degree.-180.degree. C. for an additional time in the range of about 0.1-12 hours. In a specific embodiment of the invention, a cosolvent selected from the group consisting of dimethylphthalate, triglyme and caprolactone is added along with the sodium bicarbonate prior to the second heating step. In another specific embodiment of the invention, the second heating step is carried out under reduced pressure conditions. The formation of alcohol by-product is greatly reduced in the practice of the present invention. Thus higher yields and easier recovery of the desired aldehyde product are achieved.

Abstract: There is disclosed a continuous catalytic process for the preparation of trifluoroacetaldehyde through fluorination in the gaseous phase of trichloroacetaldehyde in a single reaction zone at a temperature between 230.degree. C. and 260.degree. C., on a catalyst comprising a gamma alumina impregnated by Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 in an amount of 1.5 to 4 atoms of chromium per liter of alumina and activated at a temperature between 300.degree. C. and 400.degree. C. by a mixture of hydrofluoric acid and 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoro-ethane.

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: Production of essentially pure Z-11-hexadecenal by azeotropic distillation is described. Contacting a mixture of Z-11-hexadecenal, hexadecene and hexadecadiene with dimethylsulfoxide and subjecting the blend to azeotropic distillation allows for the removal of hydrocarbon impurities from the aldehyde. Contacting a mixture of Z-11-hexadecenal and hexadecenol with a C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 glycol and subjecting the blend to azeotropic distillation conditions allows for the recovery of a glycol-aldehyde azeotrope from which essentially pure aldehyde is readily recovered. A mixture comprising Z-11-hexadecenal, hexadecene, hexadecadiene and hexadecenol can be sequentially treated according to the above-described azeotropic distillation steps in order to provide essentially pure Z-11-hexadecenal.

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: Ethanol and/or acetaldehyde are prepared in good yield by contacting methanol, hydrogen and carbon monoxide with a catalyst system comprising a cobalt-containing compound and a promoter in the presence of an inert oxygenated solvent at a temperature of from about 50.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. and a pressure of at least 500 psig or greater. The combination of cobalt-containing compound and promoter may be (a) a cobalt-containing compound with an organo-sulphur compound, (b) an iodide-containing cobalt compound with a nitrogen-containing compound as promoter, and (c) a cobalt-containing compound with 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene.

Abstract: Carboxylic acid halides are reduced to the corresponding aldehydes using zinc borohydride or cadmium borohydride as the reducing agent.