Abstract: The current invention provides and improved method for hydrolyzing alpha-chlorinated toluene compounds comprising the steps of:—providing an alpha-chlorinated toluene compound of formula (I) wherein at least one of R1, R2 and R3 is CI and wherein (Ra)n designates that the benzene nucleus may have one or more substituents which may be same or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, CI, Br and —CmH2m+1, n being 0 or an integer from 1 to 5, and m being an integer, preferably from 1 to 6,—hydrolyzing said compound with water in the presence of a metal oxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the hydroxylation of halogen aryl compounds carried out at a temperature lower than 200° C. in the presence of a catalytic system including a copper-based catalyst and a ligand L according to reaction scheme Formula (A), in which: R is selected from the groups having an acceptor inductive effect and the groups having a donor mesomer effect; M is selected from alkaline or alkaline-earth cations; X is a halogen atom; r is between 0 and 5; and the ligand L is selected from compounds having formula I.

Abstract: The current invention provides and improved method for hydrolyzing alpha-chlorinated toluene compounds comprising the steps of:—providing an alpha-chlorinated toluene compound of formula (I) wherein at least one of R1, R2 and R3 is CI and wherein (Ra)n designates that the benzene nucleus may have one or more substituents which may be same or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, CI, Br and —CmH2m+1, n being 0 or an integer from 1 to 5, and m being an integer, preferably from 1 to 6,—hydrolyzing said compound with water in the presence of a metal oxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the hydroxylation of halogen aryl compounds carried out at a temperature lower than 200° C. in the presence of a catalytic system including a copper-based catalyst and a ligand L according to reaction scheme Formula (A), in which: R is selected from the groups having an acceptor inductive effect and the groups having a donor mesomer effect; M is selected from alkaline or alkaline-earth cations; X is a halogen atom; r is between 0 and 5; and the ligand L is selected from compounds having formula I.

Abstract: An integrated process for producing aromatic hydrocarbons and ethylene and/or propylene and optionally other lower olefins from low molecular weight hydrocarbons, preferably methane, which comprises: (a) contacting at least one low molecular weight alkane, preferably methane, with a halogen, preferably bromine, under process conditions sufficient to produce a monohaloalkane, preferably monobromomethane, (b) reacting the monohaloalkane in the presence of a coupling catalyst to produce aromatic hydrocarbons and C2+ alkanes, (c) separating the aromatic hydrocarbons from the product mixture of step (b) to produce aromatic hydrocarbons, and (d) cracking at least part of the C2+ alkanes in an alkane cracking system to produce ethylene and/or propylene and optionally other lower olefins.

Abstract: A clay comprising a 2:1 aluminosilicate clay having negative charge sites, the 2:1 aluminosilicate clay containing subnano-sized zero valent iron (ZVI) particles distributed on clay surfaces is provided. In one embodiment, at least some or all of the particles have a cross-section of five (5) angstroms or less. Methods of synthesizing and the novel clays and the clay-templated subnano-scale ZVI particles themselves are also described. Such novel products are useful in a variety of remediation applications, including for reduction and dechlorination reactions.

Abstract: The present process serves for the hydrodehalogenation of halogenated meta-cresols of the formula (I) in which the R1 to R4 radicals are each as defined in the description, and is characterized in that halogenated meta-cresols of the formula (I) are contacted with a catalyst which has been prepared by applying one or more salts of palladium and/or platinum and optionally copper salts to an aluminum oxide or titanium oxide support material, together with hydrogen, at temperatures between 100 and 250° C.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for conducting Kumada coupling reactions. The processes of the present invention make use of N-heterocyclic carbenes as ancillary ligands in Kumada couplings of aryl halides. A Kumada coupling can be carried out by mixing, in a liquid medium, at least one aryl halide, wherein the aryl halide has, directly bonded to the aromatic ring(s), at least one halogen atom selected from the group consisting of a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom; at least one Grignard reagent; at least one metal compound comprising at least one metal atom selected from nickel, palladium, and platinum, wherein the formal oxidation state of the metal is zero or two; and at least one N-heterocyclic carbene.

Abstract: Preparation of 2,5-dichlorophenol by selectively oxidizing 1,4-dichlorobenzene using a peroxo-, hydroperoxo-, superoxo- or alkylperoxo-metal species in the presence of form or an alkanoic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing aromatic acetylenes of the formula (I): Ar--C.tbd.C--R.sup.8a, where Ar is: ##STR1## by reacting haloaromatics or aryl sulfonates of the formula (II): Ar--X, with monosubstituted acetylenes of the formula (III): Ar--C.tbd.C--R.sup.8a, where Ar is defined above and X is bromine, chlorine or OSO.sub.2 R, in the presence of a palladium compound catalyst of the formula (IV): ##STR2## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6 are, independently of one another, hydrogen (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkoxy, fluorine, NH.sub.2, NH-alkyl-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4), N(alkyl).sub.2 -(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4), CO.sub.2 -alkyl-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4), OCO-alkyl-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4), or phenyl, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6, together form an aliphatic or aromatic ring, and R.sup.7, R.sup.8 are (C.sub.1 -C.sub.8)-alkyl, (C.sub.3 -C.sub.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing an alcohol by reducing a carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof, more particularly, a method of preparing an alcohol by a reduction reaction in the presence of a zirconium-titanium oxide catalyst. A carboxylic acid or a carboxylic acid derivative is converted into a corresponding alcohol by a reduction reaction in the presence of a zirconium-titanium oxide catalyst using an alcohol as a hydrogen source. An alcohol can be prepared in a high yield in the present invention. To be more specific, the method of the present invention can convert a higher fatty acid or a carboxylic acid derivative, which has given a corresponding alcohol in a low yield in the presence of a zirconium catalyst alone, into the corresponding alcohol in a high yield. Further, the reaction can be performed easily, and the product can be easily separated from the catalyst.

Abstract: Essentially linear alkyl aromatics wherein the alkyl is attached to the aromatic ring at the .beta.-position are produced by the process wherein a linear hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of linear .alpha.-olefins, linear .alpha.-substituted alkyl halides or linear .alpha.-substituted alkyl alcohol or mixtures of such olefins, halides or alcohols are reacted with an aromatic compound in the presence of an aprotic-polar cosolvent.

Abstract: A process for the production of aromatic carboxylic acids which comprises carbonylating substituted iodoaromatic compounds in the presence of carbon monoxide, a catalytic amount of a transition metal catalyst, and a Bronsted base in a mixture of a carboxylic acid and water under aromatic carboxylic acid forming conditions of temperature and pressure.

Abstract: A process for the synthesis of phenol by means of a hydrolysis of iodobenzene in the liquid phase and in the presence of a Cu containing catalyst, carried out at 120.degree.-260.degree. C. in the presence of a basic acidity acceptor, selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides and alkali metal salts coming from inorganic or organic acids, showing a pK.sub.a equal to or higher than 4.5.

Abstract: Secondary and tertiary alkyl halides, benzyl halides, and activated phenyl halides may be hydrolyzed in a 2-step procedure in good yield and under relatively mild conditions. The halide first is heated with dimethyl sulfoxide so as to form an intermediate or complex which is subsequently hydrolyzed with great facility upon contact with water, even at room temperature. The process is particularly applicable to water-insoluble organic halides.