Abstract: The present disclosure relates to facilities, systems, methods and/or catalysts for use in chemical production. In particular, the disclosure provides innovations relating to dehydration of multihydric compounds such as glycerol to form acrolein. Some of these innovations include continuous reaction systems as well as system parameters that allow for long term production.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for distilling an aqueous polymethylol mixture which comprises a polymethylol of the formula (I) (HOCH2)2—C—R2??(I) in which each R is independently a further methylol group or an alkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms or an aryl or aralkyl group having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, a tertiary amine, water and the adduct of tertiary amine and formic acid (amine formate), which comprises performing the distillation in a distillation column which is connected at the bottom to an evaporator, the bottom temperature being above the evaporation temperature of the monoester of formic acid and polymethylol (polymethylol formate) which forms during distillation. The present invention further relates to a composition comprising polymethylol and 1 to 10 000 ppm by weight of polymethylol formate, and to the use thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of ethylene glycol from ethylene. An ethylene glycol stream comprises inorganic chloride contaminants and the process comprises steps of converting the inorganic chloride contaminants to 2-chloroethanol by reaction with ethylene oxide in one or more dehydration columns, and removing 2-chloroethanol in a waste water stream.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkene. A gas composition from an alkylene oxide reactor is supplied to an alkylene oxide absorber comprising a column of vertically stacked trays or comprising a packed column. Lean absorbent comprising at least 20 wt % water is supplied to the alkylene oxide absorber and is contacted with the gas composition in the presence of one or more catalysts that promote carboxylation and hydrolysis. At least 50% of the alkylene oxide entering the alkylene oxide absorber is converted in the alkylene oxide absorber. Fat absorbent is withdrawn from the absorber, is optionally supplied to finishing reactors and/or a flash vessel or light ends stripper, and is subsequently subjected to dehydration and purification to provide a purified alkylene glycol product stream.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of an alkylene glycol comprising converting an alkene to the corresponding alkylene oxide; absorbing the alkylene oxide in an aqueous absorbent and then stripping; supplying the aqueous alkyene oxide stream to a carboxylation reactor; converting the alkylene oxide to a corresponding alkylene carbonate; converting the alkylene carbonate to the alkylene glycol; removing water to form a dehydrated alkylene glycol stream; and purifying the dehydrated alkylene glycol stream, wherein the start-up procedure comprises supplying water, carboxylation-hydrolysis catalyst and carbon dioxide streams to the carboxylation reactor and providing a start-up stream comprising the alkylene glycol at an injection point at or downstream of the inlet used in supplying the stream to the carboxylation reactor and recovering an alkylene glycol stream from the glycol distillation column.

Abstract: The compounds of the invention exhibit antiprotozoal, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties that are useful for the treatment or prevention of infections or cancer in a patient (e.g., a human). For example, the compounds and methods described herein can be used for the treatment or prevention of protozoal infections such as leishmaniasis, malaria, and trypanosoma infections, bacterial infections such as S. aureus and C. albicans, and cancers such as breast, colon, lung, or prostate cancer. The invention further provides methods of synthesizing such compounds as well as kits useful for administering the compounds.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to facilities, systems, methods and/or catalysts for use in chemical production. In particular, the disclosure provides innovations relating to dehydration of multihydric compounds such as glycerol to form acrolein. Some of these innovations include continuous reaction systems as well as system parameters that allow for long term production.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the hydroxylation of olefenic alcohols are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote mixing and solubility of peroxides with the olefenic alcohol. The high shear device may allow for lower reaction temperatures and pressures and may also reduce hydroxylation time with existing catalysts.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing biobased propylene glycol, the process comprising placing a biobased glycerol containing solution at a concentration of at least 20% glycerol by weight and hydrogen in contact with a solid catalyst such that the biobased propylene glycol is formed.

Abstract: In an alcohol fermentation process, oil derived from biomass is chemically converted into an extractant available for in situ removal of a product alcohol such as butanol from a fermentation broth. The glycerides in the oil can be chemically converted into a reaction product, such as fatty acids, fatty alcohols, fatty amides, fatty acid methyl esters, fatty acid glycol esters, and hydroxylated triglycerides, and mixtures thereof, which forms a fermentation product extractant having a partition coefficient for a product alcohol greater than a partition coefficient of the oil of the biomass for the product alcohol. Oil derived from a feedstock of an alcohol fermentation process can be chemically converting into the fermentation product extractant.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing liquid fuel and chemical intermediates from biomass-derived oxygenated hydrocarbons. The method includes the steps of reacting in a single reactor an aqueous solution of a biomass-derived, water-soluble oxygenated hydrocarbon reactant, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, and Au, at a temperature, and a pressure, and for a time sufficient to yield a self-separating, three-phase product stream comprising a vapor phase, an organic phase containing linear and/or cyclic mono-oxygenated hydrocarbons, and an aqueous phase.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to facilities, systems, methods and/or catalysts for use in chemical production. In particular, the disclosure provides innovations relating to dehydration of multihydric compounds such as glycerol to form acrolein. Some of these innovations include continuous reaction systems as well as system parameters that allow for long term production.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel stabilizer for preparing a polymer polyol, which is used to prepare polyurethane foam having improved physical properties. The stabilizer is prepared by allowing maleic anhydride to react with a polyether polyol, having an OH functionality of 3-8 and a molecular weight of 3,000-15,000, and then adding ethylene oxide to the reaction solution. Because the molecular weight and functionality of the stabilizer are increased through aging and dimerization, the stabilizer has a high molecular weight of 5,000-30,000, a high OH functionality of 6-10 and a viscosity of 3,000-15,000 cps/25° C. A polymer polyol derived from the stabilizer has low viscosity compared to those of prior products and contributes to the improvement in the physical properties of the resulting polyurethane foam.

Abstract: A process of obtaining a saponin-rich component from a plant of the Araliaceae family, the process comprising the steps of: (a) treating a portion of the plant with an extraction solvent in which saponin-containing compounds are soluble; and (b) treating the portion of plant or the extract obtained therefrom to remove fatty acid residues from said portion of plant or extract thereof.

Abstract: A process for the epoxidation of an olefin comprising contacting a reactor feed comprising an olefin, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, with a catalyst comprising a carrier and, deposited on the carrier, silver, a rhenium promoter, and a potassium promoter; wherein the carbon dioxide is present in the reactor feed in a quantity of at most 3 mole percent based on the total epoxidation reactor feed; the potassium promoter is deposited on the carrier in a quantity of at least 0.5 mmole/kg, relative to the weight of the catalyst; and the carrier contains water leachable potassium in a quantity of less than 55 parts per million by weight, relative to the weight of the carrier; a process for preparing a 1,2-diol, a 1,2-diol ether, a 1,2-carbonate, or an alkanolamine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying 1,4-butynediol, which comprises compressing 1,4-butynediol to from 50 to 1500 bar, depressurizing it, waiting for phase separation to occur after depressurization and separating off the bottom phase, and a process for the hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol to 1,4-butenediol and 1,4-butanediol using the purified 1,4-butynediol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for making 1,4-butanediol, 1,4-butenediol, or a mixture thereof by processing 1,4-butynediol in a dynamic mixing apparatus in an inert gas atmosphere at from 25 to 150° C. at a shear rate in the radial gap between rotor and stator of the mixing apparatus of more than 100 000 sec?1; phase separating the processed 1,4-butynediol at a temperature of from 25 to 150° C.; removing a bottom phase to obtain purified 1,4-butynediol; and reacting the purified 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst.

Abstract: 2-Butene-1.4-diol can be prepared by hydrogenating 2-butyne-1,4-diol in the presence of a structured catalyst in the absence of a solvent.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol, said process comprising contacting an alkylene oxide with carbon dioxide and water in the presence of a catalytic composition comprising an active anion, selected from the group consisting of metalates, carbonate, bicarbonate and hydroxide, immobilised on a first solid support having one or more electropositive sites and a halide immobilised on the first or a second solid support having one or more electropositive sites.

Abstract: 2-Butene-1.4-diol can be prepared by hydrogenating 2-butyne-1,4-diol in the presence of a structured catalyst in the absence of a solvent.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of an alkaline glycol from an alkaline carbonate, wherein alkaline carbonate is hydrolyzed in the presence of catalyst in a baffled reactor. The baffled reactor has at least four compartments, the compartments are formed by internal baffles and the internal baffles provide a sinuous route for reaction fluid through the reactor.

Abstract: To provide: a monomer having a polyalkylene glycol chain preferably used in various industrial applications such as detergent builder compositions for clothes and bodies, water-treatment agents, and pigment dispersants; and a polyalkylene glycol polymer using such a monomer as a raw material. A polyalkylene glycol monomer having a polymerizable double bond and a polyalkylene glycol chain, wherein the polyalkylene glycol monomer has a hydrophobic part in the polyalkylene glycol chain and/or at a terminal of the chain, and the polymerizable double bond is derived from allyl glycidyl ether, and a polyalkylene glycol monomer having a monomer unit derived from the above-mentioned polyalkylene glycol monomer, wherein the polyalkylene glycol polymer is a polyalkylene glycol polymer having a carboxylic acid group and/or a sulfonic acid group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying 1,4-butynediol, which comprises compressing 1,4-butynediol to from 50 to 1500 bar, depressurizing it, waiting for phase separation to occur after depressurization and separating off the bottom phase, and a process for the hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol to 1,4-butenediol and 1,4-butanediol using the purified 1,4-butynediol.

Abstract: A process of preparing an unsaturated alcohol (olefin alcohol), such as, a homo-allylic mono-alcohol or homo-allylic polyol, involving protecting a hydroxy-substituted unsaturated fatty acid or fatty acid ester, such as methyl ricinoleate, derived from a seed oil, to form a hydroxy-protected unsaturated fatty acid or fatty acid ester; homo-metathesizing or cross-metathesizing the hydroxy-protected unsaturated fatty acid or fatty acid ester to produce a product mixture containing a hydroxy-protected unsaturated metathesis product; and deprotecting the hydroxy-protected unsaturated metathesis product under conditions sufficient to prepare the unsaturated alcohol. Preferably, methyl ricinoleate is converted by cross-metathesis or homo-metathesis into the homo-allylic mono-alcohol 1-decene-4-ol or the homo-allylic polyol 9-octadecene-7,12-diol, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process wherein a first olefin selected from certain ?,?-dihydroxyalkenes and 4-(alkenyl)ethylenecarbonates is reacted with a second olefin reactant to produce an olefin metathesis product. When the first olefin reactant is an optically enriched or enantiomerically pure ?,?-dihydroxyalkene, cross metathesis reactions produce products possessing the same optical purity. The ?,?-dihydroxyalkenes and the 4-(alkenyl)ethylene carbonates may be converted to hydrogenated products, and the 4-(alkenyl)ethylenecarbonates may be decarboxylated to provide the corresponding epoxides. The products of the disclosure may be used as monomers for the preparation of specialty polyesters and as intermediates in the manufacture pharmaceuticals and other chemicals.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for oxyfunctionalizing, that is, introducing oxygen functionality to, a polyolefin such as polypropylene and poly(ethylene-alt-propylene). The polyolefin is contacted with an oxygen source such as a persulfate and catalytic amounts of a metal porphyrin complex under mild conditions to yield an oxyfunctionalized polymer that has a polydispersity that is very similar to that of the starting polymer.

Abstract: A process for producing 1,3-propanediol, comprising: hydrating acrolein in a liquid phase in the presence of a hydration catalyst to form 3-hydroxypropanal; separating any unreacted acrolein, if any is present; and carrying out catalytic hydrogenation of the 3-hydroxypropanal in a liquid or gas phase with a hydrogenation catalyst, wherein the hydration catalyst is a catalyst comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of the following materials (a) to (c) and has a pH of 6 or less at 20° C., when made into a slurry by dispersing the catalyst in a quantity of water 5 times as much as the quantity of catalyst by weight: (a) a metalloaluminophosphate molecular sieve, (b) an FER type zeolite, and (c) an oxide or compound oxide, excluding crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites, which comprises one or more element(s) selected from the elements belonging to group 4, group 13 and group 14 of the periodic table.

Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of anhydrosugar alcohols. The process involves heating a sugar alcohol or a monoanhydrosugar alcohol starting material in the presence of an acid catalyst, and subsequent purification of the anhydrosugar alcohol. In some embodiments of the present invention, film evaporators are used in distillation and purification of the anhydrosugar alcohols. Anhydrosugar alcohols of very high purity are achieved in the practice of the present invention. In some embodiments of the present invention, very high purities of the anhydrosugar alcohols are achieved without the use of organic solvents.

Abstract: There is provided a process for the preparation of a polymerisable monomer of formula (I) comprising contacting a compound of formula (II) with an acid such as an immobilised acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enantioselectively producing a nonracemic 6,7-dihydroxy geranyloxy compound from a geranyloxy compound. In particular, methods of the present invention involve enantioselectively epoxidizing the geranyloxy compound and hydrolyzing the epoxide moiety under conditions sufficient to produce the nonracemic 6,7-dihydroxy geranyloxy compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to versatile linkers for tethering a molecule to a solid support, e.g., for tethering a monomer, oligomer or polymer to a solid support, which are stable to a wide range of reaction conditions, but can be cleaved under well-defined conditions, thereby liberating the molecule from the solid support. Preferably, the linkers are used to tether to the solid support unprotected, partially-protected or fully-protected monosaccharides or oligosaccharides, or unprotected, partially-protected or fully-protected glycoconjugates. The linkers of the present invention may be used to tether to solid supports building blocks useful in the assembly of libraries of other types of small molecules. The present invention also relates to a molecule or plurality of molecules tethered to the solid support via a linker or linkers of the present invention. The present invention also relates to processes for synthesizing molecules, e.g.

Abstract: A method and system for producing 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BG), and optionally additionally tetrahydrofuran (THF), that promotes more efficient usage of water (H2O) is provided. In one aspect, the method is comprised of supplying at least one feed stream including 1,4-diacetoxybutane (1,4-DAB), 1,4-hydroxyacetoxybutane (1,4-HAB) and H2O to at least one reactor. 1,4-DAB, 1,4-HAB and H2O are reacted in the reactor to produce at least one effluent stream that includes 1,4-BG, 1,4-HAB, H2O, unreacted 1,4-DAB and acetic acid. The effluent stream is supplied to a separation system having one or more separators where at least a portion of the 1,4-HAB is removed from the effluent stream and recycled back to the reaction. Alternatively, 1,4-HAB may be supplied directly to the reactor as a feed stream, or a combination of feed stream and recycled 1,4-HAB may be used.

Abstract: A hydrogenation catalyst of the general formula AB(y)C(z) wherein A is a support comprising of a salt of a Group II A metal or zeolite, B is a noble metal selected from Pt or Pd, y=0.2 to 10%, C is nickel and z=0 to 15.0%, with the proviso that when B is Pt, z=0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the conversion of 1,4 butynediol to 1,4 butanediol or a mixture of 1,4 butanediol and 1,4 butenediol comprising hydrogenating an aqueous solution of 1,4 butynediol using platinum supported CaCO3 catalyst at a temperature in the range of 20-190° C. under a hydrogen pressure in the range between 5-100 bar and collecting the product by any known method.

Abstract: A series of polyethylene glycol derivatives possessing a diene moiety has been prepared and characterized. The reactivities of these derivatives in various Diels-Alder reactions have been demonstrated. The potential derivatives, which can be made by various Diels-Alder reactions, are expected to be useful in biotechnical applications.

Abstract: A hydrogenation catalyst of the general formula AB(y)C(z) wherein A is a support comprising of a salt of a Group II A metal or zeolite, B is a noble metal selected from Pt or Pd, y=0.2 to 10%, C is nickel and z=0 to 15.0%, with the proviso that when B is Pt, z=0.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 1,4 butenediol comprising hydrogenating an aqueous solution of 1,4 butynediol under stirring conditions over a supported platinum or palladium and nickel catalyst in basic medium at a temperature in the range of 20-110° C. and pressure in the range between 200-700 psig till the reaction is completed, cooling the reaction mixture to room temperature and separating the catalyst by known methods to obtain 1,4 butenediol.

Abstract: Functionalized allylic olefins are condensed by metathesis using the catalyst 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene ruthenium benzylidene [Ru*].

Abstract: Alkenes are prepared by partial hydrogenation of alkynes in the liquid phase at from 20 to 250° C. and hydrogen partial pressures of from 0.

Abstract: Processes are provided for producing propargyl alcohol in an industrially advantageous manner. One of the processes comprises reaction of 1,2,3-trichloropropane with 3 equivalents or more of an alkali compound to produce propargyl alcohol. The other process comprises (1) a first step of reaction of 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol with an amine to produce chloroallyl alcohol, and (2) a second step of reaction of the chloroallyl alcohol obtained in the above step (1) with an alkali compound to produce propargyl alcohol.

Abstract: A cis-olefin of the formula: R1—CH═CH—R2 is prepared by reducing an alkyne of the formula: R1—C≡C—R2 with formic acid in the presence of a palladium catalyst. R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, ester group, substituted silyl group, carboxyl group, cyano group, aliphatic C1-C20 hydrocarbon group, and phenyl group. The cis-olefin which is a useful intermediate for the synthesis of fine chemicals is selectively produced in high yields.

Abstract: A process for preparing higher oxo alcohols from mixtures of isomeric olefins having from 5 to 24 carbon atoms by two-stage hydroformylation in the presence of a cobalt catalyst or rhodium catalyst at elevated temperature and at elevated pressure, which comprises selectively hydrogenating the first hydroformylation stage reaction mixture, separating the hydrogenation mixture in a distillation into crude alcohol and low-boilers predominantly consisting of olefins, passing these low-boilers to the second hydroformylation stage, again selectively hydrogenating the second hydroformylation stage reaction mixture, separating the hydrogenation mixture in one distillation into crude alcohol and low-boilers, working up the crude alcohol by distillation to pure alcohol and taking off at least some of the low-boilers to discharge saturated hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Nucleophilic oxygen species, such as primary alcohols, carboxylates, and water, are added to vinyl epoxides in a highly regioselective and enantioselective manner, providing a convenient route to enantiomerically enriched 1,2-diols and oxygen-containing heterocycles. The reaction employs a chiral Pd(0) complex and a borane or borate as co-catalysts Also described are similar additions of nitrogen nucleophiles, and the addition of carbonates to vinyl epoxides using a chiral Pd(0) catalyst.

Abstract: The fixed-bed catalyst comprises palladium and selenium or tellurium or a mixture of selenium and tellurium on a silicon dioxide support and has a BET surface area of from 80 to 380 m2/g and a pore volume of from 0.6 to 0.95 cm3/g in the pore diameter range from 3 nm to 300 &mgr;m, with from 80 to 95% of the pore volume being in the pore diameter range from 10 to 100 nm. It is prepared by impregnating a silicon dioxide support with a solution of a palladium compound and a selenium compound or tellurium compound or a mixture of a selenium compound and a tellurium compound, drying it and reducing it in the presence of hydrogen. The catalyst is used, in particular, for isomerizing 3-buten-1-ol compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the selective hydrogenation of reaction mixtures from the hydroformylation of C5 to C24 olefins using hydrogen and a supported catalyst which, as active components, comprises copper, nickel and chromium.

Abstract: A carbonyl compound or a mixture of two or more carbonyl compounds is catalytically hydrogenated in the presence of a Raney copper catalyst in the form of nuggets.

Abstract: An aqueous composition and a method of applying an aqueous composition to a surface in which the surface active properties of the composition are improved through addition of a new class of surfactants based on the trans isomers of olefinic diols having the formula: ##STR1## wherein each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 is the same or a different C1 to C9 linear or branched alkyl group and the total number of carbons atoms in the olefinic diol is between 12 and 17. The compounds are useful in lowering the equilibrium surface tension of aqueous organic compositions; for example, those used in coatings, inks and adhesives.

Abstract: This invention pertains, firstly, to the use of mixtures of hydriodic acid and organic solvent soluble iodide salts as catalysts for the hydration of .gamma.,.delta.-epoxyalkenes to form a mixture of the corresponding 2-alkene-1,4-diol and 3-alkene-1,2-diol isomers. Secondly, this invention describes the use of pH to control the 2-alkene-1,4-diol/3-alkene-1,2-diol product ratio, and achieve improved 2-alkene-1,4-diol selectivities by controlling the pH to near neutral values. Thirdly, this invention includes a catalyst recovery process whereby a liquid/liquid extraction is used to separate the product from the catalyst. In this extraction, .gamma.,.delta.-epoxyalkene, or a .gamma.,.delta.-epoxyalkene-containing organic solvent, is used to extract the catalysts from water, leaving the diol products in the aqueous phase, from which they may be subsequently recovered by distillation, extraction or by other means.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of 2-butene-1,4-diol comprising contacting a mixture of water and 1,2-epoxy-3-butene with a catalyst comprising a metal halide, zeolite and a non-protic solvent.

Abstract: This invention pertains, firstly, to the use of mixtures of hydriodic acid and organic solvent soluble iodide salts as catalysts for the hydration of .gamma.,.delta.-epoxyalkenes to form a mixture of the corresponding 2-alkene-1,4-diol and 3-alkene-1,2-diol isomers. Secondly, this invention describes the use of pH to control the 2-alkene-1,4-diol/3-alkene-1,2-diol product ratio, and achieve improved 2-alkene-1,4-diol selectivities by controlling the pH to near neutral values. Thirdly, this invention includes a catalyst recovery process whereby a liquid/liquid extraction is used to separate the product from the catalyst. In this extraction, .gamma.,.delta.-epoxyalkene, or a .gamma.,.delta.-epoxyalkene-containing organic solvent, is used to extract the catalysts from water, leaving the diol products in the aqueous phase, from which they may be subsequently recovered by distillation, extraction or by other means.