Shell Oil Comapny

Freddy Wattimena

Harald P Wulff

Hendricus J Heijmen

Cornelis W Schram

Antonius J Van Seters

Aldehydes are prepared by hydrogenating a compound of general formula R'COOR, wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or an acyl group, or a metal, and R' represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group having at most two alpha-hydrogen atoms, provided it has at most one beta-hydrogen atom, in case it has two alpha-hydrogen atoms, in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least one metal selected from rare earth metals and iron on an alumina-based carrier.

Process for the preparation of aldehydes

Isophorone is converted to 3,5-xylenol in the vapor phase in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a particular combination of multiple rare earth metals on an alumina support or one or more rare earth metals in combination with one or more transition metals and/or one or more alkali or alkaline earth metals. Particularly good results are obtained with a catalyst comprising a naturally-occurring mixture of rare earth metals known as didymium in combination with potassium and cobalt promoters.

Process for the preparation of 3,5-xylenol

Alkene oxides are produced by the reaction of an organic hydroperoxide and an alkene in the presence of a catalyst of an inorganic oxygen compound of silicon in chemical combination with an oxide or hydroxide of titanium.

Olefin epoxidation

Cyclic terpene compounds selected from the class consisting of pinane, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene and mixtures thereof are converted into their corresponding open-chain isomers-e.g., dihydromyrcene, allo-ocimene and myrcene-by thermal isomerization at a temperature of at least 300.degree. C in the presence of a solid material comprising a metal or metal oxide selected from the class consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals and mixtures thereof supported on a carrier having a specific surface area in the range of about 0.01 to about 20 m.sup.2 /g.

Isomerization of terpene compounds

3,5-Xylenol is prepared in high yield from isophorone by heating isophorone at a temperature of from about 450.degree. to about 650.degree. in the presence of a halogen having an atomic number of at least 17 or an organic compound containing such a halogen.

Process for preparation of 3,5-xylenol

Substituted olefins are epoxidized by contacting a hydrocarbon hydroperoxide and a substituted olefin in the presence of a catalyst of an inorganic oxygen compound of silicon in chemical combination with an oxide or hydroxide of titanium.

A process is disclosed for the production of alkylbenzenes by contacting phenyl alkyl ketones and/or 1-phenylalkanols with hydrogen in the presence of a supported noble metal of Group VIII at a temperature above about 175.degree.C.

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Amsterdam, Netherlands

Freddy Wattimena