Enichem Synthesis S.p.a

Enichimica S.p.a.

Chimica Augusta, S.p.a.

Giacomo Sasselli

Franco Rivetti

Ugo Romano

Nicola Di Muzio

Luigi Raisa

Carlo Fusi

Dimethyl carbonate is prepared by means of a continuous process:

Process for producing dimethyl carbonate

A mixture of linear and branched-chain detergent oxo-alcohols, containing from 11 to 16 carbon atoms in the molecule, is dissolved in a hydrocarbon or ether solvent, and the solution thus obtained is cooled to obtain a dispersion of a solid phase in a liquid phase. The solid phase constituting the linear-chain oxo-alcohol fraction is separated and recovered. The branched-chain oxo-alcohol fraction is separated and recovered from the liquid phase.

Process for separating linear-chain oxo-alcohols from mixtures of linear

Process for the production of alkyl isocyanates which can be defined by the general formula: R--N.dbd.C.dbd.O wherein R is an alkyl radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms by thermal decomposition of phenyl-N-alkyl urethans which can be defined by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R has the above defined meaning. Said thermal decomposition is carried out without any substance having a catalytic activity being present in the decomposition reaction, by heating to a temperature of from 180.degree. C. to 210.degree. C. under the atmospherical pressure or a slightly reduced pressure, a mixture of phenol and phenyl-N-alkyl urethan, in a molar ratio of the former to the latter equal to or nearly equal to 1:1, removing by vaporization the phenol and the alkyl isocyanate from said vaporized products and maintaining in the reaction mixture, substantially throughout the thermal decomposition a molar ratio of phenol to phenyl-N-alkyl urethan not lower than about 1:1.

Process for preparing alkyl isocyanates

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S. Donato Milanese, Italy

Giacomo Sasselli