Snamprogetti S.p.a.

Anic S.p.a.

Renato Tesei

Ugo Romano

Telemaco Floris

Pierleone Girotti

Franco Buonomo

Vittorio Fattore

Gioacchino Cipriani

Gabriello Illuminati

Lidio Micucci

Pier Leone Girotti

Carbonic acid esters are prepared by reacting the alcohol concerned with oxygen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst which is a salt of a metal belonging to the Groups IB, IIB and VIII of the Periodic Table: the least possible number of inorganic anions is desirable in order to reduce the acidity of the environment as far as possible. The salts of monovalent copper are preferred and high yields and selectivities are obtained.

Method for the preparation of esters of carbonic acid

An aromatic carbonate having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R' is alkyl and R is alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy or NO.sub.2, is prepared by reacting the related phenol or an acyl ester thereof with an alkyl, cyclic or aryl-alkyl carbonate in the presence of a catalyst such as AlCl.sub.3.

Process for the preparation of aromatic carbonates

In the preparation of aromatic urethans, a dialkyl carbonate is reacted with an N-acyl derivative of an amine: thus, for example, by reacting acetanilide with a lower dialkyl carbonate, such as DMC or DEC, in the presence of titanium tetraphenate (Lewis' acid), phenylmethyl urethan is obtained with a yield over 90%. No toxic reactants are used and the reaction has outstandingly high yields and conversion ratings. The urethane in question are useful as weed-killers and pesticides in agriculture.

Method for preparing aromatic urethans

The invention relates to a process for preparing diaryl carbonates starting from phenyl alkyl carbonates, the reaction being carried out in the presence of suitable catalysts capable of affording greater yields and selectivity; the catalyst system is selected amongst the Lewis acids or the compounds of transition metals.

A method is disclosed for preparing tertiary olefins starting from the corresponding tertiary ethers, the improvement consisting in contacting the ether with a catalyst composed by active alumina modified by reaction with a silicon compound selected among those corresponding to the general formula: ##STR1## wherein X,Y,Z and W can be --R, --OR, --Cl, --Br, --SiH.sub.3 , --COOR, --Sih.sub.n O.sub.m, R being hydrogen, an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkyl-cycloalkyl radical of from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, n and m being integers comprised between 1 and 3. The advantages afforded by the invention are mainly the nearly quantitative yields and the high purity of the end products.

Method for the preparation of tertiary olefins

An additive, adapted to improve the viscosity index of a mineral or synthetic lubricating oil, is prepared from polymeric material of very high viscosity boiling above 175.degree.C, and obtained through polymerization of normal alpha-olefines having the general formula R--CH = CH.sub.2, wherein R is an alkyl radical containing from 2 to 16 carbon atoms, in the presence of a TiCl.sub.4 /polyiminoalane catalyst, in a substantially inert atmosphere which may contain hydrogen up to a manometer pressure of 1 kg/cm.sup.2, by distilling said polymeric material so that the fraction boiling at a temperature below 350.degree.C at atmospheric pressure is removed therefrom, and catalytically hydrogenating the balance thereof to produce the desired end product.

Additive for improving the viscosity index of lubricating oils and

Synthetic lubricating oil having a high viscosity index, very low pour point, low viscosity at 0.degree.F, high thermal stability, high resistance to depolymerization, high flash point and very low carbon residue, is prepared by subjecting polymeric material of very high viscosity boiling above 175.degree.C, and obtained through polymerization of normal alpha-olefines having the general formula R-CH = CH.sub.2, wherein R is an alkyl radical containing from 2 to 16 carbon atoms, in the presence of a TiCl.sub.4 /polyiminoalane catalyst, in a substantially inert atmosphere which may contain hydrogen up to a manometer pressure of 1 kg/cm.sup.2, to thermal cracking at atmospheric pressure and in the temperature range of 300.degree.C to 420.degree.C at a contact time in the range of 5 minutes to 4 hours, and then distilling product so obtained under vacuum to a temperature which corresponds to a distillation temperature of 400.degree.C at atmospheric pressure, and finally subjecting the residue with a boiling point higher than 400.degree.C to catalytic hydrogenation.

Synthetic lubricating oils from thermal cracking or polymers having very

A liquid polymer having a very high viscosity of between 250 cSt and 15,000 cSt at 210.degree.F, is prepared by polymerizing one, or a mixture of more than one, n-alpha olefine represented by the formula R - CH = CH.sub.2, in which R is an alkyl radical containing from 6 to 8 carbon atoms, in the presence of a catalyst system formed at a temperature in the range of 0.degree.-150.degree.C by a catalyst consisting of TiCl.sub.4 and a polyiminoalane having the formula: ##EQU1## IN WHICH N IS A WHOLE NUMBER NOT GREATER THAN 50 AND R is an isopropyl radical, and in an atmosphere consisting essentially of an inert gas. The liquid polymer of very high viscosity so formed is useful as a lubricant.

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San Donato Milanese, Italy

Renato Tesei