Albemarle Corporation

Ethyl Corporation

Stephen E Belmont

John Y Lee

Meng-Sheng Ao

Venkataraman Ramachandran

Charles R Everly

Lawrence H Shepherd, Jr

Keith G Anderson

Yunqi Liu

Patrick G Simms

John E Chubb, Iii

Christopher A Curtis

Robert W Nelson

John E Iii Chubb

Methods are provided for producing alkylbenzenes, such as propylbenzene, from aromatics, such as toluene, and alkenes, such as ethylene. Such methods comprise combining the toluene with about 100 ppm to about 350 ppm water and alkali metal catalyst, activating the catalyst at about 180&#xb0; C. to about 220&#xb0; C., adding the ethylene and conducting the synthesis reaction at about 130&#xb0; C. to about 150&#xb0; C.

Synthesis of propylbenzene from toluene and ethylene

Novel methods for producing 1,2,4-triazol-3-one from semicarbazide hydrochloride and formic acid are provided. In methods of this invention, water is used in removal of unreacted formic acid to increase yield and purity of produced 1,2,4-triazol-3-one.

Methods for production of 1,2,4-triazol-3-one

Novel methods for producing 1,2,4-triazol-3-one from semicarbazide hydrochloride and formic acid are provided. In methods of this invention, ethanol is used in removal of unreacted formic acid to increase yield and purity of produced 1,2,4-triazol-3-one.

Tri- or tetrafluorophthalimides are produced in a halogen-exchange reaction utilizing a metal fluoride salt and a dihydrocarbyl sulfoxide as the solvent. No phase-transfer catalyst is employed. The process has been found capable of producing the fully fluorinated phthalimide in yields of over 90% GC in reactions performed at 135-155 &deg; C. in reaction periods of as little as one hour even though no phase-transfer catalyst is employed.

Process for making fluorophthalimides

A process of producing cyclic imides from cyclic anhydrides is described. Despite the fact that an acid anhydride is reacted with a primary amine in the presence of both water and an acid, the reaction is materially unaffected by acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the anhydride. Thus a reaction is provided which eliminates the handling and processing problems associated with performing reactions under anhydrous conditions, and which can provide a product of high purity in very high yield.

Process for making cyclic imides

A mixture formed from 2-naphthaldehyde (e.g., 6-methoxy-2-naphthaldehyde) and a dihydrocarbyl ketone having at least one hydrogen atom in the .alpha.-position (e.g., acetone) is heated in the presence of a heterogeneous basic catalyst (e.g., basic alumina) such that the unsaturated 2-naphthyl ketone is formed. The unsaturated ketone can be hydrogenated using, for example, a Pd/C catalyst to form the corresponding saturated ketone. The process enables efficient production of nabumetone and related pharmaceuticals by a clean reaction.

Production of naphthyl-substituted ketones from naphthaldehydes

The process forms an alkyl aralkyl ketone from an aralkenyl secondary alcohol having an allylic double bond relative to the hydroxycarbinyl group, and having the allylic double bond positioned between the aryl moiety and the hydroxycarbinyl group. This is accomplished by heating the alcohol in a chemically indifferent organic liquid medium to which a catalytic quantity of an iron polycarbonyl has been added, so that an internal rearrangement occurs. Among the ketones that can be efficiently produced in this manner is non-steroidal antiinflammatory agent, 4-(6'-methoxy-2'-naphthyl)-butan-2-one, generally known as nabumetone.

Production of alkyl aralkyl keones from allylic-aralkenyl secondary

Exo-isomers of polyalkylcyclopentadienes are converted to endo-isomers by contacting the exo-isomers with an acid such as aqueous HCl.

Process for converting exo-isomers of alkyl substituted cyclopentadienes

A process is provided for preparing an substituted cyclopentadiene by the steps of (a) reacting a vinyl ketone with a vinyl organometallic compound to form a divinyl tertiary alcohol and (b) dehydrating/cyclizing the tertiary alcohol such as with an acid and/or heat to form the substituted cyclopentadiene.

Preparation of substituted cyclopentadienes

Conjugated diene impurities are removed from linear alpha-olefin products by contacting the linear alpha-olefin product with an acid treated montmorillonite clay which is effective to reduce the conjugated diene content of the linear alpha-olefin product, preferably to less than about 100 ppm, without substantial isomerization of the linear alpha-olefins to internal olefins.

Process for removing conjugated dienes from alpha-olefins

A process for preparing a cyclopentenone by forming a two-phase mixture of a 1,4-diketone, a water immiscible organic solvent, and an aqueous base solution, and heating the mixture so as to convert the 1,4-diketone to a cyclopentenone which collects in the organic solvent phase.

Growing community of inventors

Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America

Stephen E Belmont