Provided are a water-soluble triarylphosphine for a palladium catalyst, which has high selectivity in a telomerization reaction and can be recovered with efficiency, an ammonium salt thereof, and a method for efficiently producing the same. Specifically, provided are bis(6-methyl-3-sulphophenyl)phenylphosphine; a bis(6-methyl-3-sulphonatopheyl)phenylphosphine diammonium salt obtained by reacting the phosphine with a tertiary amine having a total of 3 to 27 carbon atoms in groups bonded to one nitrogen atom; and a method for producing the same.

The present invention relates to a novel process for the synthesis of 9,9-bis(hydroxymethyl)fluorene. The syntheses from fluorene to 9,9-bis(hydroxy-methyl)fluorene via a hydroxymethylation and further to 9,9-bis(methoxymethyl)-fluorene via a etherification are known. 9,9-bis(methoxymethyl)fluorene is a compound that is used as an electron donor for Ziegler-Natta catalysts. The present invention is related to an improvement in the synthesis of 9,9-bis(hydroxymethyl)fluorene leading to a decrease in the amount of solvent used and an easier work up while achieving high yield and purity.

The present invention relates to a novel process for the synthesis of 9,9-bis(hydroxymethyl)fluorene. The syntheses from fluorene to 9,9-bis(hydroxy-methyl)fluorene via a hydroxymethylation and further to 9,9-bis(methoxymethyl)-fluorene via a etherification are known. 9,9-bis(methoxymethyl)fluorene is a compound that is used as an electron donor for Ziegler-Natta catalysts. The present invention is related to an improvement in the synthesis of 9,9-bis(hydroxymethyl)fluorene leading to a decrease in the amount of solvent used and an easier work up while achieving high yield and purity.

The present invention relates to a novel process for the synthesis of 9,9-bis(hydroxymethyl)fluorene. The syntheses from fluorene to 9,9-bis(hydroxy-methyl)fluorene via a hydroxymethylation and further to 9,9-bis(methoxymethyl)-fluorene via a etherification are known. 9,9-bis(methoxymethyl)fluorene is a compound that is used as an electron donor for Ziegler-Natta catalysts. The present invention is related to an improvement in the synthesis of 9,9-bis(hydroxymethyl)fluorene leading to a decrease in the amount of solvent used and an easier work up while achieving high yield and purity.

The invention relates to a process for preparing substituted 2-arylethanols of the formula (I) by reacting Grignard compounds of the formula (II) in the presence of a copper compound with ethylene oxide. Moreover, the invention relates to novel substituted 2-arylethanols of the formula (I).

The invention relates to a process for preparing substituted 2-arylethanols of the formula (I) by reacting Grignard compounds of the formula (II) in the presence of a copper compound with ethylene oxide. Moreover, the invention relates to novel substituted 2-arylethanols of the formula (I).

The invention relates to a process for preparing substituted 2-arylethanols of the formula (I) by reacting Grignard compounds of the formula (II) in the presence of a copper compound with ethylene oxide. Moreover, the invention relates to novel substituted 2-arylethanols of the formula (I).

A process to prepare (9E,11Z)-9,11-hexadecadienyl acetate with a good yield and high purity of the general formula (1): CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CHCHCHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.aX.=The process includes a step of conducting a Wittig reaction between a haloalkenal of the general formula (2): OHCCHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.aX, and a triarylphosphonium pentylide of the general formula (3): CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CH.sup.P.sup.+Ar.sub.3, to obtain the 1-haloalkadiene, and the use of a (7E,9Z)-1-halo-7,9-tetradecadiene obtained by the process for a process of preparing (9E, 11Z)-9,11-hexadecadienyl acetate.

A process to prepare (9E,11Z)-9,11-hexadecadienyl acetate with a good yield and high purity of the general formula (1): CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CHCHCHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.aX.=The process includes a step of conducting a Wittig reaction between a haloalkenal of the general formula (2): OHCCHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.aX, and a triarylphosphonium pentylide of the general formula (3): CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CH.sup.P.sup.+Ar.sub.3, to obtain the 1-haloalkadiene, and the use of a (7E,9Z)-1-halo-7,9-tetradecadiene obtained by the process for a process of preparing (9E, 11Z)-9,11-hexadecadienyl acetate.

A process for the production of 2-alkylalkanol from an aldehyde is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of: feeding aldehyde to a reactor (42) operated under condensation and dehydration conditions such that reaction occurs and an unsaturated aldehyde is produced; recovering a stream from the reactor (42) comprising the unsaturated aldehyde and feeding said stream to a first hydrogenation reactor (45) operated under conditions such that at least some of the unsaturated aldehyde is converted to 2-alkylalkanol; recovering the stream from the first hydrogenation reactor (45) comprising the 2-alkylalkanol, one or more of unreacted acrolein, alkylalkenol and alkylalkanal and heavies; passing the stream recovered from the first hydrogenation reactor (45) to a first distillation zone (48) where at least some of the heavies are separated from the stream; recovering a stream from the first distillation zone (48) comprising the 2-alkylalkanol, one or more of unreacted acrolein, alkylalkenol and alkylalkanal, said stream having a reduced heavies content when compared to the stream fed to the first distillation zone (48), and feeding said stream to a second hydrogenation reactor (51) operated under conditions such that at least one of the unreacted acrolein, alkylalkenol and alkylalkanal are converted to 2-alkylalkanol; and recovering a stream from the second hydrogenation reactor (51) comprising an increased 2-alkylalkanol content compared to the stream fed to the second hydrogenation reactor (51).