The present invention provide for preparing a formylalkenyl alkoxymethyl ether compound of the following general formula (2): R.sup.3CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2O(CH.sub.2).sub.aCH═CHCHO (2), wherein R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom, an n-alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, or a phenyl group; and “a” represents an integer of 1 to 10, the process comprising: hydrolyzing a dialkoxyalkenyl alkoxymethyl ether compound of the following general formula (1): R.sup.3CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2O(CH.sub.2).sub.aCH═CHCH(OR.sup.1)(OR.sup.2) (1), wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent, independently of each other, a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may form together a divalent hydrocarbon group, R.sup.1-R.sup.2, having 2 to 10 carbon atoms; and R.sup.3 and “a” are as defined above, in the presence of an acid while removing an alcohol compound thus generated to form the formylalkenyl alkoxymethyl ether compound (2).

The present invention provide for preparing a formylalkenyl alkoxymethyl ether compound of the following general formula (2): R.sup.3CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2O(CH.sub.2).sub.aCH═CHCHO (2), wherein R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom, an n-alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, or a phenyl group; and “a” represents an integer of 1 to 10, the process comprising: hydrolyzing a dialkoxyalkenyl alkoxymethyl ether compound of the following general formula (1): R.sup.3CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2O(CH.sub.2).sub.aCH═CHCH(OR.sup.1)(OR.sup.2) (1), wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent, independently of each other, a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may form together a divalent hydrocarbon group, R.sup.1-R.sup.2, having 2 to 10 carbon atoms; and R.sup.3 and “a” are as defined above, in the presence of an acid while removing an alcohol compound thus generated to form the formylalkenyl alkoxymethyl ether compound (2).

A method includes: providing a mixture including at least one alkyl tosylate and a Grignard reagent; and reacting the at least one alkyl tosylate with the Grignard reagent in a C—C coupling reaction mechanism to form a branched aliphatic alcohol.

A method includes: providing a mixture including at least one alkyl tosylate and a Grignard reagent; and reacting the at least one alkyl tosylate with the Grignard reagent in a C—C coupling reaction mechanism to form a branched aliphatic alcohol.

A process for preparing a silver-containing catalyst for the oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide (EO) including the steps of: providing a support having pores; providing a silver-containing impregnation solution; adding an amount of surfactant to the impregnation solution; contacting the support with the surfactant-containing impregnation solution; and removing at least a portion of the impregnation solution prior to fixing the silver upon the carrier in a manner which preferentially removes impregnation solution not contained in the pores. The use of the surfactant results in improved drainage of the silver impregnation solution from the carrier exteriors during the catalyst synthesis. As a result, the amount of silver-containing impregnation solution necessary for the synthesis of the EO catalyst was reduced by up to 15% without reducing the catalyst performance.

The invention relates to a Process for the production of ethylene oxide, comprising the steps of: (a) producing ethylene by subjecting a stream comprising ethane to oxidative dehydrogenation conditions, resulting in a stream comprising ethylene, ethane, water and acetic acid; (b) separating at least part of the stream resulting from step (a) into a stream comprising ethylene and ethane and a stream comprising water and acetic acid; (c) producing ethylene oxide by subjecting ethylene and ethane from the stream comprising ethylene and ethane resulting from step (b) to oxidation conditions, resulting in a stream comprising ethylene oxide, ethylene, ethane and water; (d) separating at least part of the stream resulting from step (c) into a stream comprising ethylene and ethane and a stream comprising ethylene oxide and water; (e) recycling ethylene and ethane from the stream comprising ethylene and ethane resulting from step (d) to step (a), wherein carbon dioxide is produced in steps (a) and (c) and is removed in an additional step between steps (b) and (c) and/or between steps (d) and (e).

A three step synthesis of the 8,12-dihydro-4H-dibenzo[cd,mn]pyren-3a.sup.2-ylium cation (triangulenium cation) is effected by cascade cyclization of a tetra-benzyl alcohol precursor in triflic acid solution. This cation is easily observed by NMR and optical spectroscopy. Quenching of the cation into basic solutions or by hydride transfer from triethylsilane provides access to stable dihydro and tetrahydro[3]triangulenes. This route makes several [3]triangulene precursors more readily available for development of new applications in the field of molecular electronics.

A three step synthesis of the 8,12-dihydro-4H-dibenzo[cd,mn]pyren-3a.sup.2-ylium cation (triangulenium cation) is effected by cascade cyclization of a tetra-benzyl alcohol precursor in triflic acid solution. This cation is easily observed by NMR and optical spectroscopy. Quenching of the cation into basic solutions or by hydride transfer from triethylsilane provides access to stable dihydro and tetrahydro[3]triangulenes. This route makes several [3]triangulene precursors more readily available for development of new applications in the field of molecular electronics.

We have discovered that addition of water to a mixture of oxygenates increases their volatility relative to methanol. A process and apparatus are disclosed for separating methanol from other oxygenates. Water is separated from a stream comprising water, methanol and at least one other oxygenate to provide a water rich stream and a methanol and oxygenate rich stream. The methanol and oxygenate rich stream and water are fed to a column to provide an oxygenate rich stream and a methanol and water extract stream. The methanol and water can then be readily separated from each other.

We have discovered that addition of water to a mixture of oxygenates increases their volatility relative to methanol. A process and apparatus are disclosed for separating methanol from other oxygenates. Water is separated from a stream comprising water, methanol and at least one other oxygenate to provide a water rich stream and a methanol and oxygenate rich stream. The methanol and oxygenate rich stream and water are fed to a column to provide an oxygenate rich stream and a methanol and water extract stream. The methanol and water can then be readily separated from each other.