Disclosed is an adduct between a Lewis acid, preferably aluminum trichloride, iron trichloride, or zinc dichloride, and a hydrosilane;—a method for preparing same; and a method for for reducing, particularly, an aldehyde, a ketone, an α,β-unsaturated ketone, an imine, or an α,β-unsaturated imine.

The present invention provides a vinylether compound of the following general formula (1), wherein R.sup.1 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and the wavy line represents the E-form, the Z-form, or a mixture thereof. The present invention further provides a process for preparing 2,3,4,4-tetramethyl-1-cyclopentenecarbaldehyde of the following formula of the following formula (2), the process comprising subjecting the vinylether compound (1) to a hydrolysis reaction to form 2,3,4,4-tetramethyl-1-cyclopentenecarbaldehyde (2).

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The present invention provides a vinylether compound of the following general formula (1), wherein R.sup.1 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and the wavy line represents the E-form, the Z-form, or a mixture thereof. The present invention further provides a process for preparing 2,3,4,4-tetramethyl-1-cyclopentenecarbaldehyde of the following formula of the following formula (2), the process comprising subjecting the vinylether compound (1) to a hydrolysis reaction to form 2,3,4,4-tetramethyl-1-cyclopentenecarbaldehyde (2).

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A hydroformylation catalyst having excellent catalytic activity and stability, a composition including the hydroformylation catalyst, and a method of preparing an aldehyde using the hydroformylation catalyst, wherein, when hydroformylation of an olefin compound is performed in the presence of the hydroformylation catalyst to prepare an aldehyde, the normal/iso (n/i) ratio of the prepared aldehyde is lowered, and synthesis gas yield is increased.

A hydroformylation catalyst having excellent catalytic activity and stability, a composition including the hydroformylation catalyst, and a method of preparing an aldehyde using the hydroformylation catalyst, wherein, when hydroformylation of an olefin compound is performed in the presence of the hydroformylation catalyst to prepare an aldehyde, the normal/iso (n/i) ratio of the prepared aldehyde is lowered, and synthesis gas yield is increased.

A reactor for performing a reaction between two immiscible fluids of different density, comprising an interior formed by a cylindrical, vertically oriented elongate shell, a bottom and a cap, wherein the interior is divided by internals into a backmixed zone, a zone of limited backmixing preferably arranged below the backmixed zone and a plug-flow zone which are at least consecutively traversable by one of the fluids, wherein the backmixed zone comprises at least one inlet and the plug-flow zone comprises an outlet and the backmixed zone comprises at least one mixing apparatus selected from a stirrer, a jet nozzle and means for injecting the fluid of lower density, a first cylindrical internal element which in the interior extends in the longitudinal direction of the reactor, which delimits the zone of limited backmixing from the plug-flow zone and which comprises a first passage to the backmixed zone and a second passage to the plug-flow zone, a second internal element which delimits the backmixed zone from the plug-flow zone such that there is no direct fluid connection between the backmixed zone and the plug-flow zone, and backmixing-preventing third internal elements in the form of random packings, structured packings or liquid-permeable trays arranged in the zone of limited backmixing. The reactor allows an optimal residence time distribution in the reaction of the two immiscible fluids of different density. The invention further relates to a process for performing a continuous reaction in the reactor.

A reactor for performing a reaction between two immiscible fluids of different density, comprising an interior formed by a cylindrical, vertically oriented elongate shell, a bottom and a cap, wherein the interior is divided by internals into a backmixed zone, a zone of limited backmixing preferably arranged below the backmixed zone and a plug-flow zone which are at least consecutively traversable by one of the fluids, wherein the backmixed zone comprises at least one inlet and the plug-flow zone comprises an outlet and the backmixed zone comprises at least one mixing apparatus selected from a stirrer, a jet nozzle and means for injecting the fluid of lower density, a first cylindrical internal element which in the interior extends in the longitudinal direction of the reactor, which delimits the zone of limited backmixing from the plug-flow zone and which comprises a first passage to the backmixed zone and a second passage to the plug-flow zone, a second internal element which delimits the backmixed zone from the plug-flow zone such that there is no direct fluid connection between the backmixed zone and the plug-flow zone, and backmixing-preventing third internal elements in the form of random packings, structured packings or liquid-permeable trays arranged in the zone of limited backmixing. The reactor allows an optimal residence time distribution in the reaction of the two immiscible fluids of different density. The invention further relates to a process for performing a continuous reaction in the reactor.

A reactor for performing a reaction between two immiscible fluids of different density, comprising an interior formed by a cylindrical, vertically oriented elongate shell, a bottom and a cap, wherein the interior is divided by internals into a backmixed zone, a zone of limited backmixing preferably arranged below the backmixed zone and a plug-flow zone which are at least consecutively traversable by one of the fluids, wherein the backmixed zone comprises at least one inlet and the plug-flow zone comprises an outlet and the backmixed zone comprises at least one mixing apparatus selected from a stirrer, a jet nozzle and means for injecting the fluid of lower density, a first cylindrical internal element which in the interior extends in the longitudinal direction of the reactor, which delimits the zone of limited backmixing from the plug-flow zone and which comprises a first passage to the backmixed zone and a second passage to the plug-flow zone, a second internal element which delimits the backmixed zone from the plug-flow zone such that there is no direct fluid connection between the backmixed zone and the plug-flow zone, and backmixing-preventing third internal elements in the form of random packings, structured packings or liquid-permeable trays arranged in the zone of limited backmixing. The reactor allows an optimal residence time distribution in the reaction of the two immiscible fluids of different density. The invention further relates to a process for performing a continuous reaction in the reactor.

A process can be used for producing methacrylic acid or a methacrylic acid ester. The process involves producing acrolein, reacting the produced acrolein with hydrogen to produce propanal, reacting the propanal with formaldehyde to produce methacrolein, and oxidizing the methacrolein in the presence of an oxygen containing gas and optionally an alcohol, to obtain methacrylic acid or methacrylic acid ester.

A process can be used for producing methacrylic acid or a methacrylic acid ester. The process involves producing acrolein, reacting the produced acrolein with hydrogen to produce propanal, reacting the propanal with formaldehyde to produce methacrolein, and oxidizing the methacrolein in the presence of an oxygen containing gas and optionally an alcohol, to obtain methacrylic acid or methacrylic acid ester.