The present invention provides an 8-(acyloxy)alkanal compound (1), wherein n represents 0 or 1, and R.sup.1 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, or a phenyl group in which one or more hydrogen atoms are substituted with a halogen atom, and a process for preparing the same. The process comprises the steps of subjecting the aforesaid 8-(acyloxy)alkanal compound (1) to a nucleophilic addition reaction with a nucleophilic reagent, alkyl compound (2), wherein M.sup.1 represents Li, MgZ.sup.1, CuZ.sup.1, or CuLiZ.sup.1, n represents 0 or 1, and Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom, a methyl group, or an ethyl group, to form 2,9-undecanediol (3), and subjecting the 2,9-undecanediol (3) to an acetylation reaction to form the 2,9-diacetoxyundecane (4).

##STR00001##

The present invention provides an 8-(acyloxy)alkanal compound (1), wherein n represents 0 or 1, and R.sup.1 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, or a phenyl group in which one or more hydrogen atoms are substituted with a halogen atom, and a process for preparing the same. The process comprises the steps of subjecting the aforesaid 8-(acyloxy)alkanal compound (1) to a nucleophilic addition reaction with a nucleophilic reagent, alkyl compound (2), wherein M.sup.1 represents Li, MgZ.sup.1, CuZ.sup.1, or CuLiZ.sup.1, n represents 0 or 1, and Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom, a methyl group, or an ethyl group, to form 2,9-undecanediol (3), and subjecting the 2,9-undecanediol (3) to an acetylation reaction to form the 2,9-diacetoxyundecane (4).

##STR00001##

A process for the manufacture of a terphenyl compound [compound (T), herein after] of formula (T): wherein each of R and R, equal to or different from each other, are selected from the group consisting of halogen, alkyl, aryl, ether, thioether, ester, amide, imide, alkali or alkaline earth metal sulfonate, alkyl sulfonate, alkali or alkaline earth metal phosphonate, alkyl phosphonate, amine and quaternary ammonium; each of j and k, equal to or different from each other, are zero or are an integer from 1 to 4, including the steps of (i) reacting at least one organozinc compound of formula (I) with at least one dihalocompound of formula (II) in the presence of a catalyst compound; wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of a chloride, a bromide, an iodide, an alkanesulfonate or a fluoroalkanesulfonate anion, R2 is selected from selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-C.sub.10-alkyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.10-cycloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.10-halooalkyl and C.sub.3-C.sub.10 halocyclo alkyl, each of Z, equal to or different from each other, are selected from the group consisting of a chloride, a bromide, an iodide, an alkanesulfonate or a fluoroalkanesulfonate anion; (ii) a Bayer-Villiger oxidation and (iii) hydrolysis or alcoholysis.

##STR00001##

A process for the manufacture of a terphenyl compound [compound (T), herein after] of formula (T): wherein each of R and R, equal to or different from each other, are selected from the group consisting of halogen, alkyl, aryl, ether, thioether, ester, amide, imide, alkali or alkaline earth metal sulfonate, alkyl sulfonate, alkali or alkaline earth metal phosphonate, alkyl phosphonate, amine and quaternary ammonium; each of j and k, equal to or different from each other, are zero or are an integer from 1 to 4, including the steps of (i) reacting at least one organozinc compound of formula (I) with at least one dihalocompound of formula (II) in the presence of a catalyst compound; wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of a chloride, a bromide, an iodide, an alkanesulfonate or a fluoroalkanesulfonate anion, R2 is selected from selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-C.sub.10-alkyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.10-cycloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.10-halooalkyl and C.sub.3-C.sub.10 halocyclo alkyl, each of Z, equal to or different from each other, are selected from the group consisting of a chloride, a bromide, an iodide, an alkanesulfonate or a fluoroalkanesulfonate anion; (ii) a Bayer-Villiger oxidation and (iii) hydrolysis or alcoholysis.

##STR00001##

The present invention provides a process for preparing a diester compound of the following general formula (1), having a dimethylcyclobutane ring, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent, independently of each other, a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, the process comprising reacting a dimethylcyclobutanone compound of the following general formula (2), wherein R.sup.1 is as defined above, with a phosphonic ester compound of the following general formula (3), wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 represent, independently of each other, a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, to produce the diester compound (1), having a dimethylcyclobutane ring. ##STR00001##

The present invention provides a process for preparing a diester compound of the following general formula (1), having a dimethylcyclobutane ring, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent, independently of each other, a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, the process comprising reacting a dimethylcyclobutanone compound of the following general formula (2), wherein R.sup.1 is as defined above, with a phosphonic ester compound of the following general formula (3), wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 represent, independently of each other, a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, to produce the diester compound (1), having a dimethylcyclobutane ring. ##STR00001##

The present invention provides a process for preparing a diester compound of the following general formula (1), having a dimethylcyclobutane ring, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent, independently of each other, a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, the process comprising reacting a dimethylcyclobutanone compound of the following general formula (2), wherein R.sup.1 is as defined above, with a phosphonic ester compound of the following general formula (3), wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 represent, independently of each other, a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, to produce the diester compound (1), having a dimethylcyclobutane ring.

##STR00001##

The present invention provides a process for preparing a diester compound of the following general formula (1), having a dimethylcyclobutane ring, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent, independently of each other, a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, the process comprising reacting a dimethylcyclobutanone compound of the following general formula (2), wherein R.sup.1 is as defined above, with a phosphonic ester compound of the following general formula (3), wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 represent, independently of each other, a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, to produce the diester compound (1), having a dimethylcyclobutane ring.

##STR00001##

A process for the production of methyl methacrylate via the oxidative esterification in a reactor system comprises introducing a reaction mixture comprising methacrolein, methanol, and an oxygen-containing gas to the reactor system comprising a noble metal-containing catalyst. A methanol concentration of the reaction mixture entering the reactor is greater than 32 wt % based on the total weight of methanol and methacrolein entering the reactor system. The methanol concentration in the product stream exiting the reactor system is at least 65 wt % based on the total weight of the methanol and methacrolein exiting the reactor system. The product stream exiting the reactor system comprises greater than 0.1 ppm and less than 5000 ppm methyl isobutyrate.

A process for the production of methyl methacrylate via the oxidative esterification in a reactor system comprises introducing a reaction mixture comprising methacrolein, methanol, and an oxygen-containing gas to the reactor system comprising a noble metal-containing catalyst. A methanol concentration of the reaction mixture entering the reactor is greater than 32 wt % based on the total weight of methanol and methacrolein entering the reactor system. The methanol concentration in the product stream exiting the reactor system is at least 65 wt % based on the total weight of the methanol and methacrolein exiting the reactor system. The product stream exiting the reactor system comprises greater than 0.1 ppm and less than 5000 ppm methyl isobutyrate.