This invention relates to a process for the epoxidation of a tetrasubstituted alkene such as terpinolene to the corresponding epoxide such as terpinolene epoxide by reacting the tetrasubstituted alkene with peracetic acid prepared in situ from acetic anhydride and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of at least one buffering agent. Further, the invention relates to the use of an oxidizing agent comprising hydrogen peroxide and acetic anhydride for the in-situ epoxidation of a tetrasubstituted alkene.

Systems and methods for purifying crude propane streams are provided herein. For example, in some embodiments, methods are provided including passing a crude propane stream to a fixed bed reactor containing a Beta zeolite configured to reduce the propylene oxide content of the crude propane stream and produce a propylene-treated stream and contacting the propylene-treated stream with an acetaldehyde scavenger to produce a treated propane stream. In some embodiments, methods are provided including passing a crude propane stream through a water wash system to provide a treated propane stream having a lower propylene oxide content, a lower acetaldehyde content, or both.

Disclosed herein are methods and systems that relate to various configurations of electrochemical oxidation, chlorine oxidation, oxychlorination, chlorination, and epoxidation reactions to form propylene oxide or ethylene oxide.

Disclosed herein are methods and systems that relate to various configurations of electrochemical oxidation, chlorine oxidation, oxychlorination, chlorination, and epoxidation reactions to form propylene oxide or ethylene oxide.

In one aspect, the present invention encompasses compositions of sustainable polycarbonate polymers, methods of producing such polymers, and methods for evaluating whether certain constituents of a polymer chain are derived from biomass or a fossil carbon source.

Disclosed herein is a process for purifying propylene oxide, including the steps of: (i) providing a stream S0 containing propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water, and an organic compound containing a carbonyl group C(O); and (ii) separating propylene oxide from the stream S0 by subjecting the stream S0 to distillation conditions in a distillation column to obtain a gaseous top stream S1c which is enriched in propylene oxide compared to the stream S0, a liquid bottoms stream S1a which is enriched in acetonitrile and water compared to the stream S0, and a side stream S1b containing propylene oxide which is enriched in the carbonyl compound compared to the stream S0.

Disclosed herein is a process for purifying propylene oxide, including the steps of: (i) providing a stream S0 containing propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water, and an organic compound containing a carbonyl group C(O); and (ii) separating propylene oxide from the stream S0 by subjecting the stream S0 to distillation conditions in a distillation column to obtain a gaseous top stream S1c which is enriched in propylene oxide compared to the stream S0, a liquid bottoms stream S1a which is enriched in acetonitrile and water compared to the stream S0, and a side stream S1b containing propylene oxide which is enriched in the carbonyl compound compared to the stream S0.

A continuous process for the preparation of propylene oxide, comprising a start-up stage and normal run stage, wherein the normal run stage comprises (i) continuously providing a liquid feed stream comprising propene, hydrogen peroxide, acetonitrile, a formate salt, water and optionally propane, wherein in the liquid feed stream, the molar amount of the formate salt relative to the molar amount of hydrogen peroxide at a given point of time during the normal run stage is a.sup.N(Fo/H.sub.2O.sub.2); (ii) continuously passing the liquid feed stream provided in (i) into an epoxidation zone comprising a catalyst comprising a titanium zeolite having framework type MWW, and subjecting the liquid feed stream to epoxidation reaction conditions in the epoxidation zone, obtaining a reaction mixture comprising propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water, the formate salt, optionally propene, and optionally propane; (iii) continuously removing an effluent stream from the epoxidation zone, the effluent stream comprising propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water, at least a portion of the formate salt, optionally propene, and optionally propane; wherein the normal run stage is characterized in an average rate of change of a.sup.N(Fo/H.sub.2O.sub.2) of less than 0 h.sup.1.

This disclosure relates to modulators of liver receptor homologue 1 (LRH-1) and methods of managing disease and conditions related thereto. In certain embodiments, modulators are derivatives of hexahydropentalene. In certain embodiments, this disclosure relates to methods of treating or preventing cancer, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease by administering an effective amount of a hexahydropentalene derivative disclosed herein.

Processes for reducing the amount of a gaseous iodide-containing impurity present in a recycle gas stream used in the production of ethylene oxide, in particular alkyl iodide and vinyl iodide impurities, are provided. Processes for producing ethylene oxide, ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, and associated reaction systems are similarly provided.