Described are methods for preparing a deuterated aldehyde using with a photocatalyst and a hydrogen atom transfer agent in a H.sub.2O free solvent comprising D.sub.2O and an organic solvent under an inert gas. The methods may be used to convert a wide variety of aldehydes (e.g., aryl, alkyl, or alkenyl aldehydes) to C-1 deuterated aldehydes under mild reaction conditions.

Described are methods for preparing a deuterated aldehyde using with a photocatalyst and a hydrogen atom transfer agent in a H.sub.2O free solvent comprising D.sub.2O and an organic solvent under an inert gas. The methods may be used to convert a wide variety of aldehydes (e.g., aryl, alkyl, or alkenyl aldehydes) to C-1 deuterated aldehydes under mild reaction conditions.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing m-dialkylbenzaldehyde by using a reaction starting material containing 1,4-dialkylbenzene. The method for producing m-dialkylbenzaldehyde represented by formula (3), comprising a step of allowing carbon monoxide to react on a reaction starting material containing 1,4-dialkylbenzene represented by formula (1) in the presence of a Bronsted acid and a Lewis acid, wherein the reaction starting material is 1,4-dialkylbenzene represented by formula (1), or a mixture of 1,4-dialkylbenzene represented by formula (1) and 1,3-dialkylbenzene represented by formula (2), containing 10 mol % or more of the 1,4-dialkylbenzene represented by formula (1),

wherein in formulae (1) to (3), R.sup.1 represents a methyl group or an ethyl group, and R.sup.2 represents a chain or cyclic alkyl group having 3 or more and 6 or less carbon atoms that has a tertiary carbon at the benzyl position.

##STR00001##

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing m-dialkylbenzaldehyde by using a reaction starting material containing 1,4-dialkylbenzene. The method for producing m-dialkylbenzaldehyde represented by formula (3), comprising a step of allowing carbon monoxide to react on a reaction starting material containing 1,4-dialkylbenzene represented by formula (1) in the presence of a Bronsted acid and a Lewis acid, wherein the reaction starting material is 1,4-dialkylbenzene represented by formula (1), or a mixture of 1,4-dialkylbenzene represented by formula (1) and 1,3-dialkylbenzene represented by formula (2), containing 10 mol % or more of the 1,4-dialkylbenzene represented by formula (1),

wherein in formulae (1) to (3), R.sup.1 represents a methyl group or an ethyl group, and R.sup.2 represents a chain or cyclic alkyl group having 3 or more and 6 or less carbon atoms that has a tertiary carbon at the benzyl position.

##STR00001##

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method and system for converting ethanol to para-xylene. The method also provides a pathway to produce terephthalic acid from biomass-based feedstocks. In some embodiments, the disclosed method produces p-xylene with high selectivity over other aromatics typically produced in the conversion of ethanol to xylenes, such as m-xylene, ethyl benzene, benzene, toluene, and the like. And, in some embodiments, the method facilitates the ability to use ortho/para mixtures of methylbenzyaldehyde for preparing ortho/para xylene product mixtures that are amendable to fractionation to separate the para- and ortho-xylene products thereby providing a pure feedstock of para-xylene that can be used to form terephthalic anhydride and a pure feedstock of ortho-xylene that can be used for other purposes, such as phthalic anhydride.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method and system for converting ethanol to para-xylene. The method also provides a pathway to produce terephthalic acid from biomass-based feedstocks. In some embodiments, the disclosed method produces p-xylene with high selectivity over other aromatics typically produced in the conversion of ethanol to xylenes, such as m-xylene, ethyl benzene, benzene, toluene, and the like. And, in some embodiments, the method facilitates the ability to use ortho/para mixtures of methylbenzyaldehyde for preparing ortho/para xylene product mixtures that are amendable to fractionation to separate the para- and ortho-xylene products thereby providing a pure feedstock of para-xylene that can be used to form terephthalic anhydride and a pure feedstock of ortho-xylene that can be used for other purposes, such as phthalic anhydride.

A built-in micro interfacial enhanced reaction system and process for PTA production with PX are provided. The system includes a reactor and a micro interfacial unit disposed inside reactor. The reactor includes a shell, an inner cylinder concentrically disposed inside shell, and a circulating heat exchange device partially disposed outside shell, inner cylinder having a bottom end connected to inner bottom surface of the shell in closed manner and an open top end, a region between shell and inner cylinder being first reaction zone, inner cylinder containing second reaction zone and third reaction zone from top to bottom, circulating heat exchange device being connected to inner cylinder and micro interfacial unit respectively. The invention can solve problems of large waste of reaction solvent acetic acid under high temperature and high pressure and being unable to take out the product TA in time during existing process of PTA production with PX.

A built-in micro interfacial enhanced reaction system and process for PTA production with PX are provided. The system includes a reactor and a micro interfacial unit disposed inside reactor. The reactor includes a shell, an inner cylinder concentrically disposed inside shell, and a circulating heat exchange device partially disposed outside shell, inner cylinder having a bottom end connected to inner bottom surface of the shell in closed manner and an open top end, a region between shell and inner cylinder being first reaction zone, inner cylinder containing second reaction zone and third reaction zone from top to bottom, circulating heat exchange device being connected to inner cylinder and micro interfacial unit respectively. The invention can solve problems of large waste of reaction solvent acetic acid under high temperature and high pressure and being unable to take out the product TA in time during existing process of PTA production with PX.

There are provided a novel aromatic aldehyde compound capable of providing an epoxy resin coating film and an epoxy resin cured material satisfying all of the excellent surface property (smoothness, gloss), drying property, water resistance, transparency and adhesion, and an epoxy resin curing agent and an epoxy resin composition containing the aromatic aldehyde compound. The aromatic aldehyde has a branched alkyl group having 10 to 14 carbon atoms.

There are provided a novel aromatic aldehyde compound capable of providing an epoxy resin coating film and an epoxy resin cured material satisfying all of the excellent surface property (smoothness, gloss), drying property, water resistance, transparency and adhesion, and an epoxy resin curing agent and an epoxy resin composition containing the aromatic aldehyde compound. The aromatic aldehyde has a branched alkyl group having 10 to 14 carbon atoms.