Formaldehyde is produced industrially from methanol by partial oxidation or oxidative dehydrogenation. In these processes, water is formed as a by-product. Anhydrous formaldehyde is required for many syntheses and, therefore, its production is of potential interest. In the present study, catalysts based on alkali compounds were found to be active in the dehydrogenation of methanol in absence of oxygen. Sodium carbonate doped with indium shows a selectivity of up to 75% for methanol conversion not exceeding 60%.

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Infrared methods have been used in determining 1,2- and trans-1,4-addition in polybutadiene polymerized in the temperature range −19° to 97° and butadiene-styrene copolymers prepared at −18°, 5° and 50°. trans-1,4-Addition increases and 1,2-addition decreases with decreasing temperature of polymerization. At −19°, substantially all of the 1,4-addition product is present in the trans-1,4-form. Approximately 20 per cent 1,2-addition occurs at this temperature and is concluded to account for the major part of the non-crystallizable portion of polymers made at low temperatures. The influence of styrene on 1,2- and trans-1,4-addition in butadiene-styrene copolymers is also discussed. Free energy, heat and entropy of activation are calculated for 1,4- vs. 1,2-addition and trans-1,4- vs. cis-1,4-addition in the polymerization process.