Abstract: A process for the production of 3-hydroxypropionitrile is provided. This process includes (a) reacting acrylonitrile with water at a defined molar ratio in the presence of a weak base under specific temperature and pressure conditions until a conversion in the range of about 40% to about 80% has been achieved; (b) after cooling the mixture obtained in (a), separating off its aqueous phase; (c) distilling off the acrylonitrile from the organic phase remaining after (b); (d) subjecting the mixture obtained in (c) to pyrolysis at specific temperature and pressure conditions in the presence of a basic catalyst to obtain a mixture consisting mainly of 3-hydroxypropionitrile and acrylonitrile; and (e) isolating the desired 3-hydroxypropionitrile by fractional distillation from the mixture obtained in (d). Such a process in which the basic aqueous phase and the acrylonitrile that has been distilled off are recycled represents a preferred embodiment.

Abstract: A catalyst comprising a promoted mixed metal oxide is useful for the vapor phase oxidation of an alkane or a mixture of an alkane and an alkene to an unsaturated carboxylic acid and for the vapor phase ammoxidation of an alkane or a mixture of an alkane and an alkene to an unsaturated nitrile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to beta-amino acid nitrile derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and/or pharmaceutically acceptable esters thereof. The compounds are cysteine protease inhibitors useful for the treatment of diseases associated with cysteine proteases, such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, tumor metastasis, glomerulonephritis, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, instable angina pectoris, stroke, plaque rupture, transient ischemic attacks, amaurosis fugax, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, restenosis after angioplasty and stent placement, abdominal aortic aneurysm formation, inflammation, autoimmune disease, malaria, ocular fundus tissue cytopathy and respiratory disease.

Abstract: Provided is a selective hydrogenation process for producing aminonitriles by contacting the corresponding dinitriles with a hydrogen-containing fluid in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, a solvent and divalent sulfur and selenium compounds.

Abstract: Provided is a selective hydrogenation process for producing aminonitriles by contacting the corresponding dinitriles with a hydrogen-containing fluid in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, a solvent and an azide additive.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a promoted VSbOx catalyst comprising mixing a vanadium compound, at least a first portion of an antimony compound, and at least a portion of the support material to form a slurry, heating the slurry to remove the water, calcining the dried slurry to form a catalyst precursor, combining the catalyst precursor with a second aqueous sol containing the remaining portion of the support material and the remaining portion of the antimony compound to form a second slurry, drying the second slurry to remove the water and calcining the dried mixture to form the finished catalyst.

Abstract: Highly pure optically active threo-3-amino-1,2-epoxy compounds appropriate for materials for manufacturing drugs and a process for producing the same on an industrial scale. An optically active threo-3-amino-1,2-diol derivative is subjected in an organic solvent in the presence of a base to alkylsufonylation or arylsulfonylation to thereby give the corresponding optically active threo-3-amino-2-hydroxy-1-sulfonyloxy compound. Next, the resultant product is subjected to epoxidation in the presence of a base to give the corresponding optically active threo-3-amino-1,2-epoxy compound. The thus obtained epoxy compound is purified by using an organic solvent and water, thus giving a highly pure epoxy compound.

Abstract: The invention generally concerns methods for the synthesis of dialkyl carbonates, and more specifically dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC). Methods according to the invention generally comprise reacting an alcohol or diol, a base and a halogen in the presence of an amine salt catalyst thereby forming a first intermediate. The first intermediate is reacted with carbon monoxide forming a second intermediate which then reacts with the alcohol or diol in the presence of the amine salt catalyst forming the dialkyl carbonate product.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing organic phosphites of at least 95.5 wt. % purity, said process comprising: reacting a hydroxyl-containing compound with a phosphorous compound, and desorbing residual hydroxyl-containing compound in the reaction product in a desorbing column employing an inert gas as a desorbing agent.

Abstract: 1-Alkyl-pyrazole-5-carboxylic esters are obtained with surprisingly low proportions of 1-alkyl-pyrazole-3-carboxylic esters if a 2,4-diketo ester and/or an enolate thereof is reacted with an alkylhydrazine and/or a corresponding alkylhydrazinium salt, if appropriate, in the presence of a solvent and/or of water, in such a manner that during at least about 90% of the reaction free alkylhydrazine is present.

Abstract: An amine-elimination process for making single-site catalysts is disclosed. First, an indenoindole or its synthetic equivalent reacts with a tetrakis(dialkylamino) Group 4 metal compound to give a tris(dialkyl-amino) compound. This versatile intermediate can be halogenated, alkylated, or reacted directly with cyclopentadienyl precursors to provide valuable indenoindolyl-Group 4 metal complexes. The process selectively provides mono-indenoindolyl complexes. In addition, it enables the economical preparation of desirable Cp- or Cp-like derivatives and allows the use of an inexpensive Group 4 transition metal source.

Abstract: There is provided a stereospecific process for the preparation of essentially enantiomerically pure imidazolinone herbicides having the R-configuration via (R) 2-amino-2,3-dimethylbutyronitrile.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds of formula I wherein R1 and R3 are independently H or C1-3 alkyl, and R2 is H, C1-3 alkyl, methylene or ethylidene, with the proviso that R1 and R2 are not simultaneously H; n is 0 or 1; and is a single or a double bond, wherein a maximum of two double bonds are present in the compound. Compounds of formula II are also provided: wherein A is selected from the group of CR4R5OH, CR4R5OC(O)R6, CO2R6, CN and C(O)R4; R1, R3, R4, and R5 are independently H or C1-3-allyl; R2 is H, C1-3-alkyl, methylene, or ethylidene; R6 is H, C1-3 alkyl, C2-4 alkenyl, or alkinyl; n is 0 or 1; and is a single or a double bond, wherein a maximum of two double bonds are present. Compositions containing compounds of formulae I and II, as well as methods for imparting fragrance to substrates using such compounds are also provided.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of 5-cyanophthalide in which 5-carboxyphthalide is reacted with a dehydrating agent, such as thionylchloride, and a sulphonamide, in particular sulfamide. Cyanophthalide is prepared in high yields by a convenient procedure. 5-cyanophthalide is an intermediate used in the preparation of the antidepressant drug citalopram.

Abstract: A process for the work up of reaction mixtures containing diaryl carbonate, aromatic hydroxy compound, water, base and quaternary salt, which are obtained in the preparation of diaryl carbonates by direct carbonylation of aromatic hydroxy compounds, is described. In the process of the present invention an adduct of diaryl carbonate and aromatic hydroxy compound is crystallized from the reaction mixture. A distillate comprising aromatic hydroxy compound is removed from the liquid phase either prior to or after crystallization of the adduct of diaryl carbonate and aromatic hydroxy compound. The liquid phase remaining after the crystallization and distillation steps may be recycled, without further work up, back to the direct carbonylation process step by which the diaryl carbonate is initially prepared.

Abstract: Alpha-olefins are dimerized to form branched-chain feedstocks for detersive surfactants.

Abstract: It is to provide a cyclic imide derivative which is useful as an active ingredient of a pharmaceutical composition. A pharmaceutical composition which comprises, a cyclic imide derivative represented by the general formula (I): wherein Q1 is a single bond, —CH2—, —O—, —S— or —NH—, each of Q2 and Q3 is —C(O)—, —C(S)— or —CH2—, provided that at least one of Q2 and Q3 is —C(O)— or —C(S)—, Z is a single bond or a lower alkanediyl group, R is an aryl group which may be substituted or a cycloalkyl group which may be substituted, X is a nitro group, an amino group which may be acylated, a cyano group, a trifluoromethyl group, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or an alkylthio group, m is an integer of from 0 to 4, and when m is 2 or above, X may be the same or different, or its salt.

Abstract: A method for making a vinyl carbonate represented by the formula (I): CH2═CHOC(O)X1R1  (I) wherein X1 is oxygen or sulfur and R1 is a substituted or an unsubstituted aliphatic alkyl, aryl, aryl alkyl, olefinic, vinyl, or cycloaliphatic group comprises: (a) reacting a compound represented by the formula (II): X2C(O)X1R1  (II)  wherein X2 is a halogen other than fluorine, with a compound represented by the formula (III): M1-F  (III)  wherein M1 is selected from a Group IA metal, in the presence of a first phase transfer catalyst and a first organic solvent, to form a compound represented by the formula (IV): FC(O)X1R1;  (IV)  and (b) reacting a compound represented by the formula (IV) with a compound represented by the formula (V): CH2═CHOSi(R2)3  (V)  wherein R2 is a substituted or an unsubstituted aliphatic alkyl, aryl, aryl alkyl, olefinic, vinyl, or cycloaliphatic group, or any combination thereof, in the presence of

Abstract: A process for catalytic production of diaryl carbonates by oxidative carbonylation of aromatic hydroxy compounds with carbon monoxide and oxygen achieves water removal during reaction by a process comprising the steps of: removing a liquid stream from an oxidative carbonylation reaction mixture in a reaction vessel, subjecting the liquid stream to reduced pressure, and returning at least a portion of dried liquid stream to the reaction vessel. Typical catalyst systems for oxidative carbonylation contain (A) at least one Group 8, 9, or 10 metal having an atomic number of at least 44 or a compound thereof; (B) at least one alkali metal salt; (C) at least one metal co-catalyst; (D) at least one activating organic solvent; and (E) optionally, at least one base.

Abstract: New tropane analogs that bind to monoamine transporters are described, particularly, 8-aza, 8carbo and 8-oxo tropanes having 6- or 7- substituents. The compounds of the present invention can be racemic, pure R-enantiomers, or pure S-enantiomers. Certain preferred compounds of the present invention have a high selectivity for the DAT versus the SERT. Also described are pharmaceutical therapeutic compositions comprising the compounds formulated in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a method for inhibiting 5-hydroxy-tryptamine reuptake of a monoamine transporter by contacting the monoamine transporter with a 5-hydroxytryptamine reuptake inhibiting amount of a compound of the present invention. Preferred monoamine transporters for the practice of the present invention include the dopamine transporter, the serotonin transporter and the norepinephrine transporter.