Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing oleanolic acid and/or maslinic acid and physiologically acceptable salts thereof, which comprises the steps of extracting olive plant and/or products obtained in the olive oil-manufacturing processes with water and/or an organic solvent and then concentrating and/or fractionating/purifying the resulting extract.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for preparing 4-substituted-4-cyanocyclohexane carboxylates by forming the cyclohexane ring by treating a &agr;,&agr;-bis(2-haloethyl)-4-benzeneacetonitrile with a dialkyl malonate and decarboxylating the resulting diester.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing cyclohexanedicarboxylic esters (hexahydrophthalic diesters) by esterifying the corresponding benzenedicarboxylic acids and immediately hydrogenating the esterification mixture in the presence of nickel catalysts.

Abstract: A prostaglandin derivative represented by the formula: wherein X is a halogen atom in the &agr;- or &bgr;-position, Y is an ethylene group, a vinylene group or an ethynylene group, A is a group represented by the formula: O(CH2)n, S(O)p(CH2)n, O(CH2)qO(CH2)r, O(CH2)qS(O)p(CH2)r, S(O)p(CH2)qS(O)p(CH2)r or S(O)p(CH2)qO(CH2)r (wherein n is an integer of 1 to 5, p is 0, 1 or 2, q is an integer of 1 to 3, and r is 0 or 1), R1 is a C3-10 cycloalkyl group, a C1-4 alkyl-C3-10 cycloalkyl group, a C3-10 cycloalkyl-C1-4 alkyl group, a C5-10 alkyl group, a C5-10 alkenyl group, a C5-10 alkynyl group or a bridged cyclic hydrocarbon group, R2 is a hydrogen atom, a C1-10 alkyl group or a C3-10 cycloalkyl group, and m is 0, 1 or 2], a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a hydrate thereof. The present invention is to provide novel PG derivatives having an excellent PGD2-like agonistic activity and a sleep-inducing action.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new thiolalkyl benzoic acids, pharmaceutical compositions and diagnostic kits comprising such compounds, and methods of using such compounds for inhibiting NAALADase enzyme activity, detecting diseases where NAALADase levels are altered, effecting neuronal activity, effecting TGF-&bgr; activity, inhibiting angiogenesis, and treating glutamate abnormalities, neuropathy, pain, compulsive disorders, prostate diseases, cancers, glaucoma, retinal disorders, and cancer.

Abstract: A crystalline form of the sodium salt of pravastatin, which is known by the chemical name 1-naphthaleneheptanoic acid, 1,2,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-&bgr;, &dgr;,6-trihydroxy-2-methyl-8-(2-methyl-1-oxobutoxy)-, mono sodium salt, which is useful as a pharmaceutical substance. A method for its preparation and isolation, a pharmaceutical formulation containing the sodium salt of pravastatin in the crystalline form and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and the pharmaceutical method of treatment are also disclosed.

Abstract: Economical processes are disclosed for recovery and refining of at least acrylic acid from a gaseous mixture such as is obtainable by gas-phase catalytic oxidation of propylene. Processes of the invention include quenching the gaseous mixture with an aqueous quench liquid to obtain an aqueous solution comprising the acid values; contacting the aqueous solution with an immiscible extraction solvent; and an integrated sequence of distillations and phase separations to recover for recycle organic components of the extraction solvent, and obtain valuable acrylic acid and acetic acid products. Advantageously, the immiscible extraction solvent is substantially free of aromatic compounds such as benzene and toluene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the carbonylation of conjugated dienes, whereby a conjugated diene is reacted with carbon monoxide and a hydroxyl group containing compound in the presence of a catalyst system including: (a) a source of palladium cations, (b) a phosphorus-containing ligand, (c) a source of anions, wherein the phosphorus-containing ligand is a ligand having the general formula (I): X1—R—X2 wherein X1 and X2 represent a substituted or non-substituted cyclic group with at least 5 ring atoms, of which one is a phosphorus atom, and R represents a bivalent organic bridging group, connecting both phosphorus atoms, containing from 1 to 4 atoms in the bridge, whereby the carbonylation process can be performed batch wise, semi-continuously or continuously.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of purifying aqueous effluents containing in particular peroxidized compounds. It relates more particularly to a method of purifying aqueous effluents comprising a method of anaerobic biological decomposition of the compounds contained in the effluent. The effluents are treated prior to their anaerobic biological decomposition, in a deperoxidation step in order to reduce the concentration of peroxide and to avoid the harmful effect of these compounds on the enzymes or bacteria.

Abstract: Provided are processes and synthetic intermediates useful for the preparation of &agr;-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) having the formula

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions comprising organic anhydrides having a reduced tendency to discolor with time, even when held at elevated temperatures for extended times. The compositions are produced by mixing at least one acid halide and various derivatives of hydroxy carboxylic acids with an anhydride to form a homogenous solution. Also disclosed is a process for preparing the compositions.

Abstract: A process for preparing o-chloromethylbenzoyl chlorides of the formula I, in which R1 to R4 can be identical or different and are hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, halogen or trifluoromethyl, by reacting benzo-fused lactones of the formula II, in which R1 to R4 are as defined above, with thionyl chloride, which comprises carrying out the reaction in the presence of catalytic amounts of boric acid, boric anhydride, borate, boronic acid or boronic acid esters and catalytic amounts of a quaternary ammonium salt is described.

Abstract: Process for the purification of carbonyl chlorides which have been prepared by reacting carboxylic acids with phosgene or thionyl chloride in the presence of a catalyst adduct, in which the carbonyl chlorides are treated with a hydrohalide of carboxamides of the formula (I) in which R1 is hydrogen or C1- to C3-alkyl; R2 and R3 independently of one another are C1- to C4-alkyl, or R2 and R3 together are a C4- or C5-alkylene chain, and the carbonyl chloride purified in this way is isolated by separation off from the carboxamide hydrohalide phase.

Abstract: Novel acetyloxymethyl esters are disclosed. Methods of treating an illness, including cancer, hemological disorders and inherited metabolic disorders, and treating or ameliorating other conditions using these compounds are also disclosed. The compounds are effective in the inhibition of histone deacetylase.

Abstract: A process for recovering and purifying substituted benzenesulfonates, by neutralizing a mixture including at least one substituted benzenesulfonate, or at least one corresponding substituted benzenesulfonic acid, and sulfur trioxide, sulfuric acid and/or hydrogen chloride in free or bound form, in an aqueous phase using an alkali metal hydroxide, and purifying it in this aqueous phase, and by subsequently separating the substituted benzenesulfonate(s) from this aqueous phase. The mixture is comminuted into particles having a Sauter mean diameter in the range from 1 &mgr;m to 2 cm, either before or during introduction into this aqueous phase.

Abstract: A method for the production of an esterified product which can prevent the occurrence of a gel-like substance during the separation and removal of the water formed by the reaction in the esterification reaction or during the expulsion of a dehydrating solvent by distillation after the esterification reaction by causing an antigelling agent to act on the distillate and consequently permits efficient production of the esterified product of high quality, and an apparatus therefor are to be provided.

Abstract: Therapeutic agents for erectile dysfunction containing as the active ingredient prostaglandin derivatives of formula (I) (wherein symbols have the same meanings as described in the description), nontoxic salts thereof, or cyclodextrin clathrate compounds thereof.

Abstract: Poly(3-cyclopropyl-3-hydroxypropionates) (I) which are useful for the preparation of vinylcyclopropane and cyclopropylacetylene are disclosed. Methods for the preparation of a variety of intermediates obtained from (I) such as 3-cyclopropyl-3-hydroxypropionic acid and esters and salts thereof, 3-cyclopropylacrylic acids and vinylcyclopropane also are disclosed.

Abstract: A process for producing organic sulfur acid or a salt thereof of the present invention allows an organic substrate to react with a sulfur oxide in the presence of a metallic compound catalyst and in the absence of N-hydroxy and N-oxo cyclic imide compounds and thereby yields a corresponding organic sulfur acid or a salt thereof. Such organic substrates include, for example, (a) homocyclic or heterocyclic compounds having a methylene group, (b) compounds having a methine carbon atom, (c) compounds having a methyl group or methylene group at the adjacent position to an unsaturated bond, (d) non-aromatic heterocyclic compounds having a carbon-hydrogen bond at the adjacent position to a hetero atom, and (e) straight-chain alkanes. The sulfur oxide includes, for example, sulfur dioxide. This production process can efficiently produce an organic sulfur acid or a salt thereof under mild conditions.

Abstract: GABA-related pro-drugs of the formula (III) are provided that when administered to humans or other mammals provide an increased duration of active compound in the plasma compared to compounds of corresponding structure in which labile groups are not present. The compounds are of the formula (III) In the above formula: P represents hydrogen or methyl; Q represents a labile amine- or amide-forming organic group that becomes removed in the human or animal body; R1 represents straight or branched C2-C6 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl or phenyl; R2 represents hydrogen or methyl; and R3 represents hydrogen, methyl or carboxyl; and R4 represents hydrogen or a labile ester-forming group selected from substituted and unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl, benzyl and phenyl groups that become removed in the human or animal body. In the above formula when R1 is phenyl, R2, R3 and R4 are not simultaneously hydrogen.