Abstract: The invention describes novel malonates and a process for using said malonates for the preparation of chiral epoxides of formula having a cyclanic (1R) configuration, the group in position 2 having a transconfiguration and the epoxy group having a cis-configuration with respect to the substituent in position 1 and wherein R is an alkyl group from C1 to C4, linear or branched, and R1 is an alkyl or an alkenyl group from C2 to C8, linear or branched. The above process comprises the rearrangement of malonate (VII) to malonate (VI) and the decarboxylation reaction of into an ester of formula followed by the stereoselective epoxidation of the thus-obtained compound.

Abstract: A process for producing carboxylic acids, in particular furoic, 3-methylthio-propionic and 2-methyl-butyric acids, as well as other short-chained, linear and branched acids consisting of the oxidation, in essentially quantitative yields, of the corresponding alcohols or aldehydes using microorganisms of the genera Saccharomyces, Hansenula, Pichia, Candida or Kluyveromyces is disclosed.

Abstract: Poly-.beta.-hydroxyoctanoic acid, a multi-purpose product, is prepared by means of a method for aerobically fermenting bacteria which can accumulate said acid, wherein a nutrient solution containing a growth control agent is added to the culture medium to maintain a dilution level of about 0.050-0.100 h.sup.-1. Once it has been separated from the culture medium, the biomass is suspended in acetone or isopropanol, and the separated and dried cell mass is dissolved in an unchlorinated inert organic solvent. The desired acid is obtained by evaporating the clear filtrate which is recovered after separating the solid mass in the form of a stable polymeric film.