Abstract: An external skin care preparation comprising a compound represented by the following general formula (I) or (II), or a salt thereof: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 means an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 9-25 carbon atoms, A and B denote specific groups respectively, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are individually an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 10-26 carbon atoms, and R.sup.8 denotes a group --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH, --CH.sub.2 COOH, or --COCH.sub.3.

Abstract: An external skin care preparation comprising a compound represented by the following general formula (I) or (II), or a salt thereof: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 means an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 9-25 carbon atoms, A and B denote specific groups respectively, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are individually an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 10-26 carbon atoms, and R.sup.8 denotes a group --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH, --CH.sub.2 COOH or --COCH.sub.3.

Abstract: An external skin care preparation comprising a compound represented by the following general formula (I) or (II), or a salt thereof: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 means an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 9-25 carbon atoms, A and B denote specific groups respectively, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are individually an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 10-26 carbon atoms, and R.sup.8 denotes a group --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH, --CH.sub.2 COOH or --COCH.sub.3.

Abstract: A novel melanin inhibitor comprising as an active component a p-hydroxycinnamamide derivative of the following general formula (I) ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a 2-hydroxyethyl group, and R.sub.2 represents a hydroxymethyl group or a carboxyl group.The melanin inhibitor may take various forms such as a lotion, an emulsion, a cream, an ointment, a gel and the like, and it is locally applied onto affected parts such as spots and freckles on the skin, and a pigmental deposition after sunburn.

Abstract: A melanin inhibitor comprising as the reactive component a cinnamic acid derivative of the formula (I) or (II): ##STR1## in which R' represents an acyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group or an alkenyl group, and R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group or an alkenyl group.The melanin inhibitors according to the invention are locally applied to affected portions such as of freckles and pigmentary deposits after sunburn without giving any stimulative or allergic troubles to the skin.

Abstract: A novel melanin inhibitor comprising as an active component a p-hydroxycinnamamide derivative of the following general formula (I) ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a 2-hydroxyethyl group, and R.sub.2 represents a hydroxymethyl group or a carboxyl group.The melanin inhibitor may take various forms such as a lotion, an emulsion, a cream, an ointment, a gel and the like, and it is locally applied onto affected parts such as spots and freckles on the skin, and a pigmental deposition after sunburn.

Abstract: An external medicament comprises a novel amide derivative represented by the following formula (I). ##STR1## The external medicament is applicable to both a pharmaceutical external medicament and a cosmetic composition, and it provides excellent improving and preventing effects for chapping of the skin.

Abstract: A composition for application to the skin to protect the skin from the long wavelength ultraviolet ray comprises a dibenzoylmethane derivative of the following general formula ##STR1## in which X represents a hydrogen atom, a monovalent metal cation, an organic cation, a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 24 carbon atoms, or a polyoxyalkylene oxide having 2 or 3 carbon atoms, Y and Z each independently represent a hydroxyl group, a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 24 carbon atoms, or an alkoxy group having from 1 to 24 carbon atoms, or a polyoxyalkylene oxide group having from 2 to 3 carbon atoms, and m and n are independently an integer of from 0 to 3.The composition is adjustable so as to have an optimum HLB balance and has good compatibility with various cosmetic bases. Further, it does not irritate the skin, is difficult to be percutaneously absorbed and shows continued skin-protecting effects.

Abstract: 4-methoxy-2'-carboxydibenzoylmethane of the following general formula (I) ##STR1## is prepared by reacting p-methoxyacetophenone (III) with phthalic anhydride (II) in accordance with the following reaction equation. ##STR2##The compound (I) and its salts absorb both UV-A and UV-B, and exhibit prominent effects as a ultraviolet absorber for cosmetic formulations such as skin cosmetic formulations and hair cosmetic formulations.

Abstract: A novel process for preparing a 3-phenacylidene phthalide of the general formula (II) ##STR1## which comprises reacting a halogenating reagent with a 2-carboxydibenzoylmethane.The 2-carboxydibenzoylmethane can be inexpensively prepared, so that the 3-phenacylidene phthalides which are useful as a growth regulant for plants and a safering agent to reduce herbicidal injury to plants can be readily obtained economically in high yield.

Abstract: 2-Carboxydibenzoylmethanes of the following formula ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently a substituent joined to any position of the benzene nucleus and represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, or a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkoxy group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, m is an integer of from 1 to 4, and n is an integer of from 1 to 5 are prepared inexpensively with ease in high yield by a novel process characterized by reaction between phthalic anhydrides and acetophenones in the presence of bases.The 2-carboxydibenzoylmethanes are useful as an inhibitor of the root geotropic response of plants or a growth regulator for plants, or a stabilizer for halogen-containing resins.

Abstract: .alpha.-mono(methyl-branched alkyl) glyceryl ethers represented by the formula ##STR1## where m is an integer of 2 to 14, n is an integer of 3 to 11, and the total of m+n is 11 to 17, are disclosed along with skin care compositions containing the same as emulsifiers.

Abstract: Fragrant cyclohexanol derivatives are produced by condensing 2-ethylidene-5-norbornene with a phenol compound, in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst; and hydrogenating the condensation product in the presence of a metal catalyst.The compounds so produced have a green-floral odor and are advantageously used in soaps, detergents, shampoos, hair rinse, cosmetics, colognes and perfumes.

Abstract: An advantageous process for producing tricyclo[5.2.1.0.sup.2,6 ]decane-2-carboxylic acid which is useful as a perfume composition.According to the invention, tricyclo[5.2.1.0.sup.2,6 ]dec-8-yl formate (II) is contacted with an inorganic strongly acidic catalyst to obtain tricyclo[5.2.1.0.sup.2,6 ]decane-2-carboxylic acid (I).

Abstract: An industrially advantageous process for producing 4-homoisotwistane-3-carboxylic acid.According to the invention, tricyclo[5.2.1.0.sup.2,6 ]dec-8-yl-methylformate (II) is contacted with an inorganic strongly acidic catalyst to obtain 4-homoisotwistane-3-carboxylic acid (I).

Abstract: A chalcone derivative of the formula (I): ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 represents hydrogen or a methyl group, and R.sub.2 represents a linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon group having from 2 to 24 carbon atoms.The derivative is effective in protecting the skin when made into ultraviolet absorbing agents including an anti-sunburn oil, since it has the maximum absorbing capacity at a wave length in the vicinity of 350 nm, does not irritate the skin and is highly compatible with a cosmetic base.

Abstract: Triglycerine monoalkyl ethers of the general formula (I), which are novel polyol ether compounds, ##STR1## in which R represents a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched fatty hydrocarbon group having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms.The ethers (I) of the present invention are prepared from firstly subjecting 1,3-bis-o-(2,3-o-isopropylideneglyceryl)glycerine (II) and an etherifying agent (IV) to Williamson's ether synthesis reaction, and the resulting 1,3-bis-o-(2,3-o-isopropylideneglyceryl)-2-o-alkylglycerine (III) is subsequently subjected to hydrolysis.The ethers according to the invention are chemically stable because no linkages susceptible to decomposition, e.g. ester bond, are contained in the molecular structure of the ethers. Moreover, the ethers give a reduced degree of stimulus to the skin and have the surface activity, so that they are useful as an emulsifier, oil (emolient), humectant, thickener and particularly as a component of cosmetics.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polyol ether compound represented by the general formula (I): ##STR1## in which R represents a saturated or unsaturated, straight-chain or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 8 to 24 carbon atoms, and R' represents a saturated or unsaturated, straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms.A preparation process of the compound (I) is also disclosed.Compounds according to the invention show excellent emulsification stability and are suitable to be a cosmetic composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is 2-exo-hydroxy-endo-tricyclo[6.2.1.0.sup.2,7 ]undecane represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## The tricycloundecanol of the formula (I) has green, camphor-like and woody odor and is useful as an aroma chemical. Furthermore, owing to the aliphatic polycyclic structure like adamantyl alcohol, it is expected to have antiviral, antimicroviral and plant hormone activities.The tricycloundecanol (I) of the invention is prepared by subjecting endo-tricyclo[6.2.1.0.sup.2,7 ]undecane to hydroxylation at the bridgehead position with a substituted perbenzoic acid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel 2,3-dialkoxypropyl glyceryl ether and the preparation process for it. The above diglycerin dialkyl ether is readily prepared with high yield and purity by reacting its corresponding glycidyl ether with a protected glycerin to form a 1,3-dioxolan compound, followed by etherifying the thus formed 1,3-dioxolan compound into a dialkyl ether dioxolan compound, and then hydrolyzing the resultant dialkyl ether dioxolan compound. This diglycerin dialkyl ether is useful as an emulsifier, cleaner etc., and is preferably used as a component of cosmetic compositions. A cosmetic composition comprising the above 2,3-dialkoxypropyl glyceryl ether is also disclosed.