Abstract: Catalysts for preparing carboxylic acid salts from alcohols which a) consist of copper or b) comprise from 99.9 to 10% by weight of copper and from 0.01 to 90% by weight of iron and from 0 to 50% by weight of one or more other metals, and may optionally be doped, the hydroxides being obtained by precipitation of copper salt solutions or by coprecipitation of copper and iron salt solutions optionally containing salts of other metals using a base, and being reduced by hydrogen.

Abstract: Catalysts for preparing carboxylic acid salts from alcohols which a) consist of copper or b) comprise from 99.9 to 10% by weight of copper and from 0.01 to 90% by weight of iron and from 0 to 50% by weight of one or more other metals, and may optionally be doped, the hydroxides being obtained by precipitation of copper salt solutions or by coprecipitation of copper and iron salt solutions optionally containing salts of other metals using a base, and being reduced by hydrogen.

Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of cyclohexene derivatives of general formula I or II: in which the substituents R1 and R2 independently of one another are defined as follows: R2 is OH or a protective group convertible to a hydroxyl group by hydrolysis, R3 and R4 are hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl, and R5 is hydrogen or C1-C4-acyl, by the reduction or alkyne compounds of general formula III or IV: wherein the reducing agent used is at least one salt of hyposulfurous acid or hydroxymethanesulfinic acid or a mixture of at least one salt of hyposulfurous acid and at least one salt of hydroxymethanesulfinic acid.

Abstract: 4,4-Diarylbutadienes of the formula I, where the diene system has the Z,Z; Z,E; E,Z or E,E configuration or a mixture thereof, and where the variables independently of one another have the following meanings: R1 and R2 are hydrogen, C1-C20-alkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, C3-C10-cycloalkyl, C3-C10-cycloalkenyl, C1-C12-alkoxy, C1-C20-alkoxycarbonyl, C1-C12-alkylamino, C1-C12-dialkylamino, aryl, hetaryl, unsubstituted or substituted, substituents which confer solubility in water and are selected from the group consisting of carboxylate, sulfonate, or ammonium residues; R3 is COOR5, CONR5R6; R4 is COOR6, CONR5R6; R5 and R6 are hydrogen, C1-C20-alkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, C3-C10-cycloalkyl, C7-C10-bicycloalkyl, C3-C10-cycloalkenyl, C7-C10-bicycloalkenyl, aryl, hetaryl, unsubstituted or substituted; n is 1 to 3; and R3 and R4 are not COOCH3 when R1 and R2 are hydrogen, are used as photostable UV filters in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations to protect the human skin or human hair from the sun's rays,

Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of cyclohexene derivatives of general formula I or II: 1

Abstract: 4,4-Diarylbutadienes of the formula I, 1

Abstract: 4,4-Diarylbutadienes of the formula I, where the variables have the meanings explained in the description, are used as photostable UV filters in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations to protect the human skin or human hair from the sun's rays, alone or together with compounds which absorb in the UV region and are known per se for cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations.

Abstract: 1,3-Dimethylimidazolium 4-carboxylate is prepared by reacting 1-methylimidazole with dimethyl carbonate optionally in the presence of a solvent in accordance with the following reaction scheme:

Abstract: In a process for preparing 3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexanone by reacting isophorone with hydrogen cyanide at from 80 to 220.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst, the reaction is carried out in the presence of the betaine 1,3-dimethylimidazolium-4-carboxylate.

Abstract: Arylaminomethylenecamphor derivatives of the formula (1) ##STR1## where the C.dbd.C double bond is in the Z or E configuration, and the variables have the following meanings:R.sup.1 H, CH.sub.3,R.sup.2 H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkenyl, aryl or substituted aryl,R.sup.3 H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -acyl,Ar aryl, substituted aryl, hetaryl or substituted hetaryl,are used as sunscreen agents, especially in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations.