Abstract: Mixtures of three types of linear, branched or cyclic phosphates are useful flame retardants, especially for thermoplastic resins or as functional additives in polymer matrices.

Abstract: Phase-selective soluble polymer supports for catalysts are described. The catalysts utilize polystyrene copolymers having enhanced solubility in nonpolar solvents. Other catalysts of the invention utilize polyisobutylene supports. Methods of catalyzing chemical reactions using latent biphasic solvents are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for producing an asymmetric compound using a metal complex containing no rare earth metal element is disclosed. The process affords an optically active compound having high optical purity. Optically active binaphthol having the chemical formula ##STR1## and lithium aluminum hydride are reacted, or the optically active binaphthol, a dialkyl aluminum hydride, and a base containing an alkali metal (or a base containing alkaline earth metal) are reacted to prepare a metal complex comprising optically active binaphthol, aluminum, and alkali metal (or alkaline earth metal). This metal complex can be used as a catalyst to perform an asymmetric Michael reaction, an asymmetric phosphonylation reaction, or the like, to obtain, in a high yield, an asymmetric compound having high optical purity.

Abstract: A method of preparing an oil-soluble composition is disclosed. The method comprises preparing a dihydrocarbyl monothiophosphoric acid characterized by the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently hydrocarbyl groups of from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms and X is oxygen or sulfur, with the proviso that one X is sulfur comprising reacting(A) a phosphite ester of the structure ##STR2## with (B) a sulfur source, in the presence of(C) a catalytic amount of an amide of the structure R.sub.3 CONR.sub.4 R.sub.5 wherein R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each independently hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group containing from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms or an ethoxylated amide of the structure ##STR3## wherein the sum of x and y is from 1 to about 50; and isolating the reaction product obtained.