Abstract: A process for preparing 2-alkylthiomethyl-4-hydroxypyrimidines, known to be useful as intermediates in making insecticides, of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is alkyl,R.sup.2 is hydrogen or alkyl, andR.sup.3 is hydrogen, alkyl or alkoxy, orR.sup.2 and R.sup.3 together represent a divalent alkylene radical,comprising reacting a sulphonyloxyacetonitrile of the formulaR--SO.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 --CN (II)in whichR is alkyl, halogenoalkyl or optionally substituted aryl,with methanol or ethanol, reacting the reaction mixture formed with ammonium chloride, reacting the reaction mixture formed with an alkali metal thiolate of the formulaR.sup.1 --S.sup..crclbar. Me.sup..sym. (III)in which Me.sup.+ is an alkali metal cation,and, in the presence of a base, with a .beta.-ketocarboxylic acid ester of the formula ##STR2## at a temperature between about -20.degree. and +100.degree. C.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing fenoctimine, which is 4-(diphenylmethyl)-1-[(octylimino)methyl]piperidine by: (1) reacting dimethylformamide with dimethyl sulfate to form a complex; (2) reacting the resultant dimethylformamide/dimethyl sulfate complex with n-octylamine and optionally with dimethylamine; (3) thereafter treating the reaction with aqueous base to form N,N-dimethyl-N'-octyl-formamidine; and (4) reacting said formamidine, without need for further purification, with 4-(diphenylmethyl) piperidine to obtain 4-(diphenylmethyl)-1-[(octylimino)-methyl]piperidine.

Abstract: Disclosed are selected trichloroacetamidines having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## wherein n is 2, 3 or 4 and R.sup.1 is a lower alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; andR.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of H, SCCl.sub.3 and COCCl.sub.3.These compounds are disclosed to be agricultural fungicides.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for sulfenylating carbamates in the presence of a solvent and acid acceptor, in which the reaction between a carbamate and a sulfenyl halide is conducted in the presence of a catalytic amount of a complex of a lower alkylamine and sulfur dioxide. Several methods for preparing and utilizing the complex in the reaction are disclosed and exemplified.

Abstract: Amidines are one of the strongest organic bases and find application where this property is needed, such as in phase transfer catalysis in the form of their substituted derivatives. Their use, however, has been hampered by their expensive nature due to only mediocre yields in their preparation. The present invention provides a process for the preparation of substituted amidines in essentially quantitative yields.

Abstract: A chiral .alpha.-amino acid having a hydrogen substituent in a position alpha to the carboxylic function thereof is prepared by subjecting a corresponding optical antipode with a chiral amino acid to a strong base whereby the proton in a position alpha to the carboxylic function is removed and thereafter reacting the resulting product with a chiral protonation agent.

Abstract: Novel amine and amidine derivatives of di-O-(n-higher alkyl and alkenyl)-glycerols and -propanediols, and their pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts, are useful for combating viral infections in mammals. Of particular interest is 1,3-di-O-(n-hexadecyl)-2-O-(3-aminopropyl)-glycerol, and its pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts.