Abstract: The present invention provides new polymer compositions which contain novel substituted pyrazines or pyrazine derivatives ("NPD") which are functional and have useful application as a monomer (co-monomer) for a variety of high performance polymers such as polyester, polyarylate, polycarbonate, polyetherketones, epoxides, polyimides, polyamides, and polyamides-imides. These NPD have the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are defined herein.

Abstract: A process is provided whereby S(+)-ibuprofen or R(-)-ibuprofen L-lysinate salt is produced by selective precipitation from a mixture containing enantiomers of ibuprofen and L-lysine. The quantity of L-lysine is not more than about a molar equivalent of the quantity of one of the enantiomers in the ibuprofen enantiomeric mixture. Upon precipitation of one ibuprofen enantiomer from the mixture, the overall precipitate and reaction mixture can be held for a sufficient period of time at a second temperature to allow the first precipitate to redissolve into the reaction mixture and the other ibuprofen enantiomer to precipitate out of the mixture in the salt form. Optically active ibuprofen is racemized by being heated at 100.degree. C. to 300.degree. C. in the substantial absence of other materials.

Abstract: A novel control system is provided to control the liquid levels in a reactor-flasher combination used particularly for the carbonylation of methanol to acetic acid. Liquid level control is achieved by proportional controllers or other controllers which do not continuously seek zero offset from the desired level and which proportionally change the liquid flow rates from the respective reactor and flasher. An adjustment can be made to the level controllers to change the liquid flow rates by a function generator which adjusts the flow rate, according to an empirically derived function which correlates changes in methanol feed rate to liquid flow rates from the reactor and flasher. A further adjustment to flow rates can be made to effect a change in the water concentration in the reactor so as to maintain the water concentration at a desired level.

Abstract: A method is provided to improve the quality of recycle of certain residues by modifying the separation of alkanes and alkane-like materials and carbonyl-containing impurities from the recycle during the manufacture of acetic acid by the carbonylation of methanol. The improvement comprises operating a prior art stripper column in a reflux manner and partitioning the residue therefrom by the addition of water. The method also reduces the volume of disposal of potentially valuable recyclable reactants.

Abstract: A valve for obtaining a sample from a continuous flow of fluid includes a primary flow path for directing a continual flow of the fluid through the valve, a valve stem which engages a passage in a valve seat for metering a sample of fluid passing through the primary flow path out through a separate outlet passage in the valve. The valve further includes a passage separate from the primary flow path for injecting a purge gas into the sample outlet passage to remove any sample fluid contained in the outlet passage after the sample valve has been closed and before the sample container is taken off-line so as to avoid atmospheric emissions of the sample fluid.

Abstract: In a primary process for hydroformylating olefins in the presence of a rhodium-containing catalyst solution to produce aldehydes and a gaseous effluent comprising unreacted olefin is vented, the improvement which comprises employing the effluent as a reactant feed for a coupled secondary hydroformylation process conducted jointly therewith in which the catalyst solution is cycled back and forth between the primary and secondary hydroformylation processes.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel one-step processes for preparing highly branched macromolecule polymers that have highly controlled molecular architectures. The process comprise the reaction of a branching monomer such as a substituted phenyl compound having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are defined herein, with a second monomer (a core monomer) such as a dihydric phenol for a sufficient period of time and at a sufficient temperature to directly produce the highly branched polymer, characterized by having a single core, in a single processing step.

Abstract: Amines endowed with chain extension activity for formulations such as polyureas are disclosed, which have the general formula: ##STR1## wherein n is 0-1000; R.sub.1 .dbd.R.sub.2, and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are from the group --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --; --CH.sub.2 --C(CH.sub.3)H--; and --C(CH.sub.3)H--CH.sub.2 --; and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, --CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 OH, and --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OH.

Abstract: A novel control system is provided to control the liquid levels in a reactor-flasher combination used particularly for the carbonylation of methanol to acetic acid. Liquid level control is achieved by proportional controllers or other controllers which do not continuously seek zero off-set from the desired level and which proportionally change the liquid flow rates from the respective reactor and flasher. An adjustment can be made to the level controllers to change the liquid flow rates by a function generator which adjusts the flow rate, according to an empirically derived function which correlates changes in methanol feed rate to liquid flow rates from the reactor and flasher.

Abstract: Arylketoamines are prepared by reacting arylisonitrosoalkanones with hydrogen in the presence of a transition metal catalyst and a liquid carboxylic acid at a temperature of less than about 60.degree. C.

Abstract: Di-amines endowed with chain extension activity for formulations such as polyureas and polyurethanes are disclosed, and which have the general formula: ##STR1## wherein n is 0-1000; R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.5, and R.sub.6 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, --CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 OH, and --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OH; R.sub.3 =R.sub.4, and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are from the group --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --; --CH.sub.2 --C(CH.sub.3)H--; and --C(CH.sub.3) H--CH.sub.2 --; and the diasteromeric salts thereof.

Abstract: Substituted phenyl compounds endowed with chain extension activity for formulations such as polyurethanes are disclosed, and which have the general formula: ##STR1## wherein n is 1-1000; R.sub.1 .dbd.R.sub.2, and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are from the group --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2, --CH.sub.2 --C(CH.sub.3)H--; and --C(CH.sub.3)H--CH.sub.2 --; and R.sub.3 is from the group consisting of: ##STR2## and the diasteromeric salts thereof.

Abstract: Amines endowed with chain extension activity for formulations such as polyureas and polyurethanes are disclosed, which have the general formula: ##STR1## wherein n is 0-1000; R.sub.1 .dbd.R.sub.2, and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are from the group --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --; --CH.sub.2 --C(CH.sub.3)H--; and --C(CH.sub.3)H--CH.sub.2 --; and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, --CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 OH, and --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OH; and the diasteromeric salts thereof.

Abstract: A method is provided for purifying a crude N-acetyl-para-aminophenol (APAP) containing color bodies or their precursors, the method comprising: a) forming a wet crude APAP; and b) subsequently drying said crude APAP in the presence of a sufficient amount of an acetylating agent for a sufficient period of time to convert said color bodies or their precursors to substantially non-color bodies.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of calcium salts of hydantoic acids and which comprises the steps of reacting a hydantoin with a calcium base material such as calcium hydroxide in an aqueous medium at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient period of time to form the calcium salt of the corresponding hydantoic acid and then separating the calcium salt of such acid from the reaction mass. This separation can include the further steps of cooling the reaction mass down to facilitate the precipitation of the acid/salt crystals and then separating the precipitate by means of filtering or centrifugating. These acids can then be subjected to a HNO.sub.2 -mediated decarbamoylation process followed by an optical resolution step to thus provide high yields of D-p-hydroxyphenylglycine which is a key synthetic immediate or building block for semi-synthetic penicillin and cephalosporins.

Abstract: Acylamides or amine acylate salts of arylalkanolamines are prepared by reacting an arylisonitrosoalkanone with hydrogen and a carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid anhydride or carboxylic acid ester or mixture thereof in the presence of a transition metal catalyst; optionally the product is converted to the corresponding arylalkanolamine hydrochloride salt by reaction of the acylamide or amine acylate salt of the arylalkanolamine with hydrogen chloride in a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl alcohol.

Abstract: A method of preparing a catalyst particularly useful in the reaction of ethylene, oxygen and acetic acid in the vapor phase to form vinyl acetate comprises impregnating a porous support with water soluble salts of palladium and gold, fixing the palladium and gold on the support as water insoluble compounds by immersing the impregnated support in a reactive solution and tumbling the impregnated support in the reactive solution for at least 1/2 hour to begin precipitation of the insoluble compounds and completing precipitation of the insoluble compounds on the support and reducing the insoluble compounds to free palladium and gold. The catalysts prepared in this manner have been shown to provide improvement with respect to reduced selectivity to CO.sub.2 during the vinyl acetate forming reaction.

Abstract: An arylisonitrosoalkanone is hydrogenated in the presence of a noble metal catalyst and a weak carboxylic acid to form an arylalkanolamine which is then hydrogenated in the presence of a strong mineral acid and the transition metal catalyst to form an arylalkylamine. When the arylisonitrosoalkanone is an isonitrosoacetophenone, the isonitrosoacetophenone is prepared by one of two methods.In the first method, a substituted or an unsubstituted isonitrosoacetophenone is prepared from a corresponding substituted or unsubstituted acetophenone by oxidizing the acetophenone to form a substituted or an unsubstituted phenylglyoxalacetal in a reactor, hydrolyzing the phenylglyoxal acetal in the same reactor to form a corresponding substituted or unsubstituted phenylglyoxal, and condensing the phenylglyoxal with hydroxylamine or a salt thereof in the same reactor to form the substituted or unsubstituted isonitrosoacetophenone.

Abstract: A method of preparing a catalyst particularly useful in the reaction of ethylene, oxygen and acetic acid in the vapor phase to form vinyl acetate comprises impregnating a porous support with water soluble salts of palladium and gold, fixing the palladium and gold on the support as water insoluble compounds by contacting the salt-impregnated support with a reactive solution in two separate fixing stages wherein the treated support is dried and allowed to stand prior to treatment in the second stage to precipitate the insoluble compounds on the support and reducing the insoluble compounds to free palladium and gold. The catalysts prepared in this manner have been shown to provide improvement with respect to reduced selectivity to CO.sub.2 during the vinyl acetate forming reaction.

Abstract: Di-amines endowed with chain extension activity for formulations such as polyureas and polyurethanes are disclosed, and which have the general formula: ##STR1## wherein n is 0-1000; R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.5, and R.sub.6 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, --CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 OH, and --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OH; R.sub.3 .dbd.R.sub.4, and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are from the group --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --; --CH.sub.2 --C(CH.sub.3)H--; and --C(CH.sub.3)H--CH.sub.2 --; and the diasteromeric salts thereof.