Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Michael J. Blake
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Patent number: 5886214Abstract: The catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of enol esters with a vinyllic or acetylenic substituent proceeds with extremely high enantioselectivity using a Rhodium-chiral bisphosphine catalyst. This is at variance with the hydrogenation of enol esters bearing a saturated substituent, which are hydrogenated with only marginal enantioselectivity under the same conditions.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1997Date of Patent: March 23, 1999Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventor: Neil Warren Boaz
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Patent number: 5869704Abstract: The invention relates to a water-dispersible or water-soluble compound having the structure I ##STR1## wherein, R.sup.1,R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are, independently, hydrogen or methyl, and R.sup.4 is--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH, wherein n is from 10 to 100, wherein compound I is the substantially pure D-enantiomer. The invention further relates to a water-dispersible or water-soluble compound having the structure II ##STR2## wherein, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are, independently, hydrogen or methyl, or the salt thereof, wherein compound II is the substantially pure D-enantiomer. The invention further relates to methods for making the tocotrienol compounds of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 1998Date of Patent: February 9, 1999Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventor: John A. Hyatt
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Patent number: 5856527Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of 3-alkyltetrahydrofurans by a two-step process wherein 2,3-dihydrofuran is reacted with an acetal to form an intermediate compound which may be converted to a 3-alkyltetrahydrofuran by contacting the intermediate with hydrogen in the presence of a catalytic amount of a Group VIII noble metal or rhenium, water and a strong acid.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1997Date of Patent: January 5, 1999Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventor: William Anthony Beavers
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Patent number: 5856531Abstract: Disclosed is a two-step process wherein (1) 2,3-dihydrofuran is reacted with a trialkyl orthoformate in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a 2-alkoxy-3-(dialkoxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran intermediate and (2) the intermediate is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a Group VIII noble metal or rhenium and a strong acid to convert the intermediate to a mixture of 3-methyltetrahydrofuran (3-MeTHF) and 3-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran (3-HOMeTHF). The 3-MeTHF produced in accordance with the present invention is useful as an industrial solvent and as a co-monomer in the manufacture of polymers such as elastomers. 3-HOMeTHF may be used as a solvent and in the manufacture of pharmaceutical and agricultural chemicals and acrylate and methacrylate esters for use in preparing polymers such as polyacrylates.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1997Date of Patent: January 5, 1999Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventor: William Anthony Beavers
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Patent number: 5851579Abstract: The present invention sets forth an enteric coating composition comprising a blend ofa) an alkali-soluble acrylic latex polymer andb) an aqueous solution of ammonium or alkaline salts of cellulose polymers.The invention also sets forth a method for preparing an enterically-coated dosage form and a method for preparing the present compositions.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1997Date of Patent: December 22, 1998Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventors: Stephen Hong-Wei Wu, Warren Kent Hopkins
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Patent number: 5821384Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making vinyl carboxylate esters such as vinyl acetate and vinyl propionate, by a reactive distillation process comprising a reaction zone wherein a vinyl carboxylate ester is formed from a carbonyl compound selected from aliphatic aldehydes and ketones and an anhydride of an aliphatic carboxylic acid and a distillation zone from which the vinyl carboxylate ester is recovered and substantially separated from other compounds contained within the column. The process requires significantly less equipment than known, analogous processes and thus the cost of constructing a plant for the operation of the present process is substantially reduced.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1997Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventors: Joseph Robert Zoeller, Donald Wayne Lane, Eleanor Hawkins Cwirko, Dewey Wayne Fuller, Jr., Scott Donald Barnicki
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Patent number: 5808148Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acids and esters thereof which comprises contacting formaldehyde or a source of formaldehyde with a carboxylic acid, ester or anhydride in the presence of a catalyst comprising an oxide of niobium.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 1997Date of Patent: September 15, 1998Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventors: Makarand Ratnakar Gogate, James Jerry Spivey, Joseph Robert Zoeller
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Patent number: 5801292Abstract: A process for condensing aldehydes where an aldehyde having an a hydrogen and having the formula R.sub.1 CHO, wherein R.sub.1 is selected from alkyl having one to twelve carbon atoms and aralkyl having one to fourteen carbon atoms, is combined with hydrated MgO to form a reaction product comprising an aldol of said aldehyde, the unsaturated aldehyde derived by dehydration of said aldol, or mixtures thereof. In a second embodiment, a first composition selected from aldehydes containing an a hydrogen and having the formula R.sub.1 CHO, wherein R.sub.1 is as defined above, is combined with a second composition selected from aldehydes having the formula R.sub.2 CHO, wherein R.sub.2 is selected from H, alkyl having one to twelve carbon atoms, and aralkyl having one to fourteen carbon atoms, and with hydrated MgO, to form a reaction product mixture comprising an aldol of said aldehyde, the unsaturated aldehyde derived by dehydration of said aldol, or mixtures thereof.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1996Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventors: Thomas J. Kwok, Windell C. Watkins
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Patent number: 5760284Abstract: Disclosed is an improved catalyst system and process for preparing aliphatic carbonyl compounds such as aliphatic carboxylic acids, alkyl esters of aliphatic carboxylic acids and anhydrides of aliphatic carboxylic acids by carbonylating olefins in the presence of a catalyst system comprising (1) a first component selected from at least one Group 6 metal, i.e., chromium, molybdenum, and/or tungsten and (2) a second component selected from at least one of certain halides and tertiary and quaternary compounds of a Group 15 element, i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus and/or arsenic, and (3) as a third component, a polar, aprotic solvent. The process employing the improved catalyst system is carried out under carbonylating conditions of pressure and temperature discussed herein.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 1997Date of Patent: June 2, 1998Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventor: Joseph Robert Zoeller
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Patent number: 5756779Abstract: Disclosed are improved processes for the recovery of 3,4-epoxy-1-butene (epoxybutene) from an epoxidation effluent comprising epoxybutane, butadiene, oxygen and an inert diluent obtained by the selective epoxidation of butadiene with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst and an inert gas. Epoxybutene is separated from the effluent by means of an absorption process using an extractant comprising liquid butadiene and, optionally, a hydrocarbon diluent. The formation of butenediols, by the reaction of epoxybutene and water, in the recovery process is inhibited by the addition of a base, preferably an alkali metal base, to the recovery system.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1997Date of Patent: May 26, 1998Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventor: Jerome Leonard Stavinoha, Jr.
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Patent number: 5744637Abstract: This invention pertains to accelerating the rate of formation of 1,1-dicarboxylic esters from the reaction of an aldehyde with a carboxylic acid anhydride or a ketene in the presence of a non-iodide containing a strong Bronsted acid catalyst by the addition of a carboxylic acid at about one bar pressure and between about 0.degree. and 80.degree. C. in the substantial absence of a hydrogenation or carbonylation catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1996Date of Patent: April 28, 1998Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventors: Gerald Charles Tustin, Todd Jay Dickson
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Patent number: 5744026Abstract: Dibenzyl ether can be readily cleaved to form primarily benzaldehyde and toluene as products, along with minor amounts of bibenzyl and benzyl benzoate, in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a Group 6 metal, preferably molybdenum, a salt, and an organic halide. Although useful synthetically for the cleavage of benzyl ethers, this cleavage also represents a key model reaction for the liquefaction of coal; thus this catalyst system and process should be useful in coal liquefaction with the advantage of operating at significantly lower temperatures and pressures.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 1997Date of Patent: April 28, 1998Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventor: Joseph Robert Zoeller
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Patent number: 5741440Abstract: A method for the preparation of a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide is disclosed. The invention method entails contacting carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and at least one hydrocarbon in the presence of a catalyst containing an active metal. The invention reaction is typically carried out in the presence of a supported active metal catalyst at a temperature in the range of about 700.degree. C. up to 1,100.degree. C. at a pressure in the range of about 7 kPa up to 5,250 kPa.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1995Date of Patent: April 21, 1998Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventors: James Lee Cooper, Eugene Michael Ingram
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Patent number: 5731456Abstract: This invention pertains to the preparation of vinyl acetate by contacting a mixture of hydrogen and ketene with a heterogeneous catalyst containing a transition metal to produce acetaldehyde, which is then reacted with ketene in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce vinyl acetate.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1996Date of Patent: March 24, 1998Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventors: Gerald Charles Tustin, Joseph Robert Zoeller, Leslie Sharon Depew
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Patent number: 5719315Abstract: This invention pertains to the preparation of vinyl acetate by contacting within a contact zone a mixture of ketene and acetaldehyde with an acid catalyst at about one bar pressure and between about 85.degree. and 200.degree. C. and removing the reaction products from the contact zone.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1996Date of Patent: February 17, 1998Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventors: Gerald Charles Tustin, Joseph Robert Zoeller, Leslie Sharon Depew
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Patent number: 5717118Abstract: The present invention relates to a one-step process for preparing amido-carboxylic acid esters having the amide nitrogen positioned between two carbonyl carbons by reacting a carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid ester with a monohydric alcohol and either a lactam, amino-carboxylic acid or a polymeric amino-carboxylic acid. In this process, amidation, esterification, alcoholysis, and hydrolysis reactions occur simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 1995Date of Patent: February 10, 1998Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventors: Gary Paul Lutz, George Chester Zima, Thomas Hugh Williams
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Patent number: 5710328Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acids and anhydrides thereof which comprises contacting formaldehyde or a source of formaldehyde with a carboxylic anhydride in the presence of a catalyst comprising mixed oxides of vanadium, phosphorus and, optionally, a third component selected from titanium, aluminum or, preferably silicon.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 1995Date of Patent: January 20, 1998Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventors: James Jerry Spivey, Makarand Ratnakav Gogate, Joseph Robert Zoeller, Gerald Charles Tustin
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Patent number: 5679870Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of acetaldehyde by the hydrogenation of ketene in the presence of a transition metal hydrogenation catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 1996Date of Patent: October 21, 1997Assignee: Eastman Chemical CompanyInventors: Gerald Charles Tustin, Leslie Sharon Depew