Abstract: (Meth)acrylic esters are prepared by reacting (meth)acrylic acid with a C4-C12-alkanol in the presence of sulfuric acid or a mono-C4-C12-alkyl sulfate as catalyst, wherein a) the reaction is carried out in an esterification unit which comprises a first reactor and at least one further reactor, b) a mixture of (meth)acrylic acid, C4-C12-alkanol and catalyst which contains not more than 5% by weight of water, based on the sum of the starting materials, is introduced into the first reactor, c) the esterification in the first reactor is conducted without removing ester, alkanol or water to a (meth)acrylic acid conversion of at least 40%, but only so far that the mixture remains a single phase, and d) the esterification is continued in at least one further reactor with the water formed being removed by distillation.

Abstract: Process for preparing compounds of the formula I in which R is alkyl or aryl, in each case unsubstituted or substituted, R3 is hydrogen, alkyl or aryl, in each case unsubstituted or substituted, and X═O or NH, which comprises reacting an aldehyde R—CHO with CO and a compound of the formula II in which R2 is a group which reacts with a —CO2H group, which is formed during the reaction, with ring-closure to give compounds of the formula I, in the presence of a transition metal catalyst described.

Abstract: Adhesive-coated, peelable protective films and peelable labels, wherein the adhesive contains a copolymer that is capable of undergoing free-radical polymerization and which comprises, to an extent of from 0.

Abstract: There is provided a method for the synergistic control of insects which comprises applying to the locus of a transgenic crop which produces an insect toxin a synergistically effective amount of a recombinant insect virus containing a vector which is highly virulent to said insect.

Abstract: The invention relates to open-celled melamine foams which have improved fire performance and whose cell-structure surface has been to some extent or entirely coated with an ammonium salt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds that are inhibitors of interleukin-1&bgr; converting enzyme that have the Formula (I). This invention also relates to a method of treatment of stroke, reperfusion injury, Alzheimer's disease, shigellosis, inflammatory diseases, and septic shock and to a pharmaceutically acceptable composition that contains a compound that is an inhibitor of interleukin-1&bgr; converting enzyme.

Abstract: Carbamate solutions are obtainable by reacting at least one alkanolamine with carbon dioxide in, as solvent, at least one organic compound having a molecular weight of from 60 to 600 and containing at least one hydroxyl group, wherein the carbamate contains at least 0.

Abstract: A fungicidal mixture comprises a) a phenyl benzyl ether derivative of the formula I [sic] and b) (±)-(2-chlorophenyl)(4-chlorophenyl)(pyrimidin-5-yl)methanol in a synergistically effective amount.

Abstract: In a process for isolating &agr;-ethynyl carbinols from the liquid reaction mixture from the addition of acetylene onto &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carbonyl compounds by distillation, the distillation is carried out continuously, the feed stream is introduced into the middle section of a distillation column (K), the major part of the water is distilled off azeotropically together with the solvent at the top of the column, and the &agr;-ethynyl carbinol target product is taken off below the feed point to the column.

Abstract: A continuous process for preparing a polyamide by reacting at least one aminonitrile with water comprises: (1) reacting at least one aminonitrile with water at a temperature from 90 to 400° C. and a pressure from 0.1 to 35×106 Pa in a flow tube containing a Brönsted acid catalyst selected from a beta-zeolite catalyst, a sheet-silicate catalyst or a titanium dioxide catalyst comprising from 70 to 100% by weight of anatase and from 0 to 30% by weight of rutile and in which up to 40% by weight of the titanium dioxide may be replaced by tungsten oxide to obtain a reaction mixture, (2) further reacting the reaction mixture at a temperature from 150 to 400° C.

Abstract: Formic ester is transesterified with a hydroxyl-containing compound in the presence of a tertiary amine as transesterification catalyst to form a formic ester which differs from the formic ester used as reactant, and of a hydroxyl-containing compound which is different from the hydroxyl-containing compound used as reactant.

Abstract: A fungicidal mixture comprises a) a phenyl benzyl ether derivate of the formula I.a, I.b or I.c,  and b) a carboxamide II selected from the group of the compounds IIa and IIb  in a synergistically effective amount.

Abstract: An apparatus for introducing a fluid into a container includes a supply leading into the interior of the container, closed by a bursting disk and connected to a supply line for the fluid. In order to increase the operational safety and to avoid clogging of the bursting disk, the supply is in the form of a telescopic tube which can be extended by the pressure of the fluid into the interior of the container and is mounted above the highest level in the container.

Abstract: A process for preparing cyclopentanone and cyclopentene-1-carboxylic acid or an ester thereof of the formula I where R is hydrogen or an aliphatic radical having 1-6 carbon atoms or a cycloaliphatic, araliphatic or aromatic radical having 6-12 carbon atoms comprises heating a compound of the formula II X—(CH2)4—COOR  II where X is formyl or hydroxymethyl and R is defined as above, and/or a compound which is converted into a compound of the formula II by reaction with water or alcohols ROH under the reaction conditions to from 200 to 450° C. in the gas or liquid phase in the presence of a heterogeneous oxidic catalyst.

Abstract: In a process for preparing THF (tetrahydrofuran) by reaction of a 1,4-butanediol-containing reaction mixture over an acid catalyst, the reaction mixture comprises further alcohols different from 1,4-butanediol and is essentially free of water.

Abstract: A fungicidal mixture, comprising a) a carbamate of the formula I, where T is CH or N, n is 0, 1 or 2 and R is halogen, C1-C4-alkyl or C1-C4-haloalkyl, it being possible for the radicals R to be different if n is 2, and b) at least one compound of the formula II or III,  in a synergistically effective amount.

Abstract: A process for preparing phthalides by I. reducing phthalic acid or phthalic acid derivatives, where the carboxyl groups may be replaced by units which can be derived from the carboxyl groups by a condensation reaction and where one or more of the hydrogens of the o-phenylene unit may be substituted by inert radicals, at a cathode in a undivided electrolytic cell and dissolved in an electrolyte, II. discharging the electrolyte from the electrolytic cell when the reaction has proceeded to the stage where the molar ratio (M), formed by the proportion of phthalide and the sum of the proportions of phthalide and phthalic acid of phthalic acid derivatives in the electrolyte, is from 0.8:1 to 0.995:1, and III. crystallizing the phthalides from the electrolyte and removing them from the mother liquor, if appropriate after distillative work-up of the electrolyte is described.

Abstract: The process for the preparation of carbonyl compounds of the formula I where R1 and R2 are a hydrocarbon radical, or R1 and R2 together are an unsubstituted or substituted alkylene group, and X is ═O or two alkoxy groups, comprises oxidizing alcohols of the formula II  where R1 to R2 and X are as defined above, with oxygen in the gaseous phase a) at temperatures of from 270 to 600° C. on silver coated catalysts which comprise an abrasion-resistant coating of metallic silver on a core of inert support material, or b) at temperatures of from 450 to 750° C. on silver crystals and/or copper crystals having a particle size of from 0.1 to 2.5 mm for a residence time of at most 0.1 second. Also claimed is an advantageous overall process for the preparation of &agr;-diketones, preferably diacetal, from the corresponding ketone, in particular methyl ethyl ketone, via the carbonyl compounds of the formula I where X is two alkoxy groups.

Abstract: A composition containing (A) one or more aromatic sulfonates, (B) one or more aldehyde resins and (C) a buffer and is prepared and used for treating, in particular neutralizing, leather tanned with mineral compounds or mineral-free compounds.

Abstract: Cleaning formulations and methods are provided by which solid deposition is inhibited on hydrophobic hard surfaces typically encountered in bathroom and outdoor environments without detrimentally affecting the appearance of such surfaces. The formulations most preferably include an aqueous mixture of an organically solvated nonionic copolymer, a polyacrylic acid homopolymer and a nonionic surfactant. Optionally, a hydrotrope may also be present in the formulation. Most preferably, the formulations of this invention have a pH between about 4.0 to about 7.0, most preferably around neutral (i.e., about 7.0).