Abstract: A process for preparing 1,4-butanediol by continuous catalytic hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol comprises reacting 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in the liquid continuous phase in the presence of a heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst at from 20 to 300° C., a pressure of from 1 to 200 bar and values of the liquid-side volumetric mass transfer coefficient kLa of from 0.1 s−1 to 1 s−1 a) using a catalyst suspended in the reaction medium, where if a packed bubble column is employed this is operated in the upflow mode and at a ratio of gas leaving the reaction vessel to gas fed to the reaction vessel of from 0.99:1 to 0.4:1, or b) passing the liquid and gas in cocurrent in an upward direction through a fixed-bed reactor operated in the gas-circulation mode while maintaining a ratio of the gas fed to the reaction vessel to gas leaving the reaction vessel of from 0.99:1 to 0.4:1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing scratch-resistant coatings which comprises applying a coating composition which in the cured state has a storage modulus E′ in the rubber-elastic range of at least 107.6 Pa and a loss factor tan &dgr; at 20° C. of not more than 0.10, the storage modulus E′0 and the loss factor having been measured by dynamic mechanical thermoanalysis on homogeneous free films having a film thickness of 40±10 &mgr;m. The present invention additionally relates to the use of the process for producing multicoat finishes and also to coating compositions suitable for this process.

Abstract: Substituted thiopyridines of the general formula I where n is 1 or 2; R1 is chlorine, C1-C3-fluoroalkyl, nitro or methylsulfonyl; R2 is a C1-C10-alkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl or C2-C10-alkynyl radical, in each case unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-alkoxycarbonyl, di-(C1-C4-alkylamino) carbonyl, cyano or nitro, a C3-C8-cycloalkyl radical, or a C1-C4-alkylenephenyl, phenyl or naphthyl radical which is unsubstituted or substituted in the phenyl moiety by halogen, C1-C3-alkyl, C1-C3-alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, cyano or nitro.

Abstract: Racemic metallocene complexes are prepared by reacting bridged or unbridged transition metal complexes with cyclopentadienyl derivatives of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals and, if desired, subsequently replacing the aromatic ligands.

Abstract: The catalyst comprises at least one alkali metal on a support which has the general formula (I) An′Tim′Zrp′Hfq′On′+2(m′+p′+q′)  (I) where A is a divalent metal, 20·(m′+p′+q′)>n′>0.05·(m′+p′+q′), and which may be doped with at least one compound of an alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal, where the alkali metal/support ratio by weight is 0.01-5:1 and, when a dopant is present, the dopant/support ratio by weight is 0.01-5:1, and where the proportion of support phase corresponding to the ZrO2 structure or an alkaline earth metal oxide structure or consisting of ZrO2 or alkaline earth metal oxide is less than 10% by weight.

Abstract: Carotenoid formulations comprising a mixture of &bgr;-carotene, lycopene and lutein, and the use thereof in human and animal foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: A process for preparing aqueous polymer dispersions comprises first of all subjecting ethylenically unsaturated monomers to free-radical aqueous emulsion polymerization to prepare an aqueous dispersion of a polymer 1 having a glass transition temperature Tg1, then dissolving further, comparatively hard monomers in the dispersed particles of the polymer 1, and subsequently carrying out free-radical polymerization of the monomers dissolved in the particles.

Abstract: Use of polymers which contain (a) 0.1 to 100 mol % of vinylamine units or ethyleneimine units, (b) 0 to 99.9 mol % of units of at least one monomer from the group consisting of open-chain N-vinylcarboxamides, vinyl formate, vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl alcohol, C1- to C6-alkyl vinyl ethers, monoethylenically unsaturated C3- to C8-carboxylic acids, their esters, nitriles, amides and anhydrides, N-vinylurea, N-vinylimidazoles and N-vinylimidazolines and (c) 0 to 5 mol % of units of monomers having at least two ethylenically unsaturated double bonds, in copolymerized form, the sum of (a), (b) and (c) in mol % always being 100, as biocide.

Abstract: Described is a polymer dispersion comprising in an aqueous medium (a) dispersed particles of a polymer containing more than from 5 to 20% by weight of &agr;,&bgr;-ethylenically unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acid, (b) a dissolved polymer containing from 60 to 100% by weight of &agr;,&bgr;-ethylenically unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acid, and (c) an alkoxylated long-chain amine. Heat-curable compositions are obtained by adding polyfunctional alcohols and, optionally, reaction accelerant. The polymer dispersions and the heat-curable compositions are suitable for use as binders for textile sheetlike structures and for moldings.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of thermoplastic polyester molding compounds, containing A) 80 to 100 wt. % of a polyalkylene arylate, especially polybutyleneterephthalate, with a half-width of crystallization heat releases of ≦5° C. and B) 0 to 20 wt. % of other additives, the weight percentages of constituents A) and B) adding up to 100%, for producing molded bodies by blow-molding, profile extrusion and/or pipe extrusion. A preferred use for the inventive molding compounds is the production of light guide sheathing. The invention also relates to a 3-stage method for producing the polyesters as follows: a) esterification or re-esterification of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid or its derivative and a glycol; b) precondensation; and c) polycondensation to a viscosity number of at least 158 ml/g. The reaction is carried out in at least 2 temperature zones in stages a) and b).

Abstract: The present invention provides process for the preparation of chlorocarbonyl chlorides of the formula I R1—CHCl—Y—COCl  (I), where R1 is for example hydrogen or C1- to C20-alkyl and Y is for example a saturated or mono- or polyolefinically unsaturated C2-C8-alkylene chain, by reacting lactones with a chlorinating agent in the presence of a urea compound.

Abstract: Microcapsules are prepared by polycondensation of a melamine/formaldehyde resin mixture in water, in which essentially water-insoluble material forming the capsule core is dispersed, in the presence of an anionic protective colloid, by a process wherein the melamine/formaldehyde resin mixture is composed of: a) an aqueous solution of a condensate of a1) 1 mol of melamine, a2) from 2 to 5 mol of formaldehyde and a3) from 0 to 0.5 mol of a melamine derivative which can undergo an addition or condensation reaction with formaldehyde and a4) from 1 to 5 mol of a C1-C3-alkanol and b) from 0.01 to 1 mol of a water-soluble primary, secondary or tertiary amine or ammonia.

Abstract: The invention describes a method of coating a concrete molding which comprises a) the application of at least one plastic, cement-bound mineral composition to an uncoated mineral molding wherein said plastic composition comprises at least one aqueous polymer dispersion and b) bringing about the setting of the plastic composition, wherein the aqueous polymer dispersion comprises: at least one polymer P in the form of dispersed polymer particles with a glass transition temperature of from −20 to +80° C., the polymer containing not more than 2% by weight of copolymerized monoethylenically unsaturated monomers having an acid group.

Abstract: Human antibodies, preferably recombinant human antibodies, that specifically bind to human tumor necrosis factor &agr;(hTNF&agr;) are disclosed. These antibodies have high affinity for hTNF&agr; (e.g., Kd=10−8 M or less), a slow off rate for hTNF&agr; dissociation (e.g., Koff=10−3sec−1 or less) and neutralize hTNF&agr; activity in vitro and in vivo. An antibody of the invention can be a full-length antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof. The antibodies, or antibody portions, of the invention are useful for detecting hTNF&agr; and for inhibiting hTNF&agr; activity, e.g., in a human subject suffering from a disorder in which hTNF&agr; activity is detrimental. Nucleic acids, vectors and host cells for expressing the recombinant human antibodies of the invention, and methods of synthesizing the recombinant human antibodies, are also encompassed by the invention.

Abstract: A crosslinking agent comprising one or more carbamate groups or groups convertible to carbamate and two or more polyfunctional amino moieties having the formula wherein L is selected from the group consisting of alkyl or aryl, cycloalkyl and alkylaryl having a carbon chain length between 1 and 6 carbon atoms and N is a polyfunctional amino moiety. L may also have additional bridging groups such as esters, ethers, ureas, or urethanes groups. Also included is a method of making the crosslinker, a coating composition containing the crosslinker and a method for coating a substrate with the composition.

Abstract: The invention comprises modifying a preformed thermoplastic polyurethane product made from the reaction of a difunctional isocyanate with a polyester or a polyether diol, along with a monomeric, low molecular weight diol as a chain extender. The preformed thermoplastic polyurethane product is then cross-linked by the addition of an isocyanate prepolymer made from the reaction of an excess of a polyisocyanate with a polyester or polyether polyol. The invention further comprises a process for forming the thermoplastic polyurethane product described above utilizing a single or twin screw extruder to mix and react the ingredients.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 2,4-dimethyl-3,5-bisalkoxycarbonylpyrrole is described, in which an acetoacetic alkyl ester is nitrosated to give the 2-nitrosoacetoacetic alkyl ester, the nitroso compound is reduced using hydrogen in the presence of a noble metal catalyst to give the amine, and the resulting amino compound is condensed without isolation in the presence of the corresponding non-nitrosated acetoacetic alkyl ester to give the 2,4-dimethyl-3,5-bisalkoxycarbonylpyrrole. The process makes it possible to work under conditions which are milder than in the prior art and to avoid the formation of by-products.

Abstract: A process for breaking down aromatics in industrial wastewaters that contain small amounts of aromatics by reaction with an ozone-containing oxygen stream at a temperature of from 40 to 70° C. and at a pH of from 4 to 7, involves treating industrial wastewaters that contain small amounts of aromatics in two stages with an oxygen stream that contains from 5 to 8% by volume of ozone with thorough mixing by causing the wastewater to flow upward through two reaction zones, the overflow of the wastewater at the top of the first reaction zone entering the second reaction zone at the base, the purified wastewater being obtained at the top of the second reaction zone, the ozone-containing oxygen stream first entering at the base of the second reaction zone, and the waste gas obtained at the top of the second reactor being introduced at the base of the first reaction zone, and, furthermore, a gas containing less than 0.2% by volume of ozone being obtained at the top of the first reaction zone.

Abstract: An aqueous polymer dispersion whose polymer is composed of vinyl-aromatic structures and conjugated dienes, and which has a reduced content of alkali metal ions, is used for producing water-vapor barriers; the invention also relates to the aqueous, low alkali metal polymer dispersion itself.

Abstract: Biodegradable polyether esters P1 obtainable by reacting a mixture essentially comprising: (a1) a mixture essentially comprising: 20-95 mol % of adipic acid or ester-forming derivatives thereof or mixtures thereof, 5-80 mol % of terephthalic acid or ester-forming derivatives thereof or mixtures thereof, and 0-5 mol % of a compound containing sulfonate groups, where the total of the individual mole percentages is 100 mol %, and (a2) a mixture of dihydroxy compounds essentially comprising (a21) from 15 to 99.8 mol % of a dihydroxy compound selected from the group consisting of C2-C6-alkanediols and C5-C10-cycloalkanediols, (a22) from 85 to 0.2 mol % of a dihydroxy compound containing ether functionalities of the formula I: HO—[(CH2)n—O]m—H  I where n is 2, 3 or 4 and m is an integer from 2 to 250, or mixtures thereof, where the molar ratio of (a1) to (a2) is chosen in the range from 0.4:1 to 1.