Abstract: A process for continuously preparing 2-pyrrolidone by reacting gamma-butyrolactone with ammonia in the liquid phase in the presence of water, wherein the reaction is carried out at a temperature of from 275 to 300° C. and an absolute pressure of from 140 to 180 bar.

Abstract: The invention provides curable waterborne coating compositions comprising an aqueous dispersion (A) comprising an organic binder component (A1) comprising at least 5% by weight of a reactive component (a), based on the total weight of organic binder component (A1), and at least one crosslinking component (B). The reactive component (a) is substantially free of any heteratoms and is a not a crystalline solid at room temperature and comprises from (i) 12 to 72 carbon atoms, and (ii) at least two functional groups. The curable waterborne coating compositions of the invention show significantly improved pop resistance while also providing improved chip resistance, weathering resistance, flexibility, and/or scratch & mar resistance.

Abstract: A mount assembly having a first carrier with a first insulator coupled to a first flange of the first carrier. The mount assembly also includes a second carrier and a second insulator coupled to a second flange of the second carrier. A first locking member, which is formed of a polymeric material, is connected to the first carrier. A second locking member, which is also formed of a polymeric material, is connected to the second carrier with the first locking member engaging the second locking member to retain the first carrier in telescoping relationship with the second carrier.

Abstract: Enzymatic preparation of (meth)acrylic esters containing urethane groups, and their use in radiation-curable compositions.

Abstract: A transgenic plant transformed by a transcription factor stress-related protein (TFSRP) coding nucleic acid, wherein expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant results in increased tolerance to environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. Also provided are agricultural products, including seeds, produced by the transgenic plants. Also provided are isolated TFSRP, and isolated nucleic acid coding TFSRP, and vectors and host cells containing the latter. Further provided are methods of producing transgenic plants expressing TFSRP, methods of increasing expression of other genes of interest using the TFSRP, methods of identifying novel TFSRP, and methods of modifying the expression of TFSRP in plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to molding compositions comprising A) from 39 to 99% by weight of at least one polyarylene ether sulfone built up from bifunctional monomer units, B) from 1 to 20% by weight of at least one polyarylene ether sulfone containing, based on the total weight of component B, from 0.1 to 10% by weight of units which derive from 1,1,1-tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, C) from 0 to 60% by weight of at least one filler, D) from 0 to 40% by weight of at least one impact-modifying rubber, and E) from 0 to 40% by weight of one or more various additives, where the percentages by weight of components A to E give 100% in total, and also to a process for preparing these molding compositions, to their use, and to moldings, films, fibers, or foams obtainable from these molding compositions.

Abstract: In a process for heterogeneously catalyzed partial gas phase oxidation of propene to acrylic acid, the propene-containing starting reaction gas mixture is oxidized in a first reaction stage using a fixed catalyst bed 1 which consists of a plurality of fixed catalyst bed zones and is accommodated in two successive temperature zones A, B, and the acrolein-containing product gas mixture of the first reaction stage is then oxidized in a second reaction stage using a fixed catalyst bed 2 which consists of a plurality of fixed catalyst bed zones and is accommodated in two successive temperature zones C, D, and the transition from one temperature zone to another temperature zone within one reaction stage does not spatially coincide with a transition from one fixed catalyst bed zone to another fixed catalyst bed zone.

Abstract: A process is described for purifying polyalkylene glycols obtained by adding alkylene oxide to alkylene glycol, in which, after addition is complete, the resultant polyalkylene glycol is treated at a pH of >7 with a bleaching agent selected from the group consisting of peroxides, peracids, percarbonates, perborates, peroxodisulfates or oxygen, in each case with or without addition of a bleaching activator. The process is suitable in particular for preparing polyethylene glycol having molar weights from 196 to 203 g/mol which meets requirements of pharmacopeias.

Abstract: A process for preparing xylylenediamine, comprising the steps of ammoxidizing xylene to phthalonitrile and hydrogenating the phthalonitrile, which comprises contacting the vaporous product of the ammoxidation stage directly with a liquid organic solvent or with molten phthalonitrile (quench), partly or fully removing components having a boiling point lower than phthalonitrile (low boilers) from the resulting quench solution or suspension or phthalonitrile melt and, after the low boiler removal and before the hydrogenation, removing products having a boiling point higher than phthalonitrile (high boilers).

Abstract: A process is described for preparing diaminodiarylmethanes comprising the steps a) reacting an aromatic amine with a methylene-donating agent in the presence of homogeneous acid catalysts, b) removing the homogeneous acid catalyst from the reaction product, c) working up and purifying the reaction product, which comprises removing the homogeneous acid catalyst from the reaction mixture by adsorption to a solid adsorbent.

Abstract: Packaging material comprises an at least two-layer laminate of a paper engine-sized in each case with a polymer size or sized cardboard and at least one water-impermeable film or foil for producing containers for packaging liquids, and paper products which are obtainable in each case by (i) engine sizing of a paper stock comprising an aqueous slurry of cellulose fibers with at least one polymer size or with a polymer size and an aqueous dispersion of an alkylketene dimer or a mixture thereof in the presence of a retention aid and, if appropriate, of a water-soluble aluminum compound and, if appropriate, at least one cationic polymer, (ii) drainage of the paper stock on the wire of a paper machine, (iii) drying of the paper product and (iv) lamination of the paper product on one or both sides with a plastics film or metal foil are used for producing containers for packaging liquids, in particular beverages.

Abstract: Process for preparing oligomers of alkenes having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms from a feed stream comprising such alkenes or hydrocarbon streams in which such alkenes are present over a nickel-containing, heterogeneous catalyst in n successive adiabatically operated reactors, where n is 2 or an integer greater than 2, at from 30 to 280° C. and pressures of from 1 to 300 bar, where the feed stream has a temperature Tin when it enters the first reaction zone, experiences a temperature increase in each reaction zone and, if this temperature increase is more than Tin+20° C., is brought to a temperature in the range Tin±20° C. before it enters a subsequent reaction zone, wherein the feed stream is divided and the feed substreams obtained in this way are fed to the 2 reactors, or if more than 2 reactors are used to at least 2 of the reactors, with addition of fresh feed in such a way that the temperature in one of the reactors is at most 20° C. higher than that in each of the other reactors used.

Abstract: A composition comprising a reaction product of a diisocyanate, a chain extension agent having at least difunctional reactivity with an isocyanate, and a material comprising a blend of i) a primary carbamate material having at least one functional group reactive with an isocyanate and at least one primary carbamate group or a group convertible to a primary carbamate group, and ii) a reaction product of the primary carbamate material with an extending agent, wherein at least one of i) the isocyanate groups of the diisocyanate have a different reactivity in relation to each other, and ii) at least two of the groups with reactivity with an isocyanate on the chain extension agent have a different reactivity in relation to each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous liquid formulation comprising ?5–25% by weight of a dye composition comprising 20–100% by weight of Direct Yellow 11 or of a dye obtainable by reduction or thermal treatment of Direct Yellow 11 ?0–30% by weight of a blue direct dye, ?0–30% by weight of a red direct dye, and ?0–60% by weight of a brown direct dye all based on the dye composition, and ?1–25% by weight of poly-N-vinylformamide and/or of a polymer obtained by polymerization of a mixture of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers and >50% by weight of N-vinylformamide based on total monomers, based on the total weight of the aqueous liquid formulation.

Abstract: A process for preparing ethylamines, butylamines and mixed ethyl/butylamines comprising the following steps: (i) Hydroamination of butadiene and ethylene by means of a monoalkylamine and/or a dialkylamine in which alkyl=ethyl and/or butyl in the presence of an alkali metal amide as catalyst, (ii) isomerization of the amines obtained in the hydroamination (i), if appropriate under the following conditions: (iia) prior fractionation into particular fractions and/or (iib) isomerization under hydrogenating conditions and/or (iic) isomerization in the presence of ammonia, (iii) fractionation of the resulting product mixture with isolation of the desired product amines and recycle of the amines suitable as starting material to step (i).

Abstract: A transgenic plant transformed by a Transcription Factor Stress-Related Protein (TFSRP) coding nucleic acid, wherein expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant results in increased tolerance to environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. Also provided are agricultural products, including seeds, produced by the transgenic plants. Also provided are isolated TFSRPs, and isolated nucleic acid coding TFSRPs, and vectors and host cells containing the latter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing propylene oxide comprising (I) reacting propene with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst to give a mixture (GI) comprising propylene oxide, unreacted propene, and oxygen; (II) separating propylene oxide from mixture (GI) to give a mixture (GII) comprising propene and oxygen; (III) reducing the oxygen comprised in mixture (GII) at least partially by reaction with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising Sn and at least one noble metal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cosmetic compositions, in particular fragrance compositions and cosmetic compositions for decorative application on the human body, comprising at least one cyclohexanepolycarboxylic acid derivative, and to the use of cyclohexanepolycarboxylic acid derivatives in cosmetic compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing phytofluene of the formula I, where a) a phosphonium salt of the formula II is condensed with an aldehyde of the formula III ?in a Wittig reaction to give an acetal of the formula IV b) the condensation product of the formula IV is subjected to an acid-catalyzed acetal hydrolysis to give the aldehyde of the formula V c) and V is condensed in a further Wittig reaction with a phosphonium salt of the formula VI to give phytofluene ?where the radicals R1, R2 and R7, and X? and Y? have the meaning sated in the description.

Abstract: Method of vaporizing thermally sensitive substances, wherein the vaporization is carried out in a vaporizer having a porous structured surface and the temperature difference between the product-side surface of the vaporizer and the temperature of the vaporizing product are limited to from 0.1 to 10° C.