Abstract: Process for preparing esters of alkanoic acids via rearrangement of alpha-haloketals in the presence of a Lewis acid.The rection is preferably carried out in the presence of catalytic amounts of a Lewis acid and of a diluent at a temperature in the range from about 0.degree. to the reflux temperature of diluent.The esters thus obtained are useful as intermediate products for preparing drugs.The process involves the preparation of new alpha-haloketals.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of 4-[2-(dimethylamino)-ethoxy]-2-methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)-phenol esters (I) and their salts with organic and inorganic acids comprising the reaction of thymol with a salt of an 1-halo-dimethylaminoethane to obtain ethylamine-N,N-dimethyl-2-(thymyloxy) (II), the subsequent reaction of (II) with an acylating agent according to the Friedel and Kraft reaction to obtain 4-[2-(dimethylamino)-ethoxy]-2-methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)-1-acyl-benzene (III) and the oxidation of (III) to obtain the products (I) which, if desired, may be transformed in their salts with organic or inorganic acids.This process allows to obtain the products (I) in high quality and quantity without isolating any intermediate product.

Abstract: Process for preparing chenodeoxycholic substantially free from impurities and from solvents; crude chenodeoxycholic acid is subjected to crystallization from a solvent selected in the group consisting of mono- and polyhalogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms and that, if desired, the thus obtained product is dissolved in a water-miscible organic acid having low molecular weight and the thus obtained solution is poured into water, the precipitate is poured into water, the precipitate is collected by filtration, washed with water and dried.

Abstract: The humid amorphous form of chenodeoxycholic acid undergoes a physical treatment at room temperature comprising causing a collision of the particles of the amorphous product in bulk by means of shaking or stirring to prepare the solvent-free crystalline form of chenodeoxycholic acid which melts at 168.degree.-170.degree. C.

Abstract: A mixture of ursodeoxycholic acid and of chenodeoxycholic acid as well as of their salts and esters is reacted with a silylating agent in a suitable anhydrous organic solvent; the corresponding silyl-derivatives thus obtained are separated by crystallization and pure ursodeoxycholic acid is recovered from the corresponding silyl-derivatives in the usual manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new process for the preparation of 6.alpha.-halo-3-keto-.DELTA..sup.1,4 -pregnadiene-derivatives in two-steps-synthesis affording directly 6.alpha.-halo-derivatives by reacting 3-keto-9.beta.,11.beta.-oxido-.DELTA..sup.1,4 -pregnadiene-derivatives with a suitable acylating or etherifying agent to give the corresponding new 3-enol-derivatives which are finally halogenated by using a suitable halogenating agent.