Abstract: 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.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of producing a moldable polyethylene terephthalate or modified polyethylene terephthalate having an inherent viscosity greater than 0.6 dL/g comprising reacting the diacid component with the diol component such that a combination of a titanium-based catalyst and a phosphorus-based catalyst is used during the polycondensation steps.

Abstract: A process for packaging normally tacky amorphous polyolefins, and other materials having similar melt viscosities, is provided. The process entails flowing a heated material into a molded polyolefin container having a minimum wall thickness of about 0.1 mm to less than 0.24 mm at a temperature above the melting point of the container, followed by slowly cooling the filled container. The process is conducted at ambient conditions without the use of cooling fluids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified cellulose ester containing unsaturated pendent groups which can be prepared by reacting a cellulose ester containing residual hydroxyl groups with, for example, maleic anhydride in acetic acid solvent with sodium acetate catalyst. The modified cellulose ester is not homopolymerizable but will copolymerize in the presence of vinyl crosslinking agents and a photoinitiator upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The modified cellulose ester is useful as a protective and/or decorative coating for wood, metal, plastics, paper, board, and other substrates, as well as an additive to printing inks, and as a nail polish. In addition, because of the propensity for the pendant carboxyl groups to form hydrophilic salts with amines, the modified cellulose esters can be formulated to be water-dispersible.

Abstract: This invention provides polymers useful in coating compositions. The polymers are prepared via a free radical polymerization using ethylenically unsaturated monomers. The polymers of this invention possess pendant allylic groups which are capable of effecting free-radical flux when the compositions are applied to a substrate and exposed to oxygen. Coatings formed from preferred compositions possess superior solvent, print, and block resistance.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable film is made from a copolyester blend of 1 to 98.5 weight percent PETG copolyester, 98.5 to 1 weight DEG modified PET copolyester having a b* value of less than 15, 0.5 to 3 weight percent anti-blocking agent, and optionally, 5 to 15 weight percent crystallizable polyester. The PETG copolyester has a dicarboxylic acid component of at least 95 mol percent terephthalic acid and a diol component of 65 to 80 mol percent ethylene glycol and 35 to 20 mol percent 1,4-cyclohexane-dimethanol. The DEG modified PET copolyester has a dicarboxylic acid component of at least 75 mol percent terephthalic acid; a diol component of 10 to 50 mol percent diethylene glycol and 50 to 90 mol percent ethylene glycol; catalyst residues of 20 to 100 ppm manganese, 50 to 300 ppm antimony, 0 to 100 ppm titanium and 40 to 150 ppm phosphorus; and color control agent residues of (i) 40 to 100 ppm cobalt, (ii) 1.5 to 10 ppm of blue compounds of substituted 1,4-bis(2,6-dialylanilino) anthraquinones and 0.

Abstract: Disclosed is a water-dissipatable or dispersible adhesive composition that is useful in forming paper articles and other products that can be recycled through repulping in both neutral and alkaline media. The water-dispersible adhesive composition is preferably a hot melt adhesive that is a low molecular weight, branched copolyester containing a sulfomonomer. Additional utility for the invention resides in the manufacture of recyclable articles where insolubility in body fluids combined with solubility in tap water are required.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The invention relates to the compounds having the structures I and II: ##STR1## The invention also relates to a method of making the compound having the structure I by mixing 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol; dimethyl carbonate; and a basic catalyst, and heating the mixture.

Abstract: Synthetic fiber that are capable of spontaneously transporting water on their surface satisfy the equation(1-X cos .theta..sub.a)<0,wherein.theta..sub.a is the advancing contact angle of water measured on a flat film made from the same material as the fiber and having the same surface treatment, if any,X is a shape factor of the fiber cross-section that satisfies the following equation ##EQU1## wherein P.sub.w is the wetted perimeter of the fiber and r is the radius of the circumscribed circle circumscribing the fiber cross-section and D is the minor axis dimensionacross the fiber cross-section, and wherein the uphill flux value of said fiber is from 2 to 60 cc/g/hr when measured from a reservoir of synthetic urine test fluid along a 20 cm long ramp to an absorbant on an attached platform at 10 cm height.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a high molecular weight polyester having less than about 0.5 weight % diethylene glycol comprising adding at least one carbonate compound to the ester exchange reaction product produced from reaction of a glycol component comprising ethylene glycol and an ester component comprising dimethylterephthalate, dimethylnaphthalenedicarboxylate and mixtures thereof wherein said reaction product is formed without a Ti catalyst.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method for providing a standard Raman spectrum from a sample uses a particular Raman spectrometry apparatus or any similar Raman spectrometry apparatus, which is used to simultaneously irradiate a reference material and at least one sample, thereby obtaining their respective convolved Raman spectra. Using a defined standard energy dispersion characteristic and a standard Raman spectrum of the reference material, a convolution function is determined and applied to produce a deconvolved Raman spectrum of the sample. This deconvolved spectrum is multiplied by a defined standard photometric response function to produce a standard Raman spectrum of the sample.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the purification of a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (NDA) which has been manufactured by the oxidation of a dialkylnaphthalene in the presence of a molecular oxygen-containing gas and a heavy metal-containing catalyst and contains metal residues, e.g., cobalt and manganese residues, as impurities. The process involves contacting an acetic acid slurry of a NDA, typically 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, containing such metals, with acetic anhydride.

Abstract: Disclosed are catalyst systems comprising one or more transition metals selected from the Group VIII metals and rhenium and one or more fluorophosphite compounds having the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are hydrocarbyl radicals. Also disclosed are catalyst solutions comprising one or more the above fluorophosphite compounds, rhodium and a hydroformylation solvent, and hydroformylation processes wherein olefins are contacted with carbon monoxide, hydrogen and the catalyst solution to produce aldehydes.

Abstract: Disclosed are fibrous structures comprised of shaped fibers wherein the thickness of the compressed fibrous structure at 1.00 psi is .gtoreq.1.3 times that of a similar compressed structure having the same area density and made from round cross section fibers of the same dpf as the shaped fibers. The invention is useful in articles such as coats, gloves, boats, shoes, etc. made using the structures disclosed herein. The surprising feature of structures according to the present invention is the thickness retention at high pressures. This retained thickness under pressure translates directly into decreased heat transfer or improved insulation.

Abstract: This invention relates to polyester/plasticizer blends which are useful as heat-shrinkable films or sheets in low temperature shrink packaging applications. The heat-shrinkable films or sheets comprise a blend of (A) 90 to 99 weight percent of a polyester having a glass transition temperature of 40.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. and an inherent viscosity of 0.5 to 1.2 dL/g and (B) 1 to 10 weight percent of a plasticizer selected from a C.sub.5 to C.sub.35 monoglyceride prepared from the reaction of glycerol and a fatty acid having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, wherein the combined weights of (A) and (B) total 100 percent. The polyester comprises a dicarboxylic acid component comprising repeat units from at least 80 mole percent of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid having 8 to 14 carbon atoms and a diol component comprising repeat units from at least 10 mole percent of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, based on 100 mole percent dicarboxylic acid and 100 mole percent diol.

Abstract: 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.