Abstract: Methods of making a chiral phosphorus compound of formula (X) are disclosed: wherein R1, R2, R3 are chiral or achiral groups selected from the list consisting of substituted or unsubstituted straight-chain, branched-chain or cyclic aliphatic or aromatic groups and in which the pair R1/R2 may be interconnected to form a ring.

Abstract: A method of preparing oxycodone includes forming 14-hydroxycodeine by reduction of 14-hydroxycodeinone and rearrangement of the 14-hydroxycodeine to form the oxycodone. During the reduction step, the ketone group of an undesirable contaminant precursor, 8,14-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrocodeinone, is reduced to a hydroxyl group thus forming a triol. This triol is substantially inert with respect to reforming 14-hydroxycodeinone and can be readily separated from oxycodone.

Abstract: A NOx absorber catalyst comprising an extruded solid body comprises either: (A) 10-95% by weight of at least one binder/matrix component; and 5-90% by weight of a zeolitic molecular sieve, a non-zeolitic molecular sieve or a mixture of any two or more thereof, which catalyst comprising at least one metal comprising (a) at least one precious metal; and (b) at least one alkali metal or at least one alkaline earth metal, wherein (a) and (b) are carried in one or more coating layer(s) on a surface of the extruded solid body; or (B) 10-95% by weight of at least one binder/matrix component; and 5-80% by weight optionally stabilized ceria, which catalyst comprising at least one metal comprising (a) at least one precious metal; and (b) at least one alkali metal or at least one alkaline earth metal.

Abstract: A method of preparing a ribofuranose derivative essentially free of pyranose compounds includes a step of contacting a solution of MDR containing MDRP as an impurity in a solvent including methanol and/or tetrahydrofuran with at least one alkali metal periodate under conditions sufficient to oxidize at least a portion of the MDRP. MDR containing at most 5 wt % of MDRP based on the total weight of MDR and MDRP may be produced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of a complex of formula (I) comprising the steps of: (a) mixing Pd(diolefin)Br2 and tBu3P in a solvent; and (b) adding an alkali hydroxide to form the complex of formula (I).

Abstract: A three way catalyst includes an extruded solid body having: 10-95% by weight of at least one binder/matrix component; 5-90% by weight of a zeolitic molecular sieve; and 0-80% by weight optionally stabilized ceria. The catalyst further includes at least one precious metal and optionally at least one non-precious metal. The at least one precious metal is carried in a coating layer on a surface of the extruded solid body; at least one metal is present throughout the extruded solid body and at least one precious metal is also carried in a coating layer on a surface of the extruded solid body; or at least one metal is present throughout the extruded solid body, is present in a higher concentration at a surface of the extruded solid body and at least one precious metal is also carried in a coating layer on the surface of the extruded solid body.

Abstract: A process is described for the synthesis of a cationic [rhodium diolefin phosphorus ligand] complex comprising the steps of: (a) reacting a rhodium-diolefin-1,3-diketonate and an acid in a ketone solvent, (b) adding a stabilising olefin to form a stabilised cationic rhodium compound, and (c) mixing a phosphorus ligand with the solution of the stabilised cationic rhodium compound to form a solution of the cationic [rhodium diolefin phosphorus ligand] complex. The solution may be used directly or the complex recovered. In one embodiment, the solution may be combined with a co-solvent and the ketone removed to give a new catalyst solution, from which the complex may be recovered.

Abstract: Composition and process for making same in which the composition includes support particles having at least one catalytically active metal or precursor thereof distributed therein in a layer below the surface of the particle. The layer is located between an inner and an outer region of the support particle, and each of the inner and outer regions has a lower concentration of the metal or precursor thereof than the layer.

Abstract: A catalytic hydrogen generator which generates hydrogen by the partial oxidation of methanol by oxygen (usually supplied as air) which comprises a gas permeable catalyst system having an upstream zone (2) filled with a copper catalyst supported on a refractory support (3) (for example silica or silicate granules) and a downstream zone (4) filled with a mixture of a similar supported copper catalyst and a platinum or palladium catalyst supported on a similar refractory support (5b). A mixture of methanol and oxygen is fed to the upstream zone and initially permeates through to the downstream zone where spontaneous oxidation of the methanol is initiated raising the temperature of the system to a level at which partial oxidation of methanol in the presence of the copper catalyst in the upstream zone (2) commences and produces hydrogen.

Abstract: In a calibration warning device for a thermocouple, the thermocouple is connected to input terminals (10) of an operational amplifier (12) provided with negative feedback. The output is applied to the base of a transistor (14) controlling the current supplied to a mercury coulometer (18). When the coulometer indicator reaches full-scale deflection, the thermocouple is due to be recalibrated. The invention utilizes the face that the drift curve of a thermocouple can be matched to a sufficiently high accuracy by a suitable choice of transistor characteristic and amplifier gain, as is explained in the specification.