Abstract: An indigo compound is prepared by reacting an indole compound unsubstituted at the 2- and 3-positions with an organic hydroperoxide, preferably in the presence of a metallic compound catalyst capable of catalyzing the oxidation of the carton atom at the 3-position of the indole compound, such as a compound of a metal of group 4A, 5A or 6A of the periodic table.

Abstract: Disclosed are herbicidally active pyrimidine derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an etherifying group, e.g., a lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, phenyl-substituted lower alkenyl, lower haloalkenyl, cycloalkyl, substituted phenyl-substituted lower alkenyl or phenyl-substituted lower alkynyl group; or a group represented by the following formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, X a halogen atom or a lower alkyl or lower alkoxyl group, m and n individually 0-2, and when m is 2, both Xs may be the same or different, and herbicidal compositions containing the same, alone or in combination with another herbicidally active compound, the pyrimidine derivatives being prepared by reaction of 2-(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyloxy)benzaldehyde with NH.sub.2 OR or with a salt of hydroxylamine followed by reaction with a halide of the formula RY wherein R has the same value as above and Y is Cl, Br or I.

Abstract: In order to recover methacrolein and/or methacrylic acid by quenching a reaction product gas obtained by catalytic oxidation of isobutylene or the like, the reaction product gas is charged into a quench column through a double-wall pipe and is then brought into contact with a condensate as a cooling medium. Deposition of terephthalic acid and the like inside the column is prevented by controlling the temperature of a bottom in the quench column and that of an overhead gas of a quench column unit. An aromatic carboxylic acid, aromatic aldehyde, metal powder is added to an aqueous solution of methacrylic acid, which contains terephthalic acid and the like, so that the terephthalic acid and the like are caused to precipitate for their removal.

Abstract: Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) species having a molecular weight of about 70,000 daltons is isolated in a purified form from a crude tPA preparation containing various tPA species having different molecular weights by bringing the crude tPA preparation into contact with a cation exchanger in advance and separating the desired tPA species selectively from the cation exchanger by means of the salt gradient elution method.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of regressive disorders of the central nervous system treatable by inducing the production and secretion of nerve growth factor, containing as an active ingredient a catechol derivative of the formula ##STR1## where R.sub.6 is a lower alkyl group having 2 to 5 carbon atoms. The catechol derivatives provide preventative and remedial effects for regressive disorders in the central nervous system including senile dementia of the alzheimer type.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an N-substituted unsaturated carboxylic acid amide represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 means a hydrogen atom or methyl group Y denotes a methylene group, oxygen atom or methylimino group, m and n stand individually for an integer of 0 to 5, and m+n is an integer of 3 to 5. The process comprises reacting a specified .beta.-alkoxy-substituted carboxylate with a specified cyclic amine to form a .beta.-alkoxy-substituted carboxylic acid amide compound and then removing an alcohol from the carboxylic acid amide compound in the presence of a basic catalyst to form an unsaturated group.

Abstract: The distinction of tissue plasminogen activator, especially, the separation of its single-chain species and double-chain species is effected by using the Erythrina trypsin inhibitor which occurs in seeds of a plant of the Erythrina species.

Abstract: A method for preparing a perforated film, for use in the field of sanitary, food packaging and industrial materials, by thermally embossing an oriented polyolefin film with an embossing roll having a large number of protruding knobs and a pinch roll which presses the film against the knobs, and simultaneously taking up the resultant film at a rate not less than the processing speed of the embossing roll.

Abstract: Disclosed in a fine-particle aggregate emulsion comprising aggregate particles formed from a copolymer (a) composed of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and a vinyl monomer copolymerizable therewith, and a foreign polymer (b) formed by polymerization of a vinyl monomer differing in composition from that used in copolymer (a), foreign polymer (b) being present in the form of particles having a diameter of 0.05 to 0.05 .mu., the aggregate particles having a diameter of 0.2 to 3.0 .mu..This fine-particle aggregate emulsion is useful in paints, paper coating and information recording paper.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical recording medium characterized by high sensitivity, high stability, etc, and a process for making the optical recording medium. Specifically, the present invention provides an optical recording medium composed of a transparent substrate having prepits and/or pregrooves for system control signals and first and second recording layers formed thereon in order, the both layers having individually a specific reflectance, transmittance and absorbance. To the optical recording medium, a laser beam is irradiated on the transparent substrate side to record or read out information and, by detecting the variation of the amount of light as a sum of the reflected light from the boundary between the first recording layer and the substrate and the reflected light from the boundary between the second recording layer and the air, the system control signals are primarily obtained from the prepits and/or pregrooves.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing an indigo compound in improved yield by reacting indole or other indole compound having no substituent at the 2- and 3-positions with an organic hydroperoxide in the presence of an additive selected from the group consisting of (1) a carboxyl compound and (2) a boric acid ester compound. The yield of the indigo compound can further be increased by using a metallic compound catalyst capable of oxidizing carbon atom at the 3-position of the indole compound, such as a compound of a metal of group 4A, 5A or 6A of the periodic table.

Abstract: Phthalocyanine compounds are described, which are represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.8 are individually a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or aryl group, a-h stand individually for an integer of 1-20, and M denotes two hydrogen atoms or a metal atom, metal halide, metal oxide, metal hydroxide, dialkylmetal, diarylmetal, bis(alkyloxy)metal or bis(trialkylsilyloxy)metal. Optical recording media and liquid crystal display panels, which contain at least one of the phthalocyanine compounds, are also described.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for the prevention of oxidation of resulting methacrolein immediately after its discharge from a reaction tube upon production of the methacrolein by vapor-phase oxidation of isobutylene, tertiary butanol or methallyl alcohol with a molecular-oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst. An inert gas and/or recirculated reaction gas or a mixed gas of an inert gas and/or recirculated reaction gas and air is fed and mixed with a reaction product gas immediately after an outlet of the reaction tube.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of highly pure lactide, especially having a sufficiently high purity to be usable as a raw material for the synthesis of polymers, by heating a 2-halopropionate in a non-aqueous solvent.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an indigo compound by reacting an indole compound having no substituent at the 2- and 3-positions with hydrogen peroxide in a liquid phase composed of at least two separate phases including an organic phase containing the indole compound and an aqueous phase containing hydrogen peroxide, or by reacting the indole compound with hydrogen peroxide in solution in an organic solvent.

Abstract: There are here provided a novel tetraphenylthiophene derivative represented by the general formula ##STR1## wherein AM is a tertiary amino group, each of l, m and n is the integer 0 or 1 and l.gtoreq.m.gtoreq.n are useful as the charge-transporting material in an electrophotographic photoreceptor having an electrically conductive base and a photosensitive layer thereon containing a charge-transporting material and a charge-generating material, which preferably is an azo compound.

Abstract: Electrophotographic toner is provided which contains 30-80% by weight of a polymer per total weight of a resin included in the toner, said polymer is obtained by continuously feeding a vinyl monomer, a polymerization initiator and a solvent into a system of 190.degree.-230.degree. C. to conduct polymerization under a liquid state, and said polymer is a vinyl polymer having a number average molecular weight of 1,000-5,000 and a glass transition temperature of 40.degree.75.degree. C. The preparation method of the electrophotographic toner is also provided. The toner is excellent in the fixing ability at high duplication speed and lower temperatures.

Abstract: .alpha.-L-Aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester having low hygroscopicity is prepared by bringing a cake of .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester, which cake has been obtained by solid-liquid separation through a desired preparation process of .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester, into contact with an organic solvent of uniform phase so as to treat the cake with the organic solvent, subjecting the resulting mixture of the cake and organic solvent to solid-liquid separation to obtain a cake, and then drying the last-mentioned cake at a temperature not higher than 60.degree. C. The organic solvent is dry or contains water in an amount up to 30 wt.%.

Abstract: A novel plasminogen activator having specific properties. The plasminogen activator can be prepared by subjecting a human kidney or human blood vessel to an extraction treatment with an ammonium thiocyanate solution and then allowing the resultant extract to pass through a column of ion exchanger, a metal chelate column, a column of L-arginine or an arginine derivative supported on a carrier, or a column of a carrier having properties as a molecular sieve to purify the same. The plasminogen activator exhibits a strong thrombolytic activity and is useful as an active ingredient of a thrombolytic composition accompanied with a minimum of side effects.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an agent for absorbing and releasing water vapor, which comprises a homopolymer of at least one monomer selected from specific N-alkyl- or N-alkylene-substituted acrylamides and methacrylamides, a copolymer of two or more of the acrylamides and methacrylamides, a copolymer of said at least one monomer with one or more monomers other than the acrylamides and methacrylamides and copolymerizable therewith, or a water-insolubilized product of the homopolymer or either one of the copolymers. The above agent has broad utility for humidity control of gases, humidity control in green houses and prevention of fogging on surfaces of transparent materials, as humidity sensors and dew sensors, etc.