Abstract: Apparatus for orienting elongate objects, for example capsules of medicament, comprises a passage for receiving an individual capsule in a preferred orientation, a container for holding a bulk supply of capsules, and a ramp surface which directs a capsule towards the passage when the device is positioned such that the passage extends vertically downwardly from the container. It has been found that by appropriate choice of ramp angle, passage diameter and container diameter there is a high probability that a single capsule will be loaded into the dispensing passage when the apparatus is inverted to place the dispensing passage below the bulk supply. The apparatus is particularly useful in a dry medicament dispensing apparatus comprising, in addition to the orienting apparatus, a chamber for receiving capsules from the dispensing passage, means for piercing the ends of the capsule, and a mouthpiece for drawing air through the capsule and to entrain the medicament.

Abstract: A new inhalation device, which during operation causes an aerosol to be formed inside a chamber such as a capsule (4) which occludes one end (3) of the inhalation tube (1), the capsule having holes at its extremities (7,8) which admit airflow. The airflow causes the powder contained inside the capsule to be surprisingly transported to the capsule extremity contrary to the direction of inhalation, that is towards the air entry holes in the capsule, and then to form an aerosol until all powder has been removed from the capsule or chamber through the tube (1), the during of inhalation being chiefly regulated by the size and proportion of the capsule holes. The tube (1) has air inlets downstream of the capsule to permit a balanced airflow that will transport the finely suspended powder into the lungs, maximizing the fraction of medicament deposited therein.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for the recovery of a noble metal from an inorganic and/or organic residue in the form of a tellurium/noble metal precipitate characterised by adding a solvent having a boiling point above 120.degree. C. to the residue, removing by distillation water and other residual solvents having boiling points below the boiling point of the added solvent, adding the tellurium or reducible tellurium compound, and then refluxing at atmospheric pressure before separating the tellurium/noble metal precipitate. The process of the present invention also allows the simultaneous recovery of the tertiary phosphine as its oxide from a residue containing a tertiary phosphine by the further stages of concentrating the mother-liquors remaining after separation of the tellurium/noble metal precipitate, recovering the added high boiling point solvent and isolating the tertiary phosphine in the form of its oxide by precipitation with water.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of .mu.-3-carbopentazane-N.sup.1, N.sup.4 :N.sup.2, N.sup.5 -bis-[bis(triphenylphosphine)rhodium (I)] dinitrate by the reaction of tris(triphenylphosphine)nitratorhodium (I) with hydrazine in degassed methanol under an inert atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention refers to the compounds (.mu.-hydrazine-N.sup.1 :N.sup.2)-bis[bis(triphenylphosphine)-chlororhodium (I)] and di(.mu.-hydrazine-N.sup.1 :N.sup.2)-bis[bis(triphenylphosphine)rhodium (I)] dichloride, which are homogenous hydrogenation catalysts and their application in the hydrogenation of the exocyclic methylene group of acid addition salts of 6-demethyl-6-deoxy-6-methylene-5-hydroxytetracycline (methacycline) to prepare .alpha.-6-deoxy-5-hydroxytetracycline (doxycycline).

Abstract: The present invention refers to complexes prepared by reacting rhodium trinitrate with a suitable hydrazine and a suitable tertiary phosphine, more specifically to the compounds di(.mu.-hydrazine-N.sup.1 :N.sup.2)-bis[bis(triphenylphosphine)rhodium (I)]dinitrate and .mu.-3-carbopentazane-N.sup.1, N.sup.4 :N.sup.2, N.sup.5 -bis[bis(triphenylphosphine)rhodium (I)]dinitrate, which are homogenous hydrogenation catalysts and their application in the hydrogenation of the exocyclic methylene group of acid addition salts of 6-demethyl-6-deoxy-6-methylene-5-hydroxytetracycline (methacycline) to prepare .alpha.-6-deoxy-5-hydroxy-tetracycline (doxycycline).

Abstract: The present invention refers to the compounds (.mu.-hydrazine-N.sup.1 :N.sup.2)-bis[bis(triphenylphosphine)-chlororhodium (I)] and di(.mu.-hydrazine-N.sup.1 :N.sup.2)-bis[bis(triphenylphosphine)rhodium (I)] dichloride, which are homogenous hydrogenation catalysts and their application in the hydrogenation of the exocyclic methylene group of acid addition salts of 6-demethyl-6-deoxy-6-methylene-5-hydroxytetracycline (methacycline) to prepare .alpha.-6-deoxy-5-hydroxytetracycline (doxycycline).

Abstract: The present invention refers to complexes prepared by reacting rhodium trinitrate with a suitable hydrazine and a suitable tertiary phosphine, more specifically to the compounds di(.mu.-hydrazine-N.sup.1 :N.sup.2)-bis[bis(triphenylphosphine)rhodium (I)]dinitrate and .mu.-3-carbopentazane-N.sup.1,N.sup.4 :N.sup.2,N.sup.5 -bis[bis(triphenylphosphine)rhodium (I)]dinitrate, which are homogeneous hydrogenation catalysts and their application in the hydrogenation of the exocyclic methylene group of acid addition salts of 6-demethyl-6-deoxy-6-methylene-5-hydroxytetracycline (methacycline) to prepare .alpha.-6-deoxy-5-hydroxy-tetracycline (doxycycline).

Abstract: A homogeneous stereospecific rhodium complex hydrogenation catalyst is prepared using a degassed organic solvent and eventually water.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of corticosteriod esters of the formula ##STR1## in which ---- signifies that a double bond can be present;X is hydrogen, chlorine or fluorine;R.sub.1 is hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or methyl, which may be either .alpha. or .beta.;R.sub.2 is halogen, oxo or hydroxyl;or R.sub.3 is hydrogen, .alpha.-methyl or .beta.-methyl;or R.sub.2 and X jointly form an epoxide group;R.sub.4 is an acyl group of the formula RCO, in which R is one of the following(i) an alkyl group containing 1 to 16 carbon atoms, whether straight-chained, branched or cyclic;(ii) an aralkyl group of 7 to 8 carbon atoms;(iii) a phenyl group;R.sub.5 is hydroxyl or R.sub.6 ; whereR.sub.6 is hydrogen, one or two halogen atom substituents or OR.sub.7, where R.sub.

Abstract: Stable homogeneous hydrogenation catalysts are prepared by reacting a rhodium salt or complex with a hydrazine in the presence or absence of a tertiary phosphine.

Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of .alpha.-6-deoxytetracyclines and more particularly to the stereo specific hydrogenation of the 6-methylene group of 6-deoxy-6-demethyl-6-methylene-5-hydroxytetracyline and of its 11a-halo-analog, is described in which the catalyst is the reaction product of a rhodium salt or a complex with a hydrazine or salt thereof.

Abstract: The 17.alpha.-monoesters and 17.alpha.,21-diesters of corticosteriods are well known and represent nowadays the most efficient group of anti-inflammatory compounds for topical application, having minimal systemic action.

Abstract: New 16-methyl-9.alpha.-halo corticosteroid esters and ethers having high topical anti-inflammatory potency and low systemic activity and the manner in which they can be produced are described.

Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of .alpha.-6-deoxytetracyclines and more particularly to the stereo specific hydrogenation of the 6-methylene group of 6-deoxy-6-demethyl-6-methylene-5-hydroxytetracyline and of its 11.alpha.-halo-analog, is described in which the catalyst is the reaction product of a rhodium salt or a complex with a hydrazine or salt thereof.