Abstract: Process for preparing N-phosphono-methyl-iminodiacetic acid by means of phosphonomethylation of iminodiacetic acid performed by reacting an aqueous solution of phosphoric acid and hydrochloric acid, obtained by hydrolysis of phosphorous trichloride, with iminodiacetic acid and formaldehyde, in which phosphorous trichloride is hydrolysed in step (a) with water or an aqueous solution or hydrochloric acid, the reaction temperature and amount of water are regulated such that an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid and phosphoric acid in a molar ratio of 0.5:1 to 2:1 is formed, and gaseous hydrochloric acid is caused to develop from the reaction medium. The phosphonomethylation reaction is performed in the solution obtained in step (a) in the presence of iminodiacetic acid in a molar ratio of iminodiacetic acid to phosphoric acid between 1:1 and 1:1.2 with the addition of formaldehyde. The N-phosphono-methyl-iminodiacetic acid is then recovered from the reaction medium.

Abstract: Novel siloxane derivatives represented by general formula (1): ##STR1## A method for producing the siloxane derivatives and agents such as cosmetic preparations, emulsifying dermatotherapeutic external agents and the like including at least one of the siloxane derivatives are also disclosed.

Abstract: D(+)-threo-2-hydroxy-3-(2-aminophenylthio)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propionic acid, an important intermediate in the synthesis of diltiazem hydrochloride, is obtained in better yields and high optical purity by a novel resolution process comprising the reaction of 2 moles of the (.+-.) racemic acid with 1 mole of quinine and 1 mole of a base in a suitable polar solvent system to form a salt of the D(+) acid and quinine which precipitates; separating said salt and decomposing it with a strong base.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing esters without the aid of a conventional acid catalyst. A mixture of a monohydric aliphatic alcohol and a lower carboxylic acid is provided in a reaction vessel equipped with a fractionating column connected to a condenser and a collecting vessel. Heating means and a device for passing small bubbles of gas through the reactants are included. The alcohol/carboxylic acid mixture is maintained at a temperature of at least about the boiling point of the alcohol, but below about the boiling point of the carboxylic acid, and a gas inert to the esterification reaction is bubbled through the mixture to remove the esterification product therein formed. The removed vapors are collected and condensed, and the esterification product is recovered in high conversion and purity.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing esters of an alcohol and a carboxylic acid employing sulfuric acid in an amount effective to both catalyze the reaction and to remove or immobilize the water of reaction whereby an ester is provided in increased yield and purity. Esters of long chain acids are useful for the preparation of diketones which find utility as metal extractants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyester-fiber-treatment agent that can impart smoothness and flexibility to polyester fiber at the same time that it also equips the polyester fiber with nonflammability. The treatment agent for the polyester fiber is based on an organosilicon compound that contains an organic group comprising a bromine-containing organic group bonded to silicon via carbon where the organosilicon compound has a bromine content of at least 5 weight percent.

Abstract: A process for preparing 1.alpha.,25(R),26-trihydroxy-22E-ene-cholecalciferol and 1.alpha.,25(S),26-trihydroxy-22E-ene-cholecalciferol.

Abstract: Tertiary amides useful as low-foam wetting agents in the textile industry have the formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is straight-chain or branched C.sub.5 -C.sub.17 -alkyl or -alkenyl,R.sup.2 is straight-chain or branched C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkyl,R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently of the others hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, andn is from 3 to 15.

Abstract: A process for purification of adipic acid during crystallization by modifying the crystal morphology to decrease incorporation of impurities through the introduction of an effective amount of an additive to the crystallizing solution.

Abstract: Quaternized esters having fabric-softening and hydrophilicizing properties are obtained by reaction of unsaturated fatty acids containing at least 40 mol-% transconfigured double bonds or esters thereof with alkanolamines and subsequent quaternization of the reaction products with alkylating agents.

Abstract: Preparation of cyclohexanediones of the formula ##STR1## are disclosed. An aldehyde of the formula R--CHO is reacted with a ketene type compound of the formula (R.sub.1) (R.sub.2) C.dbd.C.dbd.O to give a polymer: ##STR2## wherein n ranges from about 2 to about 1,000. The polymer is hydrolyzed to produce a mixture of an unsaturated acid of the formula R--CH.dbd.C(R.sub.1)--COOH and a hydroxy ester or acid of the formula R--CH(OH)C(R.sub.1) (R.sub.2)--COOR.sub.3, the acids in the mixture are converted for esters. The hydroxy ester of the ester mixture is converted to unsaturated ester of the formula R--CH.dbd.C(R.sub.1)--COOR.sub.3. The unsaturated ester is contacted with a basic catalyst to cyclize it to the cyclic dione ester of the formula ##STR3## and this ester is then hydrolyzed and decarboxylated to give the product ##STR4## wherein: R is selected, e.g.

Abstract: A process for preparing formic acid by thermal cleavage of quaternary ammonium formates of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are C.sub.1 - to C.sub.14 -alkyl, C.sub.3 - to C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, aryl or C.sub.7 - to C.sub.16 -aralkyl, or together are 1,4- or 1,5-alkylene which is unsubstituted or substituted one to four times by C.sub.1 -to C.sub.4 -alkyl, with the proviso that the sum of the carbon atoms of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 in the quaternary ammonium formates I is 7 to 40,comprises carrying out the cleavage in the presence of secondary formamides of the general formula II ##STR2## where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are C.sub.2 - to C.sub.10 -alkyl, C.sub.3 - to C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, aryl or C.sub.7 - to C.sub.16 -aralkyl, or together are 1,4- or 1,5-alkylene which is unsubstituted or substituted one to four times by C.sub.1 - to C.sub.4 -alkyl,which formamides boil 30.degree. to 150.degree. C. lower than the tertiary amine of the general formula III ##STR3## where R.sup.1, R.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the catalytic oxidation of hydrocarbons with molecular oxygen using a cobalt-containing molecular sieve material having the cobalt ions substantially incorporated in the crystal lattice of the molecular sieve. Preferably, the oxidation is carried out with a molecular sieve containing from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of cobalt and wherein the cobalt ions are substantially trivalent when the reaction starts. Preferably, the catalyst is a cobalt containing phosphate based molecular sieve material of the structure type 5, 31, 36, 37, 40, 50 and mixtures thereof and the hydrocarbons oxidized are from the group consisting of straight chain alkanes, alkenes, cycloalkanes and cycloalkenes which contain from about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of alkali metal salts of ether-carboxylic acids by oxidation of etheralcohols in an aqueous phase with oxygen or gases containing oxygen at elevated temperatures in the presence of alkali metal hydroxides and noble metal catalysts, in which an aqueous solution, containing an alkali metal hydroxide solution, of the ether-alcohols is brought into contact in a thin layer on a solid carrier or in the form of fine particles with oxygen or the gases containing oxygen as a continuous phase, the concentration of the ether-alcohols in the aqueous phase being in the range from 0.1 to 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous phase, enables aqueous solutions of the alkali metal salts of the ether-carboxylic acids in high concentrations to be prepared.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of 6-trans-leukotriene B.sub.4 (LTB.sub.4) of formula ##STR1## in which a butadienediol is prepared; the hydroxyl groups are esterified to produce a diester and this diester is subjected to a stereospecific reductive elimination using low valency titanium [Ti(0)] to produce a 6-trans triether of formula: ##STR2## the groups --OA in positions 5 and 12 of which are then converted to --OH groups and the group --CH.sub.2 OA in position of which is then converted to a --COOH group, to produce 6-trans-LTB.sub.4.The invention also relates to intermediates obtained in the said manufacturing process.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed to prepare an amino carboxylic acid salt. According to the process, an aqueous solution of an amino alcohol is contacted with an alkali metal hydroxide in the presence of an effective amount of a Raney copper catalyst that has from about 50 parts per million to about 10,000 parts per million of an element selected from the group consisting of chromium, titanium, niobium, tantalum, zirconium, vanadium, molybdenum, manganese, tungsten, cobalt, nickel and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method for ozonizing an unsaturated fatty acid or a lower alkyl ester thereof is provided as comprising the steps of: supplying an unsaturated fatty acid or a lower alkyl ester thereof as a thin film stream, and passing a gas containing ozone in oxygen or a mixture of oxygen and air or inert gas in the same direction as the flow direction of said thin film stream, thereby achieving gas-liquid contact between the thin film stream of unsaturated fatty acid or lower alkyl ester thereof and the ozone-containing gas. Also provided is a method for oxidative decomposition of the thus ozonized product by contact with ozone-free oxygen gas or air.

Abstract: A process for producing (R)-2-hydroxy-6-haloalkane is disclosed. In the first step, a cyclic alkanol is photohalogenated. In the second step, the photohalogenation product is reacted with a chiral catalyst and dialkyl zinc to produce (R)-2-hydroxy-6-haloalkane.

Abstract: A process for the catalyzed ethoxylation or propoxylation of compounds selected from the group consisting of organic compounds containing active H atoms, esters of fatty acids containing 2 to 22 carbon atoms with monoalkanols containing 1-22 carbon atoms with polyols containing 2 to 12 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups, wherein the improvement comprises the use as catalyst for the ethoxylation or propoxylation of hydrophobicized hydrotalcites corresponding to the general formula I:Mg.sub.x Al(OH).sub.y (CO.sub.3).sub.m (A).sub.n.zH.sub.2 O (I),in which A is selected from the group consisting of (i) a dianion of an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid containing 4 to 44 carbon atoms and (ii) two anions of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids containing 2 to 34 carbon atoms; 1<x<5; y.ltoreq.2x+2; {y+2(m+n)}=2x+3; m+n.ltoreq.0.5; m.gtoreq.0; and 0<z<10.

Abstract: Six carbon diacids or lactones or 5 carbon lactones or 6 carbon diacid anhydrides or branched mono-olefinic five carbon acids are converted (isomerized) to adipic acid or pentenoic acids by reacting them is the presence of carbon monoxide and a iodide promoted iridium catalyst.