Abstract: A process for the preparation of oxiranes is disclosed in which a ketone of the formula ##STR1## wherein Y represents chlorine or phenyl, X represents oxygen or CH.sub.2 and Z represents hydrogen or halogen is reacted with trimethylsulphonium methyl sulphate formed by treating dimethyl sulphide with dimethyl sulphate. The process is carried out in the presence of potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide powder in an inert organic diluent at 0.degree. to 60.degree. C. The products are useful as intermediates for the formation of plant growth regulants and fungicides.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of lactones, having 4 or 5 carbon atoms in the ring by reacting a higher alkenol with a carbon monoxide containing gas in the presence of a catalytic system comprising(a) a palladium compound,(b) a bidentate phosphine, arsine and/or stibine, and(c) a protonic acid having a pK.sub.a <2.

Abstract: A process for producing an alkylene oxide or mixture of alkylene oxides by a reaction which comprises reacting an alkane or alkylaromatic compound mixture thereof with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of at least one molten nitrate salt catalyst.

Abstract: A novel class of pyrrolidin-2-one and piperidin-2-one compounds in which the nitrogen atom is bonded to an oxyphenyl radical haivng tertiary-alkyl and tri-methylsilyl substituents. The compounds posses anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, analgesic and anti-pyretic activity and they may be combined with excipients to provide formulations which are useful in treating arthritis and conditions associated with that disease.

Abstract: Process is disclosed for the selective epoxidation of olefins having no allylic hydrogens. Such olefins are contacted with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a silver catalyst and an organic halide under defined reaction conditions, thereby selectively producing epoxides in good yield.

Abstract: Novel HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors of formulae (I) and (II) are disclosed.

Abstract: A process is described for the production of substantially pure gamma-butyrolactone from a feed mixture containing a major amount of gamma-butyrolactone and a minor amount of diethyl succinate which comprises fractionally distilling the mixture in a fractionation zone in the presence of diethyl ethoxysuccinate and recovering from the fractionation zone an overhead vaporous product comprising gamma-butyrolactone which is substantially free from diethyl succinate and is liquid bottom product comprising diethyl ethoxysuccinate and diethyl succinate in admixture one with another. This procedure can be used to separate a gamma-butyrolactone rich fraction obtained by distillation in one or more stages of a crude reaction product obtained by hydrogenation of a C.sub.

Abstract: A process for the vapor phase oxidation of olefins in molten salt catalyst to produce alkylene oxides in increased molar selectivity and per-pass yields while reducing the molar selectivity of aldehyde by-products. The process involves the use of molten nitrate salt catalyst compositions which comprise lithium nitrate and which are heated and operated at a low temperature within the range of about 180.degree. C. up to about 250.degree. C., more preferably 200.degree. C. to 250.degree. C.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of cyanoalkyl lactams by the reaction of an unsaturated nitrile with a lactam, said cyanoalkyl lactam of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is H, or methyl, R.sub.1 is H, methyl or ethyl and n is a number ranging from 2-11 and wherein each of the methylene groups may carry a lower alkyl substituent as shown. The improvement comprises: reacting said lactam with an alpha-beta unsaturated nitrile having from 3-6 carbon atoms in the presence of a catalytic amount of a diazabicycloalkene of the formula ##STR2## wherein R, R.sub.1 and n have the above meaning. Typically, acrylonitrile is reacted with .epsilon.-caprolactam in the presence of diazabicycloundecene.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula (2) and isomeric and/or tautomeric forms thereof ##STR1## characterized in that R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen; alkyl; alkenyl; alkynyl; cycloalkyl; cycloalkenyl; substituted alkyl or substituted cycloalkyl wherein the alkyl or cycloalkyl group is substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkoxy, alkylthio, optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted heterocycle; optionally substituted phenyl; optionally substituted heterocycle, alkyl sulfonyl; optionally substituted benzene sulfonyl; an acyl group; and an inorganic or organic cation;R.sup.

Abstract: Novel 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors which are useful as antihypercholesterolemic agents and are represented by the following general structural formulae (I) and (II): ##STR1## and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds (II) in which Z is hydrogen are disclosed.

Abstract: Novel 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors which are useful as antihypercholesterolemic agents and are represented by the following general structural formulae (I) and (II): ##STR1## and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds (II) in which Z is hydrogen are disclosed.

Abstract: A process for preparing 5-substituted-3-furaldehydes which comprises reacting 3-furaldehyde with lithium morpholide, followed by sec-butyl lithium, followed by an electrophile.

Abstract: A series of tetrahydrofuran-containing, macrocyclic polyether compounds. The macrocycles have a 21-membered ring, incorporating six oxygen atoms, and they have a carboxy group (or a salt thereof) directed towards the interior of the ring. Administration of the compounds of the invention to ruminant animals (e.g. cattle and sheep) modifies their digestive fermentation processes such that the volatile fatty acids produced in the rumen contain a higher proportion of propionates rather than acetates, thereby increasing the efficiency of feed utilization in said ruminant animals. Additionally, the compounds of the invention show antibacterial activity in vitro against certain gram-positive microorganisms.

Abstract: Phenyl-substituted epoxides of the formula ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, phenyl, halogen, nitro, alkoxy, haloalkyl, phenoxy or phenylsulfonyl, are prepared by reducing a haloacetophenone to a halohydrin and reacting the halohydrin with an alkali metal hydroxide by a process in which the reduction with the alkali metal borohydride and the reaction are carried out in aqueous organic solution, or the cyclization of a halohydrin with an alkali metal hydroxide is carried out in an organic liquid.

Abstract: A process is described for the preparation of a compound of formula (1) ##STR1## or a salt thereof, which comprises reacting a compound of formula (2) ##STR2## (where A is a displaceable atom or group and R is a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-6 alkyl or C.sub.7-20 aralkyl protecting group) or a salt thereof, to replace the moiety A with a phenyl group, followed where necessary by removal of a C.sub.1-6 alkyl or C.sub.7-20 aralkyl protecting group and/or by salt formation. The replacement of A in formula (2) by a phenyl group may be effected with a compound PhX (3) wherein Ph represents a phenyl and X is an atom or group as defined for A in formula (2) or X is a metal atom or metal-containing group or a group SiR'.sub.3 (where R' is an alkyl or aryl group) provided that when A is --B(OH).sub.2 X can only represent a conventional leaving group.

Abstract: Certain acylated benzilic acid derivatives are useful for influencing therapeutically the tone of the urinary bladder in humans and animals. These derivatives are N-alkyl-4-piperidyl .alpha.,.alpha.-diphenyl-.alpha.-acyloxyacetates having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is H, CH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5 or C.sub.3 H.sub.7 ; R' is H, NH.sub.2, phenyl, carboxyphenyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, hydroxy(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, methoxy, ethoxy, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, amino (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl which can be substituted in the alkyl radical by one or more of a --NH.sub.2, --COOH or --SCH.sub.3 group, N-acetylamino (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, or a group having the formula--CH.dbd.CH--COOR" or --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --COOR"where n is an integer from 0 to 8, and R" is H, CH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5, C.sub.3 H.sub.7, or a pharmacologically acceptable cation; or a salt thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid.

Abstract: Antiparasitic milbemycin derivatives having at the C.25 position a substituted 2-propenyl group --C(CH.sub.3).dbd.CH--R.sup.2 wherein R.sup.2 is a C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group which may optionally contain an oxygen or sulphur atom as part of the chain, or a C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl group, or a 3 to 6 membered oxygen or sulphur containing heterocyclic ring which may optionally be substituted by one or more alkyl groups or halogen atoms; and process for their preparation.

Abstract: Certain amino-acid derivatives are disclosed as effective inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase and therefore useful in preventing the imbalance of this proteolytic enzyme in vivo. The compounds specifically are derivatives L-valine, L-norvaline, L-norleucine, and L-methionine methyl ester azolides succinimides or pyridones and sulfonate salts, and related compounds such as L-leucine and L-phenylalanine methyl ester derivatives. The compounds were found to be excellent inhibitors in that they embody both inhibitory and anti-oxidant or anti-inflammatory activity.

Abstract: Process for preparing taxol by the condensation of a (2R, 3S) acid of general formula (I) with a taxan derivative of general formula (II), followed by the removal of the groups R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 protecting the hydroxy groups.