Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved process for preparing modafinil wherein benzhydrylthioacetamide is prepared in high yield and purity by the reaction of a haloacetamide with the reaction product of thiourea and benzhydrol in aqueous solution. The reaction employing the haloacetamide is conducted in a solvent comprising water and an organic solvent such as dimethylformamide having dissolved therein a basic salt such as potassium carbonate. The resulting benzhydrylthioacetamide can be oxidized to provide the pharmaceutical modafinil.

Abstract: Conformationally restricted polyamine compounds useful in treatment of cancer and other diseases marked by abnormal cell proliferation are disclosed. Improved methods of synthesizing such compounds are also disclosed. In one method of the invention, a carbene-bearing or carbene equivalent-bearing compound is reacted with the double bond of an alkene compound to form a cyclopropyl ring as the first step in the synthesis.

Abstract: Cycloalkanone oxime is stabilized by a method comprising bringing the cycloalkanone oxime into contact with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of oxoacids, oxoacid salts, oxoacid esters, oxoacid amides and oxides of boron or phosphorus. In accordance with the invention, the thermal stability of cycloalkanone oxime can be improved.

Abstract: Compounds, compositions and methods treating arthritic disorders such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, and for treating other diseases associated with altered mitochondrial function, such as cancer, psoriasis, stroke, Alzheimer's Disease and diabetes. The compounds of this invention have the following structure (I): including stereoisomers, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1-5 are as defined herein. The methods of this invention are directed to administering to a warm-blooded animal in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of structure (I), typically in the form of a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: This application claims the benefit of German priority Application No. 10138140.9, filed on Aug. 9, 2001, and International Application No. PCT/EP02/08748, filed on Aug. 6, 2002. The invention relates to the production of amines by the reaction of aldehydes or ketones with ammonia or primary or secondary amines in the presence of a hydrogen-donor and the presence of homogeneous metal catalysts of the eighth sub-group under mild conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides pharmaceutical preparations and the uses thereof for preventing and/or treating seizures and other electroconvulsive disorders by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a therapeutic compound having the following formula (I): Embodiments include administering an effective amount of 4,4?-thiodianiline, 4,4?-diaminobenzophenone, 4,4?-methylenedianiline, 4,4?-diaminodiphenyl ether, or (3-aminophenyl)-(4-aminophenyl) amine, an analog, or a pharmaceutically accepted salt or complex thereof to a mammal in need of treatment or prevention of epilepsy, seizure, or other electroconvulsive disorder.

Abstract: A branched composition can be formed by reacting a reagent containing a saturated hydrocarbon moiety in the presence of (a) a catalyst capable of activating a carbon-hydrogen bond therein and (b) a branching reagent having a moiety that binds to the carbon atom in the carbon-hydrogen bond upon extraction of the hydrogen atom from that carbon-hydrogen bond. Suitable catalysts are those that comprise a transition metal cation possessing multiple oxidation states that is embedded in an anion that is a transition metal oxide possessing a higher oxidation state for the metal therein than the metal in the cation.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of primary amines of formula (I): where R3 represents an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aralkyl group, by reaction of a triazolium salt of formula (II): where R1 and R2 represent hydrogen or an alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group, R4 represents an alkyl or aralkyl group or a residue of an organic polymer functionalized by an alkylating group, and A? represents a halogen, alkylsulphonate, arylsulphonate, alkyl sulphate, hydrogensulphate, hemisulphate, perchlorate or hydroxide, with a hydride, in order to obtain an amine of formula (I), which is isolated, if desired, and intermediates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing optically active 2-amino-, 2-chloro-, 2-hydroxy- or 2-alkoxy-1-alcohols by catalytically hydrogenating appropriate optically active 2-amino-, 2-chloro-, 2-hydroxy- and 2-alkoxycarboxylic acids or their acid derivatives in the presence of catalysts comprising palladium and rhenium or platinum and rhenium.

Abstract: An O-substituted hydroxylamine having the following general formula: R1—CHX—O—NH2 wherein X is hydrogen or an alkyl; and R1 is an unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, thienyl, furanyl, pyrrolyl or —CR2?CR3R4; wherein R2, R3 and R4 are hydrogen, halogen or alkyl. The O-substituted hydroxylamine exhibits at least one property selected from the group consisting of: essentially free of hydroxylamine; essentially free of any solvent; a water content of between about 0% to 90% by weight; and a high strength (as measured by mole of the O-substituted hydroxylamine per gram of sample) of between about 0.5 to 3.3-fold as much as a 40% O-substituted hydroxylamine salt solution, by weight. The O-substituted hydroxylamine further comprising at least one additional property selected from the group consisting of: a purity of between about 98% to 100%, based on gas chromatographic area; and a purity drop of less than about 1.2% after 78 days at 40° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement in a process for preparing primary amines by hydrogenating nitriles. The improvement in the hydrogenation process is that a hydrogenation catalyst modified ex situ with preadsorbed alkali metal carbonate or hydrogencarbonate such as K2CO3 or KHCO3 is used.

Abstract: Substituted 4-aminocyclohexanols, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and to the use of substituted 4-aminocyclohexanols in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of various indications, especially pain as well as the treatment of these indications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a passivated hydrogenation catalyst that is embedded in a primary amine, a derivative thereof, and/or a nitrile, the process to make such catalysts, as well as the use of such catalysts in a hydrogenation process in which an amine or a derivative thereof is produced.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of separation by distillation of 6-aminocapronitrile (ACN) and hexamethylenediamine (HMD) from a mixture comprising ACN, HMD, tetrahydroazepine (THA), adiponitrile (ADN) and low boilers (LB). Also disclosed is a method for producing a distillate stream comprising HMD; a side draw stream comprising ACN, THA and low levels of dimers of ACN and HMD; and a tails stream comprising ACN, THA and substantially higher levels of dimers of ACN and HMD than found in the side draw stream. The side draw stream is particularly suitable for use in the production of caprolactam since the low levels of dimers of ACN and HMD do not greatly affect the catalyst life in the caprolactam production process. The tails stream can be further distilled to produce a tails distillate stream comprising ACN and THA, which can be recycled back to the first distillation column, further increasing recovery of ACN from the feed stream.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of sevoflurane which comprises (a) providing a liquid mixture of (CF3)2CHOCH2Cl, hydrogen fluoride, and an amine and (b) reacting the mixture, to form (CF3)2CHOCH2F.

Abstract: In a method of producing pyromellitic acid by liquid-phase oxidizing 2,4,5-trimethylbenzaldehyde in a water solvent with molecular oxygen, a recrystallization mother liquor separated in a recrystallization step is recycled to the oxidation step after a part of the water solvent is removed. With this method, the loss of pyromellitic acid and the oxidation catalyst can be minimized and the burden of discharging the waste water is reduced without lowering the efficiency of the liquid-phase oxidation reaction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fluorination reagents comprising 1-fluoro-1-aminoolefins and also processes for preparing fluorination reagents comprising 1-fluoro-1-aminoolefins.

Abstract: 4-aminobiphenyl derivative arylamine compounds are formed by providing an iodinated organic compound; substituting the iodinated organic compound at carboxylic acid groups thereof to provide ester protecting groups; conducting an Ullman condensation reaction to convert the product of step (ii) into an arylamine compound; and conducting a Suzuki coupling reaction to add an additional phenyl group to the arylamine compound in the 4-position relative to the nitrogen.

Abstract: Antimicrobial system which comprises a cationic surfactant, derived from the condensation of fatty acids and esterified dibasic amino acids, according to the following formula (I), where: X is Br, Cl or HSO4R1: is linear alkyl chain from an saturated fatty acid, or hydroxyacid from 8 to 14 atoms of carbon bonded to the ?-amino acid group through amidic bond. R2 is a linear or branched alkyl chain from 1 to 18 carbon atoms or aromatic. R3: is Formula (II), where n can be from 0 to 4, and at least one antimicrobial agent characterised for its enhanced activity.

Abstract: A nitrile-containing mixture, which includes a nitrile dissolved in a higher alcohol solvent, and hydrogen are fed to a reactor containing a catalyst. An amine is produced by hydrogenating the nitrile that is dissolved in the higher alcohol solvent. In a preferred embodiment, the reactor also contains a caustic solution. The preferred nitrile-containing mixture includes octadecaneditrile (ODDN) and hexanol to produce a preferred octadecanediamine (ODDA) through hydrogenation.