Abstract: Perfluoropolyethers containing high concentrations of difluoromethylene oxide units in the polymer chain are disclosed.

Abstract: Nitrogen is economically recovered from the flue gas evolved in a hydrocarbon steam reforming furnace by hydrogenation of free oxygen therein and removal of carbon dioxide and other minor impurities from the flue gas by pressure swing adsorption with recovery of high purity nitrogen is unsorbed effluent. The process is utilized to highest advantage in the production of ammonia syngas wherein natural gas or other hydrocarbon feed is subjected to steam reforming in a fuel-fired furnace. The nitrogen obtained by purification of the flue gas is combined with the purified hydrogen separated from the reformate providing the syngas for conversion to ammonia. In a preferred embodiment, the steam reforming is carried out in two stages, the first stage being performed in a conventional fuel-fired steam reforming furnace to which a major portion of the fresh hydrocarbon feed is charged.

Abstract: Arylacetaldehyde-dialkylacetals are prepared with high yields and selectivity from the corresponding chloromethylaromatics in the presence of hydrogen chloride acceptors and methyl carbonyl compounds as catalysts and in the presence of orthoesters as water-binding agents by hydroformylation with carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

Abstract: Alumina is used as a support for the CuCl2 catalyst and as a diluent in the oxychlorination of ethylene. When a low surface area alumina, e.g. high purity alpha-alumina, is used as diluent for the reaction, reduced oxidation and less chlorinated by-products are achieved. Alternatively, the alumina used as the catalyst support, e.g. a gamma-alumina which has a high surface area and higher amounts of impurities, can be used as diluent if it is impregnated with an alkali metal ion, e.g K+ ion, which is usually employed as a salt.

Abstract: Low value feed hydrocarbons are converted to high octane value tertiary ethers using a multiple riser fluidized solids catalytic reactor wherein in a first riser the hydrocarbon feed is converted to iso and linear C.sub.4 and C.sub.5 olefins, the iso-olefins are etherified, the linear C.sub.4 and C.sub.5 olefins are isomerized to iso C.sub.4 and C.sub.5 olefins in a second riser of the fluidized solids reactor, iso C.sub.4 and C.sub.5 olefins from the second riser are also etherified to high octane value tertiary ethers, and catalyst from both risers is regenerated in a common regeneration zone.

Abstract: 17.beta.-acyl-3-carboxy-androsta-3,5-dienes as testosterone 5.alpha.-reductase inhibitors of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl, which can be substituted with C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy or C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, which can be substituted with one or more of: --OH, --OC.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, --(CH.sub.2).sub.m OH, --(CH.sub.2).sub.n COOH, including protected --OH, where m is 1-4, n is 1-3, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof. Also described is a pharmaceutical formulation. The above compounds are active as testosterone 5.alpha.-reductase inhibitors and thus are useful topically for treatment of acne, seborrhea, female hirsutism, and systemically in treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Abstract: The preparation of an alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl chloride by the reaction of a corresponding alcohol with phosgene or thionyl chloride in the presence of a phosphine oxide acting as catalyst, wherein the catalyst used is an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or cyclic/aliphatic phosphine oxide.

Abstract: Ethers suitable for use as high octane oxygenate additives for motor fuels are produced in increased yields by a catalytic distillation process wherein a mixture of C.sub.5 -plus isoolefin isomers and an alcohol are charged to a catalytic distillation zone containing both etherification and double bond isomerization catalysts. Otherwise unreactive isomers are isomerized to reactive species within the zone to allow them to participate in the etherification reaction, resulting in a higher ether yield.

Abstract: An improvement is proposed in the method for the preparation of methyl chloride from carbon tetrachloride and methyl alcohol by the reaction including the partial reactions of, first, the hydrolysis reaction of carbon tetrachloride with water to form hydrogen chloride and carbon dioxide and, second, the reaction of methyl alcohol with hydrogen chloride, each in the presence of a solid catalyst of zinc chloride supported on active carbon. The uncontrollable temperature increase when these reactions are performed on a single catalyst bed can be avoided by conducting the first partial reaction in a first reaction zone with a feed of carbon tetrachloride and water alone and the second partial reaction is conducted in a separate second reaction zone into which the gaseous mixture from the first zone and methyl alcohol are introduced.

Abstract: Novel phenanthrene derivatives represented by the general formula (1), ##STR1## wherein the group of the formula ##STR2## is a group of the formula ##STR3## (wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group), a group of the formula ##STR4## (wherein R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkanoyl group) or a group of the formula ##STR5## (wherein R.sup.2 is the same as defined above), and salts thereof, and other compounds derived therefrom and salts thereof; processes for preparing the same; and interleukin-1 (IL-1) inhibitors containing the abovementioned novel phenanthrene derivatives as to the active ingredient(s).

Abstract: An aminosterol antibiotic, (3.beta.(N-[3-aminopropyl]-1,4-butanediamine)-7.alpha.,24.zeta.-dihydroxy- 5.alpha.-cholestane 24-sulfate), which can be isolated from the stomach of the common dogfish shark, Squalus acanthias, is disclosed.

Abstract: Catalytic partial oxidation process for converting natural gas to synthesis gas in which the process operates at high temperature T>1000.degree. C. with entrained catalyst. Fine catalyst particles are transferred by means of a gas stream to a burner device which effects a rapid and intensive mixing of this gas stream with the reactants, e.g., natural gas, oxygen and steam. The catalyst entrained by the product gas stream is separated from this stream and recycled to the reactor.

Abstract: New copper-potassium promoted iron-zinc catalysts wherein the iron:zinc atomic ratio is 5:1 or greater, exhibit improved activity, selectivity and stability in the synthesis of alpha-olefins from hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A novel process is disclosed for the synthesis of fluorinated dimethyl ethers of the formula CF.sub.2 HOCCl.sub.X F.sub.Y H.sub.3-(X+Y) wherein X and Y are each independently 0, 1, 2 or 3 and wherein the total X+Y is 2 or 3. The process involves chlorination of methyl difluoromethyl ether to form a chlorinated reaction product, including at least one compound of the formula CF.sub.2 HOCH.sub.3-z Cl.sub.z, wherein z is 1, 2 or 3, which compound is then fluorinated, with or without separation from the chlorinated reaction product, to give a fluorinated reaction product including the aforementioned fluorinated dimethyl ethers.

Abstract: Cyclobutanols of the formula ##STR1## wherein P is a hydroxy protecting group are useful intermediates in the preparation of antiviral compounds.

Abstract: Described are new agents for treating bone disorders associated with a reduction in bone mass and abnormalities in bone resportion or bone formation including osteoporosis. Paget's disease, bone metastases and malignant hypercalcemia. The agents are hydroxyl containing steroidal hormones, having bone resportion antagonist or bone formation stimulatory activity, covalently linked through the hydroxyl group via a bond hydrolyzable in the human body, e.g. carbamate or carbonate, which is further covalently linked to an amino, or hydroxy substituted alkylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate, through the respective amino or hydroxy group. The alkyl bisphosphonate moiety confers bone affinity. The agent acts by delivering the steroidal hormone directly to the bone target site where it is released for bone resorption antagonist or bone formation stimulatory action by hydrolysis of the hydrolyzable covalent bond.

Abstract: New polyethers based on tetrahydrofuran, with good lubricant properties. The invention concerns polyethers produced by copolymerizing tetrahydrofuran and glycidyl ether in the presence of alkanols. The new polyethers are useful as lubricants.

Abstract: A process for reducing the molecular weight of polytetramethylene ether glycol without significant conversion of polytetramethylene ether glycol to tetrahydrofuran monomer is disclosed. The process involves a two-step procedure. The first step comprises reacting polytetramethylene ether glycol with a perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid to form a perfluoroalkyl ester of polytetramethylene ether glycol. That ester is, in the second step, converted back to polytetramethylene ether glycol of reduced molecular weight by hydrolysis or alcoholysis.

Abstract: Methanol is produced from synthesis gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide in a two-stage liquid phase reactor system. Each reactor is operated in an optimum temperature range to maximize methanol productivity, and once-through product conversion of up to 9.1 moles methanol per 100 moles of synthesis gas can be achieved with reasonable catalyst utilization. Overall catalyst utilization is increased by countercurrent catalyst transfer. In an alternate mode of operation, the liquid phase reactor system is integrated with a coal gasification combined cycle (CGCC) power generation process wherein the unreacted synthesis gas is used as fuel in a gas turbine-driven electric power generator. Operation of each liquid phase reactor in the optimum temperature range maximizes the available heat of reaction which is recovered as steam; the steam is utilized in the gas turbine combustor or the CGCC steam turbine.