Abstract: An inexpensive method for producing trimethylhydroquinone free from the problem of the disposal of waste catalyst, which method comprises the steps of: (1) reacting isophorone in the presence of an acid catalyst and recovering &bgr;-isophorone by distiiulation, (2) oxidizing the &bgr;-isophorone in the presence of amorphous carbon and a base to obtain 4-oxoisophorone, (3) reacting the 4-oxoisophorone with an acid anhydride in a liquid phase or with a carboxylic acid in a vapor phase in the presence of a solid acid catalyst to obtain trimethylhydroquinones, and (4) hydrolyzing the trimethylhydroquinones to obtaining trimethylhydroquinone.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing color byproducts and residues from a colored ditertiarydodecyldisulfide (DTDDDS) stream. Particularly, a process is provided for removing the color byproducts and residues from the colored DTDDDS stream with ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) to produce a DTDDDS product.

Abstract: Oxime compounds of formula (1) wherein R1, R2, and R3 are independently halogen, C1-C3 alkyl, C1-C3 haloalalkyl, C1-C3 alkoxy, C1-C3 haloalkoxy, nitro, or cyano; R4 is 3,3-dihalogeno-2-propenyl; a is an integer of 0 to 2; Y is oxygen, sulfur, or NH; Z is oxygen, sulfur, or NR5 wherein R5 is hydrogen, acetyl, or C1-C3 alkyl; and X is of formula (2) insecticidal/acaricidal agents containing them as active ingredients; and intermediates for their production.

Abstract: A process for the stereoselective preparation of Grignard compounds of the formula I and polymer-bonded compounds of the formula Ia is described. The process can be used for producing substance reference libraries and the compounds of the formulae I and Ia can be used in stereoselective chemical synthesis.

Abstract: Compounds of Formula I are disclosed as inhibitors having activity against the aspartyl proteases, plasmepsin and cathepsin D. The compounds are therefore useful for treatment of diseases such as malaria and Alzheimer's disease. In preferred compounds of Formula I, Y is an dialkoxyphosphonate, or &agr;-hydroxyamide group and Z is an acyl or &agr;-ketocarbamate functionality. Intermediates in the solid phase synthesis of compounds of Formula I, in which compounds are attached to a solid support, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Phosphonium salts are prepared by reacting an alkanol with triarylphosphine and sulfonic acids in a solvent.

Abstract: A piperazine compound represented by formula (1): wherein X is —CH2—, —C(O)— or —CH(CH3)—; R1 is a hydrogen atom or alkyl group; and R2 is a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, hydroxyalkyl group, arylalkyl group, heteroarylalkyl group, carboxyalkyl group, carboxamidoalkyl group, aminoalkyl group or guanidinoalkyl group; an acid-addition salt thereof, or a hydrate thereof. The compound has excellent inhibitory effects on both cell adhesion and cell infiltration and is useful for prevention or treatment of diseases such as allergy, asthma, rheumatism, arteriosclerosis and inflammation.

Abstract: A process for preparing phosphonium salts of the general formula I in which the substituents have the following meanings, independently of one another: R aryl; X anion of an organic or inorganic acid selected from the group consisting of hydrohalic acids, sulfuric acid, sulfonic acids, phosphoric acid and C1-C6-alkanoic acids, by reacting 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-1,4,6,10-tetraen-3-ol of the formula II with triarylphosphane and organic or inorganic acids selected from the abovementioned group, wherein in a two-stage process a) initially a tertiary phosphonium salt of the formula III  in which the radicals R and X have the abovementioned meanings, is prepared at temperatures in the range from −20 to 40° C., and b) the tertiary phosphonium salt of the formula III which is formed is rearranged to the primary phosphonium salt of the formula I at temperatures in the range from 40 to 100° C.

Abstract: Dimethyl sulfite is prepared by transesterification of a cyclic alkylene sulfite of at least 2 carbon atoms with methanol, in the presence or absence of a catalyst, by a process which is carried out continuously in a column.

Abstract: Indane dimer compounds of general formula 5 or 6 are pharmaceutically useful, particularly to achieve smooth muscle relaxing activity and/or mast cell stabilizing activity and/or inflammatory activity. In formula 5 R1, R2 and R3to R15 and in formula 6 R1, R2 and R4 to R15, are selected from one or more of the same of different of: H, halo, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, acetoxy, carboxy, alkyl carbonyl, hydro carbonyl, amino, amido, alkylamino, hydroxylamino, sulphonic acid groups, sulphoxide groups, sulphone groups, C1-C10 alkyl or C3-C8 cycloalkyl groups. In formulae 5 and 6, X is O or NR, and the R in NR may be hydrogen, acyl, alkyl or sulphonate groups. In formulae 5 and 6 any one or more of R1, 1R1; R1, 1R2; R9, 1R9; R10, 1R10 and R14, 1R10 may together represent oxo.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for the selective esterfication of a tertiary alcohol(I) by an acid anhydride(II) to produce corresponding tertiary ester(III) and carboxylic acid(V), using a reusable solid catalyst(IV) comprising one or more halides of indium, gallium, zinc and iron. The process comprises: (i) contacting a mixture of (I) and (II) in the absence or presence of a non aqueous solvent with the fine particles of (IV) in a stirred batch reactor provided with a reflux water condenser at atmospheric pressure at the reaction conditions, such that the mole ratio of (II) to (I) is in the range from about 0.1 to about 10.0; the weight ratio of (IV) to (I+II) is in the range from about 0.005 to about 0.5; the reaction temperature is below about 80° C., and the reaction period is in the range from about 0.1 h to about 50 h; (ii) removing the solid catalyst(IV) from the reaction mixture by filtration; and (iii) reusing the separated solid catalyst for subsequent batch of the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of alkylphosphonic acids, which comprises reacting phosphorous acid (H3PO3) with short-chain olefins, and to the use of the products prepared by this process.

Abstract: A process for purifying formylphenylboronic acids of the formula (I) where the formyl function is located in the ortho, meta or para position relative to the boronic acid function, by dissolving the crude formylphenylboronic acids in an alkaline solvent having a pH in the range from 8 to 11 separating off the insoluble organic impurities and subsequently acidifying the alkaline boronic acid solution and separating off and working up the precipitated boronic acid. The crude formylphenylboronic acid is preferably dissolved in aqueous alkali metal or alkaline earth metal oxide, hydroxide, carbonate or phosphate solutions at temperatures in the range from 5 to 50° C. The formylphenylboronic acids obtained have a purity of ≧99% and are suitable as precursors for liquid-crystalline compounds, as liquid crystals or as constituents of liquid-crystalline mixtures or as pharmaceutical intermediates.

Abstract: (Z)-styryl benzylsulfones of formula I are useful as anticancer agents: wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, chloro and nitro; R2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, chloro, bromo, and fluoro; and R3 and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, nitro, chloro, bromo, and fluoro; provided that at least one of R1 or R2 is hydrogen. The corresponding (Z)-styryl benzylsulfides are useful as intermediates in the preparation of the biologically active (Z)-styryl benzyl sulfones.

Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) production process improved in the conversion from dimethyl sulfide (DMS) to DMSO by recycling the NOx used as a catalyst in the continuous oxidation reaction of DMS for producing DMSO, specifically providing a DMSO production process improved in the recovery rate and/or absorption rate of NOx by recovering NOx from the reaction off gas and/or the gas removed from the reaction product solution for re-utilization.

Abstract: One aspect of this invention relates to processes for solidifying dimethylsufoxide including the steps of partially solidifying a liquid phase including dimethylsulfoxide and one or more impurities, to form a mixture comprising solid dimethylsulfoxide and a liquid residue, and substantially separating the solid dimethylsulfoxide from the liquid residue, wherein the liquid residue comprises liquid dimethylsulfoxide and at least a portion of the impurities, and wherein the liquid residue is not subsequently treated by any step of partial solidification. In certain embodiments of the processes of the invention, ultra-high purity DMSO that exceeds the purity specifications for U.S.P. grade DMSO can be produced by employing solidification, fractional solidification and/or melt crystallization processes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for preparing amino-, imino-, and nitrilocarboxylic acids, and their alkali metal salts, starting from alkanolamines. The method employs oxidative dehydrogenation of the alkanolamine(s) in an alkali metal hydroxide medium, using a copper catalyst containing silver.

Abstract: The invention herein is directed to a process for the preparation of chiral &bgr;-amino acids and esters of the formula wherein X and Y are the same or different halo groups, R2 is H or lower alkyl and isomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: Aluminum salts of phosphinic acid or diphosphinic acids having alkyl and/or aryl substitutes, obtainable by heating an ester of the corresponding phosphinic acids or diphosphinic acids with aluminum hydroxide at a temperature of more than 150° C. under pressure in the presence of water, are distinguished by a particular crystal structure and are suitable as flameproofing agents for plastics.

Abstract: A process for vapor phase catalytic oxidation of methacrolein to produce methacrylic acid at high yield and with stability over a prolonged period is provided. The process is characterized, in the occasion of producing methacrylic acid by vapor phase catalytic oxidation of methacrolein using a fixed bed shell-and-tube reactor, in that (1) the catalyst layer in each reaction tube is divided into at least two layers in the axial direction of the tube to provide plural reaction zones, and (2) each of the reaction zones is filled with the catalyst in such a manner that the amount of the catalytically active component per unit volume of the reaction tube decreases from the gas inlet portion toward the gas outlet portion.