Abstract: A 1,2-benzoisothiazole derivative or a salt thereof is not harmful to a crop and is remarkably effective against agricultural or horticultural plant diseases such as Pyricularia oryzae, Septoria nodorum, Pseudoperonospora cubensis and Colletotrichum orbiculare, and an agricultural or horticultural plant disease-controlling agent containing the derivative or its salt as an active ingredient. The 1,2-benzoisothiazole derivative is represented by the general formula [I]: (wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, and R2 is a methyl group or a halogen atom), or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The invention concerns compounds of formula (I), wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R8, R9, R10 m, n, p, X, Y and Z have any meanings defined in the description, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the manufacture of a medicament for use as an anti-proliferative agent in the treatment of solid tumour disease.

Abstract: ?-Amino hydroxamic acid derivative of formula (I), in which R is C2–C7-alkyl, which is mono-, di- or trisubstituted by halogen, nitro, lower acyloxy, trifluoromethoxy, cyano, C3–C5-cycloalkyl or unsubstituted or substituted C3–C4-heteroaryl comprising one or two heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and N; or C3–C7-alkenyl or C3–C7-alkynyl, which in each case is unsubstituted or mono-, di- or trisubstituted by halogen, nitro, lower acyloxy, trifluoromethoxy, cyano, C3–C5-cycloalkyl or unsubstituted or substituted C3–C6-heteroaryl comprising one or two heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and N; and the other symbols are as defined in claim 1, are described. These compounds are MMP and in particular MMP2 inhibitors and can be used for treatment of MMP dependent diseases, in particular inflammation conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, tumors (tumor growth, metastasis, progression or invasi n) and pulmonary disorders (e.g. emphysema, COPD).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making optically and chemically pure levetiracetam and to the levetiracetam produced by such process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for the anionic polymerization of lactams, in which: (a) (i) a catalyst capable of creating a lactamate and (ii) a regulator chosen from the amides of formula R1—NH—CO—R2, in which R1 can be substituted with a radical R3—CO—NH— or R3—0— and in which R1, R2 and R3 denote an aryl, alkyl or cycloalkyl radical, are dissolved in the molten lactam; the temperature of this reaction mixture being between the melting point of the lactam and 15° C. higher in order to ensure its good stability, (b) the solution from step (a) is introduced into a mixing device and is then heated to a temperature which is sufficient to obtain bulk polymerization of the lactam in no more than 15 minutes. (b) is usually a continuous reactor, for example an extruder; however, it can be replaced with a mold.