Patents Examined by Michael L. Shippen
  • Method of hydroborating alcohols and reducing functional groups using a recyclable fluorous borane-sulfide
    Patent number: 6849767
    Abstract: A method of hydroborating an alkene or alkyne, or reducing an organic functionality, oxidizing primary and secondary alcohols using a fluorous borane-sulfide is disclosed. The method includes regeneration and recycling the fluorous borane-sulfide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: David C. Crich, Santhosh Neelamkavil
  • Method for the conversion of a Z-isomer into E-isomer
    Patent number: 6844471
    Abstract: A method of converting (Z)-1-(3,5-disubstituted phenyl)-2-(4-substituted phenyl)ethene of general formula (II) to (E)-1-(3,5-disubstituted phenyl)-2-(4-substituted phenyl)ethene of general formula (I) wherein R1, R2, and R3 are the same or different and independently represent (C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkoxy(C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkoxy(C1-C4)alkoxy(C1-C4)alkyl, allyl, vinyl, silyl, formyl, acyl, aryl(C1-C4)alkyl or substituted aryl(C1-C4)alkyl group. The present invention also provides a process for the conversion of (E)-(3,5-disubstituted phenyl-2-(4-substituted phenyl)ethene of general formula (I) to E-resveratrol of formula (III).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Limited
    Inventors: Pandurang Balwant Deshpande, Senthil Kumar Udayampalayam Palanisamy, Gnanaprakasam Andrew
  • Process for preparing cumene which is used in the preparation of phenol
    Patent number: 6841704
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the preparation of cumene by reacting isopropanol or a mixture of isopropanol and propene with benzene in the presence of a ?-zeolite catalyst having a SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio greater than 10:1 that can be integrated in a process for preparing phenol, which comprises preparing cumene as described above, oxidizing cumene to cumene hydroperoxide, acid-catalyzed cleavage of cumene hydroperoxide to give phenol and acetone, and hydrogenating acetone to form isopropanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Ineos Phenol GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Sakuth, Uwe Tanger, Markus Weber
  • Non-halogenated naphthol compounds, antimicrobial compositions containing the same, and the methods of using the same
    Patent number: 6838583
    Abstract: An antimicrobial compound, composition containing such compound, and method of use of the same for reducing the presence of microorganism on a substrate or in a fluid environment comprising an antimicrobial effective carrier and one or more essential antimicrobial compounds including non-halogenated naphthol compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Warner-Lambert Company LLC
    Inventors: David Scott Harper, Robert A. Coburn, Andre Soshinsky, Constantine Georgiades, Marianne D. Huntley
  • Method for continuously producing 3,3?,5,5?-tetra-t-butyl-4,4?-biphenol
    Patent number: 6835859
    Abstract: A method for continuously producing 3,3′,5,5′-tetra-t-butyl-4,4′-biphenol by oxidizing/dimerizing 2,6-di-t-butylphenol, comprising the steps of: supplying 2,6-di-t-butylphenol to a first reaction section of a reaction apparatus in which at least the first reaction section and a second reaction section are connected in series; supplying alkali catalyst to at least said first reaction section; and distributing oxygen containing gas to each reaction section respectively; whereby a reaction mixture containing 3,3′,5,5′-tetra-t-butyl-4,4′-biphenol is obtained from a last reaction section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Honshu Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mikio Kawahara
  • Catalytic conversion of an organic carbonate
    Patent number: 6835858
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the catalytic conversion of organic carbonate to the corresponding alcohol, wherein the organic carbonate is contacted with alcohol and/or water in the presence of a zinc supported catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Johannes Petrus De Jonge, Jean-Paul Lange
  • Method for production of bis(hydroxy-aromatic)compounds
    Patent number: 6833482
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing a bis(hydroxy-aromatic) compound which comprises the steps of: contacting at least one halo-substituted hydroxy-aromatic compound in a solvent mixture comprising water and at least one organic solvent in the presence of at least one base, at least one catalyst comprising palladium and hydrogen gas at a pressure in a range of between atmospheric pressure and 350 Kilopascals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ben Purushotam Patel, Eric James Pressman, Ryan Christopher Mills
  • Process for the synthesis of phenols from arenes
    Patent number: 6828466
    Abstract: A process to synthesize substituted phenols such as those of the general formula RR′R″Ar(OH) wherein R, R′, and R″ are each independently hydrogen or any group which does not interfere in the process for synthesizing the substituted phenol including, but not limited to, halo, alkyl, alkoxy, carboxylic ester, amine, amide; and Ar is any variety of aryl or hetroaryl by means of oxidation of substituted arylboronic esters is described. In particular, a metal-catalyzed C—H activation/borylation reaction is described, which when followed by direct oxidation in a single or separate reaction vessel affords phenols without the need for any intermediate manipulations. More particularly, a process wherein Ir-catalyzed borylation of arenes using pinacolborane (HBPin) followed by oxidation of the intermediate arylboronic ester by OXONE is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Robert E. Maleczka, Jr., Milton R. Smith, III, Daniel Holmes, Feng Shi
  • Resorcinol derivatives
    Patent number: 6828460
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of certain resorcinol derivatives as skin lightening agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Pfizer Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Francis Browning, Eric William Collington, Martin James Procter, Joanna Victoria Geden
  • Preparation of higher &agr;, &bgr;-unsaturated alcohols
    Patent number: 6828468
    Abstract: Higher &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated alcohols are prepared by monoethynylation of a ketone by the NH3/KOH method, if desired hydrogenation of the acetylene alcohol in the presence of hydrogen over a Pd-containing thin layer catalyst, purifying distillation of the hydrogenation product, preferably in a dividing wall column with recirculation of the unreacted ketone to the ethynylation step, and, if desired, preparation of higher alcohols having in each case 5 more carbon atoms in the chain by reacting the alcohols prepared by monoethynylation and, if desired, partial hydrogenation with alkyl acetoacetates diketene in a Carroll reaction to form ketones and using these as starting materials for the steps ethynylation, optional hydrogenation and fractional distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Ansmann, Jochem Henkelmann, Alois Kindler, Heinz Etzrodt, Carsten Oost, Susanne Stutz, Christian Tragut, Bernhard Bockstiegel, Klaus Reimer, Manfred Stroezel, Walter Dobler
  • Process for producing fluorinated methyl-benzyl alcohol
    Patent number: 6828467
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing a fluorinated methyl-benzyl alcohol, which process is industrially applicable. A process for producing a fluorinated methyl-benzyl alcohol according to the present invention includes hydrogenolysis of one hydroxyl group in fluorinated benzene dimethanol. The hydrogenolysis can be carried out in a solvent in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst can include at least one metal selected from cobalt, iron, copper, nickel, platinum, palladium, and rhenium, and the hydrogenolysis can be carried out using hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Motoo Miura, Yuseki Suyama, Kohei Morikawa
  • Method for producing bisphenols
    Patent number: 6828465
    Abstract: The present invention provides crystals of an adduct of a bisphenol and a phenol and methods of producing those crystals. The crystals may find use in preparing bisphenols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Neumann, Rolf Lanze, Frieder Heydenreich, Michael Bödiger, Michael Prein
  • Process for manufacturing diiodoperfluoroalkanes
    Patent number: 6825389
    Abstract: The present invention involves a process for the manufacture of &agr;, &ohgr;-diiodoperfluoroalkanes of the formula I—(CF2CF2)n—I, wherein n is an integer between 2 and 6. The latter compounds are produced at relatively high conversions and under relatively mild reaction temperatures and pressures, compared to prior art processes, by the elimination of the gaseous byproduct perfluorocyclobutane throughout the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: DuPont Dow Elastomers LLC
    Inventors: Hasan Dindi, John Joseph Hagedorn, Ming-Hong Hung
  • Low sodium cleavage product
    Patent number: 6825387
    Abstract: Washed cleavage product (WCP) in a phenol manufacturing process is treated to remove sodium ions. The WCP is contacted with a cation exchange resin in hydrogen form, and then with anion exchange resin in free base or hydroxide form, to produce a WCP essentially free of sodium ions. The cation and anion exchange resins are regenerated with acid and caustic, respectively. The treatment improves productivity and product quality of new and existing phenol processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodor Robert Wilks, Mark Thornton Vandersall, William Frederick Rogers, Jr.
  • Catalyst for bisphenol compound production and process for producing bisphenol compound with the catalyst
    Patent number: 6825386
    Abstract: Provided are a catalyst of high activity and good heavy substance resistance and alcohol resistance for production of bisphenols, and a method for producing bisphenols with the catalyst. The catalyst is a sulfonic acid-type cation-exchange resin modified with (a) a pyridinealkanethiol and (b) an aminoalkanethiol and/or a thiazolidine; and the method comprises reacting a phenol and a ketone in the presence of the catalyst for producing bisphenols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Idemitsu Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Iwahara, Tetsuya Saruwatari
  • Process for making a (3R,3?R)-zeaxanthin precursor
    Patent number: 6818798
    Abstract: A process for the conversion of (3R,3′R,6′R)-lutein to 3′-epilutein, a carotenoid precursor for industrial production of naturally occurring (3R,3′R)-zeaxanthin, is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: University of Maryland, College Park
    Inventor: Frederick Khachik
  • Method for preparing hydroquinones and dihydroxybiphenyl compounds from mixtures of bromophenols and benzoquinones
    Patent number: 6815565
    Abstract: A method is described for the simultaneous preparation of p-bromophenols and p-benzoquinones, intermediates useful in the preparation of hydroquinones and 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyls, respectively. Hydroquinones and 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyls are useful monomers for the preparation of a variety of polymers. The method also comprises reducing the p-benzoquinone to its corresponding hydroquinone in the presence of the p-bromophenol. Limiting the amount of HBr present in the reaction mixture was shown to control the amount of benzoquinone produced. The method also allows for the recycling of many of the reagents used, thereby reducing the cost of producing each monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ryan Christopher Mills, Eric James Pressman, Timothy Leigh Chuck, John Yaw Ofori
  • Process for purifying octafluorocyclobutane, process for preparing the same, and use thereof
    Patent number: 6815568
    Abstract: A process for purifying octafluorocyclobutane according to the present invention is characterized by contacting a crude octafluorocyclobutane containing impurities with an impurity decomposing agent under elevated temperature and then with an adsorbent to substantially remove the impurities from the crude octafluorocyclobutane. According to the purification process or preparation process of octafluorocyclobutane of the present invention, the impurities such as fluorocarbon can be substantially removed and a high-purity octafluorocyclobutane can be easily obtained. The octafluorocyclobutane obtained by the purification process of the present invention is substantially free of impurities and therefore, can be used as an etching or cleaning gas for use in the production process of a semiconductor device or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Minako Horiba, Yasuhiro Suzuki
  • Supported osmates, process for preparation thereof, and a process for the preparation of chiral vicinal diols using supported osmate catalyst
    Patent number: 6815566
    Abstract: The present invention provides a supported osmate useful as a reusable catalyst in the preparation of vicinal diols. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of supported osmates of the formula (S—NR3)2OsO4.nH2O wherein S is a support, R is an alkyl group, n is the number of water molecules and use thereof in the preparation of vicinal diols by asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) of olefins in presence of cinchona alkaloid compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Boyapati Manoranjan Choudary, Naidu Sreenivasa Chowdari, Mannepalli Lakshmi Kantam, Kondapuram Vijaya Raghavan
  • Diastereoselective hydrogenation of 1,3-hydroxyketones
    Patent number: 6812368
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process of diastereoselective hydrogenation of 1,3-hydroxyketones of formula (I) wherein R, R′ and R″ are as defined in claim 1 which is carried out in a solvent in the presence of a magnesium salt, a heterogeneous platinum catalyst and optionally an oxidant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Solvias AG
    Inventors: Martin Studer, Stephan Burkhardt, Ulrike Nettekoven