Patents Examined by Michael L. Shippen
  • Patent number: 6703530
    Abstract: A method for producing bisphenol includes introducing a phenol and a ketone into a fixed, supported catalytic bed reactor system in a downflow mode, reacting the phenol and the ketone to form a reaction mixture, and recovering the bisphenol isomer from the reaction mixture. The preferred bisphenol isomer is bisphenol A, or p,p′-bisphenol A, produced from the reaction of phenol and acetone. The reactor for producing the bisphenol A from the reaction of phenol and acetone includes an ion exchange resin catalyst disposed in a bed and packing randomly distributed throughout the ion exchange resin catalyst to improve heat transfer efficiency and reduce compression of the catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gaylord Michael Kissinger, Allen Wai-Yee Ko, Michael D. Szillat, Brian T. Carvill
  • Patent number: 6703531
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for the preparation of a novel heterogeneous osmate catalyst of the general formula (S—NR3)2OsO4.nH2O wherein S is a support, R is an alkyl group, n is the number of water molecules by reacting potassium osmate with supported quaternary ammonium species in an aqueous solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Boyapati M. Choudary, Naidu S. Chowdari, Mannepalli L. Kantam, Kondapuram V. Raghavan
  • Patent number: 6696611
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enantioselectively reducing a prochiral carbon centered radical having one or more electron donator groups attached directly to the central prochiral carbon atom of the radical, and/or attached to a carbon atom within 1 to 4 atoms of the central prochiral carbon atom, comprising treating said radical with a chiral non-racemic organotin hydride in the presence of a Lewis acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Chirogen Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Dainis Dakternieks, Carl H. Schiesser, Tamara Perchyonok
  • Patent number: 6693220
    Abstract: Method for producing multiple chemical reactions and for rapid screening of chemicals, catalysts, process conditions and the like is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing an array of reactor vessels and reactants; loading each reactor vessel with at least one reactant; and allowing the reactions to proceed for a predetermined time interval. A volume increment is withdrawn from each reactor vessel and a volume increment of at least one reactant is added to each reactor vessel in the array. The steps of volume increment withdrawal and addition are repeated after successive time intervals until the reactions reach a substantially steady state. The loading, withdrawal, and addition steps are performed by liquid or solid handling robots. In one embodiment, the volume increment withdrawal occurs before, after, or contemporaneously with the volume increment addition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Patrick Flanagan, James Lawrence Spivack, Cheryl Lynn Sabourin
  • Patent number: 6693221
    Abstract: A method is described for the simultaneous preparation of 4-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. In one example phenol is reacted with in the presence of HBr, a catalytic amount of cupric bromide and a stoichiometric excess of oxygen under relatively mild conditions to provide a mixture of the phenol, 4-bromophenol, and 1,4-benzoquinone. Phenol conversion was 54 percent and selectivities for bromophenol and benzoquinone were 23% and 37% respectively. Limiting the amount of HBr present in the reaction mixture was shown to control the amount of benzoquinone produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ryan Christopher Mills, Timothy Leigh Chuck
  • Patent number: 6693217
    Abstract: Compounds of the formulae are disclosed. A method of protecting subjects from infections caused by an organism of the group: Plasmodium sp. Mycobacterium sp., P. falciparum, and Pneumocystis carinii by administering to the subjects liable to infections, a prophylactically effective amount of a compound of the foregoing formulae; and a method of reducing the level of infection in subjects caused by the above-listed organism by administering to the subjects an infection reductively effective amount of a compound of the foregoing formulae are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Jacobus Pharmaceutical Co., Inc.
    Inventors: David P. Jacobus, Norman P. Jensen
  • Patent number: 6689922
    Abstract: The invention concerns novel bi-aromatic compounds having the formula: which are analogs of vitamin D, the process of preparing them, as well as their use in pharmaceutical compositions in human or veterinary medicine, particularly in dermatology, cancer treatment, treatment of auto-immune diseases, and in organ or tissue transplants. Cosmetic compositions and methods of use are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Galderma Research & Development S.N.C.
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Bernardon
  • Patent number: 6689920
    Abstract: A process for producing 2,2′,3,3′,5,5′-hexamethyl-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-diol, which process comprises, while setting a pH of a reaction liquid containing an alkaline aqueous solution, a surfactant, a copper catalyst and 2,3,6-trimethylphenol during a reaction in the range of from 8 to 14 and controlling the variation range of the pH of the reaction liquid within ±1, oxidatively coupling the 2,3,6-trimethylphenol with an oxygen-containing gas, and a process for producing a bifunctional phenylene ether oligomer compound having a controlled average molecular weight, comprising carrying out oxidation polymerization under a proper oxygen concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Ishii, Kiyonari Hiramatsu, Makoto Miyamoto, Yasumasa Norisue, Katsuhiko Yanagida
  • Patent number: 6686508
    Abstract: Provided is a production process for high quality bisphenol A which is reduced in a sulfonic acid-containing heavy matter contained in the product and which is improved in a hue. In an after-treating step for a reaction mixed solution obtained by condensing excess phenol with acetone in the presence of an acid catalyst, a filtering step by a filter is provided at least in one step between a step for dissolving an adduct of bisphenol A and phenol by using a phenol-containing solution and a step for crystallizing and separating the above adduct from this solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Idemitsu Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Hirano, Ken Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 6683223
    Abstract: A process for fluidizing bisphenol dust is disclosed. The process entails adding 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of water per 1 part by weight of bisphenol dust. Also disclosed is a process for preparing a bisphenol wherein the fluidized bisphenol dust according to the invention is introduced before, during or after reaction of a phenol with a carbonyl compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Bödiger, Rainer Neumann, Nikolai Kostyszyn, Rolf Lanze, Frieder Heydenreich, Michael Prein
  • Patent number: 6683204
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic and aromatic mono- and oligoisocyanates by phosgenation of the corresponding primary amines at atmospheric pressure, which comprises a) introducing a catalytic amount of a monoisocyanate (isocyanate a) into an inert solvent together with phosgene; b) adding the primary amine, and c) reacting the resulting reaction mixture with phosgene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Armin Stamm, Heinz-Josef Kneuper, Lucien Thil, Jochem Henkelmann
  • Patent number: 6680413
    Abstract: A process is described for the recovery of phenol and biphenols from their homogeneous mixtures containing benzene, sulfolane and water, which is based on the use of an alkaline solution and benzene for the separation of biphenols from sulfolane, after removing the benzene, H2O and phenol contained in the reaction effluent. The process allows the recovery of phenol and biphenol by-products dissolved in sulfolane, directly obtaining the purified solvent containing the benzene necessary for the feeding to the reactor for the direct oxidation of benzene, as well as the biphenols dissolved in water and pure phenol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Polimeri Europa S.p.A.
    Inventors: Rossella Bortolo, Lino Carnelli, Daniele Moscotti, Daniele Bianchi
  • Patent number: 6673974
    Abstract: A process for production of 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane which comprises reacting phenol with 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanone in the presence of an acid catalyst wherein the reaction of phenol with 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanone is started in a slurry comprising phenol adduct crystals of 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane and hydrated phenol in the presence of an acid catalyst, and then the reaction is continued in the slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Honshu Chemical Industry Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Yao, Kenji Ekawa, Yoichiro Isota, Toru Nakaguchi
  • Patent number: 6673973
    Abstract: A process for production of 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane which comprises reacting phenol with 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanone in the presence of an acid catalyst, adding an aqueous solution of an alkali to the resulting reaction mixture to neutralize it, removing a water phase from the thus neutralized reaction mixture, cooling the resulting oil phase to crystallize phenol adduct crystals of 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane while obtaining a primary crystallization filtrate, wherein the primary crystallization filtrate is heated to a temperature of 150-250° C. in the presence of an alkali catalyst in an inert gas atmosphere under a reduced pressure to thermally decompose 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane in the primary crystallization filtrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Honshu Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Yao, Kenji Ekawa, Yoichiro Isota, Toru Nakaguchi
  • Patent number: 6673975
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for production of high purity 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane (BPTMC) which comprises: (a) a reaction step wherein phenol is reacted with 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanone (TMC) in a slurry containing phenol adduct crystals of BPTMC in the presence of an acid catalyst; (b) a neutralization step wherein after the reaction, the resulting reaction mixture in the form of slurry is neutralized with an alkali while heating to convert the slurry to a solution; (c) a primary crystallization and filtration step wherein the resulting solution is cooled and the resulting phenol adduct crystals of BPTMC are collected by filtration; (d) a secondary crystallization and filtration step wherein the adduct crystals obtained in the primary crystallization and filtration step are heated in a crystallization solvent to dissolve the crystals therein to prepare a solution and then the solution is cooled to crystallize BPTMC out of the solution, followed by collecting the crystals of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Honshu Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Yao, Kenji Ekawa, Yoichiro Isota, Toru Nakaguchi
  • Patent number: 6670513
    Abstract: An alkylated hydroxyl-containing aromatic compound is produced by isomerizing a normal alpha-olefin having from about 16 to about 30 carbon atoms in the presence of a first solid, acidic catalyst capable of inducing both olefin isomerization and skeletal isomerization to produce a mixture of isomerized olefin, then alkylating an hydroxyl-containing aromatic compound with the mixture of isomerized olefins in the presence of a second solid, acidic catalyst. The first solid, acidic catalyst can be SM-3, MAPO-11, SAPO-11, SSZ-32, ZSM-23, MAPO-39, SAPO-39, ZSM-22, SSZ-20, ZSM-35, SUZ-4, NU-23, NU-87, natural ferrierite or synthetic ferrierite. The second solid, acidic catalyst can be a sulfonic acid anionic ion exchange resin catalyst or an acidic clay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignees: Chevron Oronite Company, LLC, Chevron Oronite S.A.
    Inventors: Curtis Bay Campbell, Jean Louis Le Coënt
  • Patent number: 6667414
    Abstract: Compounds characterized generally as propargyl glycine amino propargyl diol derivatives are useful as renin inhibitors for the treatment of hypertension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Pharmacia Corporation
    Inventors: Gunnar J. Hanson, John S. Baran
  • Patent number: 6660891
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the production and isolation of D-chiro-inositol (DCI) from plant extracts. Specifically the present invention provides a method to produce D-chiro-inositol from a precursor moiety by conversion in concentrated hydrochloric acid. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for the efficient production of DCI by a process involving the extraction of D-pinitol from soy hulls followed by conversion thereof to DCI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Insmed Incorporated
    Inventors: Leland L. Johnson, Jr., Mark C. Sleevi, A. S. Campbell, Robert Plourde, Patrick Leonard, Paul Miller
  • Patent number: 6653513
    Abstract: Provided is a process for producing bisphenol A having a stable color tone at a high temperature and free from coloration, which comprises reacting phenol with acetone in the presence of an acid ion-exchange resin as a catalyst and an alkyl mercaptan as a cocatalyst, wherein a concentration of an organosulfur compound in a crystallization starting material obtained by conducting the reaction under conditions that a reaction temperature is between 60 and 100° C., a phenol to acetone molar ratio is between 6 and 13 and an acetone to alkyl mercaptan molar ratio is between 13 and 25, distilling off unreacted acetone, by-product water and the alkyl mercaptan as the cocatalyst and further distilling off excess phenol is measured, and maintained at 200 weight ppm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Idemitsu Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Iwahara
  • Patent number: 6653504
    Abstract: Derivatives of active ingredients with creatine and ornithine are disclosed having enhanced nutritional and/or therapeutic effects which favorably lend themselves to the preparation of orally administrable solid compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Sigma-Tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.p.A.
    Inventor: Antonietta Buononato