Abstract: Compounds of formula (1) are described: wherein L1 is a covalent bond or a linker atom or group; R is a carboxylic acid (—CO2H) or a derivative threof; R6 and R7 which may be the same or different is each an atom or group —L2(Alk2)tL3R12 in which L2, L3, Alk2 and t are as previously defined and R12 is a hydrogen or halogen atom or an —OR9, —NR9R10, —NO2, —CN, —CO2R9, —CONR9R10, —COR9, —N(R9)COR10, —N(R9)CSR10, —SO2N(R9)(R10), —N(R9)SO2R9, —N(R9)CON(R10)(R11), —N(R9)CSN(R10)(R11), —N(R9)SO2N(R10)(R11), or an optionally substituted aliphatic, heteroaliphatic, cycloaliphatic, heterocycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic group provided that R6 and R7 are not both hydrogen atoms and when R7 is a hydrogen atom then R4 and R5 is each a hydrogen or halogen atom or an alkyl, alkoxy or nitro group; and the salts, solvates, hydrates and N-oxides thereof, for use in modulating cell adhesion.

Abstract: GABA analogs such as gabapentin and pregabalin are useful to prevent and treat inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: A process for removing higher organic iodides, including hexyl iodide, from an acetic acid product obtained by carbonylating methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof in the presence of a finite concentration of water, Group VIII noble metal catalyst, methyl iodide as co-catalyst, and optionally a catalyst promoter, which process includes the step of subjecting an aqueous composition comprising acetic acid and at least one higher organic iodide to distillation in a column, or section of a column, separating water overhead from a dry acetic acid fraction, wherein the water concentration on the feed tray of the column, or section of the column, is greater than 8% by weight and the water concentration in the head of the column, and/or section of the column, is greater than 70% by weight.

Abstract: The method of the present invention provides an improvement upon prior art methanol carbonylation methods which substantially reduces the production of carbonyl impurities. The production of carbonyl impurities, particularly acetaldehyde, crotonaldehyde, and 2-ethyl crotonaldehyde, in methanol carbonylation reactions has been found to decrease by maintaining less than about 4.5 wt % methyl iodide in the reaction medium during the course of the reaction.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus are for preparing saturated carboxylic acids having from one to four carbon atoms by gas-phase oxidation at a reaction temperature of from 100° C. to 400° C. and pressures of from 1.2×105 to 51×105 Pa in the presence of saturated or unsaturated C4-hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof. Also present in the reactor are an oxygen-containing gas and water vapor and in the presence of at least one catalyst, with part of the reactor outlet gas being recirculated in a reaction gas circuit. The acid concentration in the recirculated portion is reduced by means of a separation step, and the crude acid is separated from the reactor outlet gas by means of a countercurrent scrubber.

Abstract: Carbamate solutions are obtainable by reacting at least one alkanolamine with carbon dioxide in, as solvent, at least one organic compound having a molecular weight of from 60 to 600 and containing at least one hydroxyl group, wherein the carbamate contains at least 0.

Abstract: An oxide catalyst comprising the elements Mo, V, Nb and Pd. The novel catalytic system provides both higher selectivity and yield of acetic acid in the low temperature one step vapor phase direct oxidation of ethane with molecular oxygen containing gas without production of side products such as ethylene and CO. The feed gas is contacted with a catalyst containing Mo, V, Nb, Pd and O in the ratio a:b:c:d:x where a is 1 to 5; b is 0 to 0.5; c is 0.01 to 0.5; d is 0 0.2 and x is a number determined by the valence of the other elements in the catalyst.

Abstract: An improved method for the selective vapor phase oxidation of acrolein to acrylic acid in a recirculating solids reactor system using a particulate molybdenum vanadate multimetal oxide as oxidant involving specific reactant concentrations (preferably 5 mol % to 30 mol % propylene, 0 to 20 mol % oxygen, 0 to 70 mol % water, and the remainder inert gas), solids particle size (20 to 300 micrometers), temperature (250 to 450° C.) and gas (1 to 15 seconds) and solids (2 to 60 seconds) residence times. Such a process leads to improved selectivity, conversion and solids conversion ratio.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method for producing ester plasticizers by reacting di- or polycarboxylic acids or their anhydrides with alcohols in the presence of metal catalysts.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of derivatives of halo-but-2-enoic acids and esters high in 2-ene content, several of which are novel. The esters and their derivatives are useful as promoters for the polymerization of ethylene or the copolymerization of ethylene with &agr;-olefins and, optionally, nonconjugated polyenes. The promoters can also be combined with transition metal compounds, e.g., vanadium, to form combination promoter-catalyst compounds.

Abstract: A method of preparing tetrahydroiso-&agr;-acids from iso-&agr;-acids is disclosed wherein the reaction medium is a buffered, aqueous alcoholic solution. The method can also employ up to 85% w/w spent hydrogenation catalyst. The method advantageously avoids the formation of undesirable side products.

Abstract: The method of the present invention provides an improvement upon prior art methanol carbonylation methods which substantially reduces the production of carbonyl impurities. The production of carbonyl impurities, particularly acetaldehyde, crotonaldehyde, and 2-ethyl crotonaldehyde, in methanol carbonylation reactions has been found to decrease by maintaining a partial pressure of hydrogen between about 0.1 and 4 psia at reaction total pressure of from about 15 to about 40 atmospheres total reaction pressure.

Abstract: Apparatus for introducing a fluid into a process stream such as promoter into the feed stream of a reactor for manufacturing vinyl acetate comprises: (a) a process stream pipe having a bend and (b) a nozzle for introducing the fluid into the process stream downstream of the bend characterised in that the pipe has a flow-correction device downstream of the bend and the nozzle is mounted downstream of the flow-correction device to an end of a support arm which extends into the pipe in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the pipe downstream of the bend.

Abstract: A process for the liquid-phase carbonylation of ethylene, according to the equation C2H4+CO+ROH→C2H5CO2R, in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a Group VIII metal or compound thereof, a phosphine ligand and a source of anions, and in the presence of water or a source of organic hydroxyl groups, is carried out in conditions in which the molar ratio of ethylene to carbon monoxide in the gaseous phase of the reactor is greater than 1:1. The higher ratios of ethylene to carbon monoxide are beneficial in increasing the turnover number of the catalyst system.

Abstract: The method of oxidizing the alkyl groups of alkylbenzenes using palladium phenanthroline acetate or a palladium acetate with modified phenanthroline ligand catalyst. The palladium acetate catalyst with modified phenanthroline has the following formula: wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, OH, and NO2 groups and halogen and hydrogen atoms with at least six of the R1 groups being hydrogen atoms in the ligand.

Abstract: An improved method for manufacturing acrylic acid by vapor phase oxidation of propylene in a single step or reaction stage using as solid phase oxidant a mixture of two particulate solids comprising a bismuth molybdate multimetal oxide (e.g., Mo12Co3.5Bi1.1Fe0.8W0.5Si1.4K0.05Ox) and a molybdenum vanadate multimetal oxide (e.g., Mo12V4.8Sr0.5W2.4Cu2.2Ox). Such a process is advantageously carried out in a recirculating solids reactor system wherein the particulate mixture of solids in an oxidized state reacts with a feed gas containing propylene in a vertical riser reactor and after separation from the acrylic acid gaseous product the particulate mixture of solids in a reduced state is regenerated by contact with an oxygen containing gas in a separate regeneration reactor before recirculation to the riser for further reaction.

Abstract: The method consists in extracting acrylic acid by countercurrent filtration washing of reaction gases by at least a hydrophobic absorbing heavy solvent, then recuperating the purified acrylic acid from the solution obtained at the end of this extracting step. As hydrophobic absorbing heavy solvent at least a hydrophobic aromatic compound is used having: a boiling point under atmospheric pressure between 260° C. and 380° C.; a crystallisation temperature less than 35° C. and a viscosity less than 10 mPa·s in a range of temperature between 30-80° C.

Abstract: A process for preparing acetic acid by gas-phase oxidation of saturated C4-hydrocarbons and their mixtures with unsaturated C4-hydrocarbons in a tube reactor using a coated catalyst comprising an inert nonporous support body and a catalytically active mixed oxide composition comprising (a) one or more oxides selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zirconium dioxide, tin dioxide and aluminum oxide and (b) from 0.1% to 1.5% by weight, based on the weight of the component (a) and per m2/g of specific surface area of the component (a), of vanadium pentoxide applied to the outer surface of the support body, wherein a gas mixture comprising oxygen or oxygen-containing gas, one or more C4-hydrocarbons and water vapor and having a C4-hydrocarbon/air (oxygen) volume ratio of from 0.2/99.8 to 25/75 and a C4-hydrocarbon/water vapor volume ratio of from 1/1 to 1/60 is reacted over the coated catalyst at a temperature of from 100° C. to 400° C. and a gauge pressure of from 0.2 to 50 bar.

Abstract: Methods for preparing ester derivatives of 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol (prenyl alcohol) from 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (isoprene) and alkanoic acids in the presence of an inorganic acid catalyst are disclosed. The resultant prenyl ester (e.g., prenyl acetate) can be converted to prenyl alcohol by reaction with water in the presence of either a suitable enzyme or a base.

Abstract: Process for the continuous preparation of an alkyl 5-formylvalerate by reacting an alkyl-3-pentenoate with carbon monoxide and hydrogen by hydroformylation using a catalyst system comprising rhodium or iridium and a multidentate organic phosphite ligand according to the general formula: in which n is 2-6, X is an n-valent organic bridging group, and in which the end groups R1-R2 are monovalent aryl groups, wherein the process is carried out in the presence of an acid compound having a pKa between 1 and 12 measured in water at 18° C.