Abstract: A process for the manufacture of 2-hydroxy-3-methylcyclopent-2-ene-1-one, in which an ester of alpha-methyl glutaric acid and an ester of oxalic acid react in a polar aprotic solvent in the presence of an alkali metal alkoxide to form an intermediate compound which, after removal of said polar aprotic solvent and alcohols formed in the reaction, is hydrolyzed and decarboxylated to form said 2-hydroxy-3-methycyclopent-2-ene-1-one.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the hydroformylation of an olefin chosen from the alkenes represented by the formula CnH.sub.2n in which n is an integer less than or equal to 30, or chosen from functionalized olefins, by a CO/H.sub.2 gas mixture in a two-phase medium, this process consisting in placing in contact, on the one hand, an aqueous solution containing a catalytic system consisting of a water-soluble transition metal complex and a water-soluble phosphine, and, on the other hand, an olefin, in heating the reaction mixture obtained with stirring, after it has been placed under a pressure of the CO/H.sub.2 gas mixture, in which process a modified cyclodextrin is introduced into the aqueous solution containing the catalytic system.

Abstract: Methyl-end-capped alkyl and/or alkenyl polyglycol ethers; a process for their production by methylation of products of the addition of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide to primary alcohols; to formulations containing these substances; and to the use of the substances for the production of surface-active formulations.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of substituted cyclopentane-diones and cyclopentane-triones for the preparation of medicaments which as chloride channel blockers are suitable for controlling airway diseases, secretory diarrhea and inflammatory diseases.