Abstract: A process for improving the stability and/or preventing the deactivation of catalyst in processes of continuous manufacture of acetic acid and/or methyl acetate includes a first, reaction step wherein at least one methyl formate isomerization reaction is carried out in a liquid phase reaction medium, in the presence of carbon monoxide and of a catalytic system including at least one halogenated promoter and at least one iridium-based catalytic compound, and, a second, flash step in which partial vaporization of a reaction medium originating from the first step is carried out in a flash separator. In a non-vaporized liquid fraction resulting from the partial vaporization in the flash separator, an overall content of formic acid and methyl formate is maintained at least equal to 1% by weight of said non-vaporized liquid fraction.

Abstract: A description is given here of a novel process for the production of monocarboxylic and polycarboxylic aromatic acids by the catalytic oxidation in homogeneous phase of aromatic compounds carrying at least one oxidizable substituent group attached directly to the carbon atom of the corresponding aromatic nucleus. The novel process according to the present invention comprises the steps of: a) catalytically oxidizing the corresponding aromatic precursors in liquid phase in the presence of gaseous oxygen; b) filtering the end product; c) recycling into the oxidation reactor at least part of the mother liquors resulting from the filtration stage, and is characterized by the fact that said steps from (a) to (c) are carried out in a closed and continuous cycle operating substantially under the same pressure and temperature conditions, preferably at 2-10 barg and 100-140° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to copper-catalyzed carbon-heteroatom and carbon-carbon bond-forming methods. In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to copper-catalyzed methods of forming a carbon-nitrogen bond between the nitrogen atom of an amide or amine moiety and the activated carbon of an aryl, heteroaryl, or vinyl halide or sulfonate. In additional embodiments, the present invention relates to copper-catalyzed methods of forming a carbon-nitrogen bond between a nitrogen atom of an acyl hydrazine and the activated carbon of an aryl, heteroaryl, or vinyl halide or sulfonate. In other embodiments, the present invention relates to copper-catalyzed methods of forming a carbon-nitrogen bond between the nitrogen atom of a nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic, e.g., indole, pyrazole, and indazole, and the activated carbon of an aryl, heteroaryl, or vinyl halide or sulfonate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for preparing 2-alkyl-3-chlorophenols.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing compounds which contain at least one molecule valproic acid salt and at least one molecule valproic acid. The valproic acid salt represents alkali or alkaline earth salt. Valproic acid is directly converted with the calculated amount of the corresponding alkali carbonate or earth alkaline carbonate and/or the calculated amount of the corresponding alkali bicarbonate or earth alkaline bicarbonate without adding a solvent and at a temperature that is higher than the melting temperature of valproic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing 2,3,5,6-tetrahaloxylylidene compounds of formula (I) where each Hal is independently fluorine or chlorine, and X is fluorine, chlorine, bromine, —O—R, or —O—C(═O)R, where R is hydrogen, a straight-chain or branched C1-C12-alkyl- or a C6-C14-aryl radical, by reacting 2,3,5,6-tetrahaloxylylidenediamines of formula (II) with an alkyl nitrite and/or nitrous acid in HX as a solvent.

Abstract: There is disclosed an advantageous mixed acid anhydride production method of formula (1): R1C(O)OY(O)n(R2)p  (1) wherein R1, R2 and Y denote the same as defined below, n and p denote an integer of 1 or 2, which is characterized by adding a carboxylic acid of formula (2); R1COOH  (2) wherein R1 denotes a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group or the like, an organic base to a solution of a carboxylic acid activating agent of formula (3); (R2)pY(O)nX  (3) wherein R2 denotes an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbyl group or the like, Y denotes a carbon atom, a phosphorus atom, or a sulfur atom, and X denotes a chlorine atom or the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a chiral ester according to the formula (100): by reacting (i) a racemic alcohol, (ii) a selected ruthenium complex to activate racemization of the racemic alcohol, (iii) a lipase to selectively acylate one enantiomer of the racemic alcohol, and (iv) an acyl donor compound to supply an acyl group to the lipase.

Abstract: Couplers for hair coloring compositions for oxidative dyeing of hair are compounds of the formula (1): wherein X is selected from halogen and R5SO4 where the halogen is preferably Cl, Br or I; R, R1 and R2 are each individually selected from C1 to C22 alkyl and C1 to C22 mono or dihydroxyalkyl, or two of R, R1 and R2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a C3 to C6 saturated or unsaturated ring optionally containing in the ring one or more additional hetero atoms selected from O, S and N atoms; R3 and R 4 are each individually selected from C1 to C6 alkyl, C1 to C6 hydroxyalkyl, C1 to C6 alkoxy, C1 to C6 aminoalkyl or R3 and R4 together form a C1 to C5 alkylene group; and R5 is selected from C1 to C22 alkyl and C1 to C22 mono or dihydroxyalkyl.

Abstract: An efficient and selective process, capable of scale-up, to make itaconate derivatives of formula (IV), and/or succinate derivatives of formula (V) and/or (VI) by asymmetric hydrogenation of the itaconate derivatives. wherein R, R1 and R2 are as defined herein.

Abstract: A process for the production of oxygenated C2 hydrocarbons from cellulose is disclosed. The input cellulose waste is gasified using steam in the absence of air and the primary gaseous products of carbon monoxide and hydrogen are subjected to heat, pressure, and catalysts to form methyl alcohol. Carbon monoxide is added to the methyl alcohol and further subjected to heat, pressure and catalysts to form acetic acid. The acetic acid is purified using a distillation tower, and removed for sale. Output production is increased by adding further carbon monoxide and hydrogen from burners used to heat the gasifiers. Further carbon monoxide and hydrogen are also produced by steam gasification of the carbon residue to promote a water/gas shift. These gases are fed into the gas stream produced by the gasification of cellulose, and provide more feedstock for the reactions.

Abstract: A method and lactate compound for four unique purposes: (1) the provision of a fuel energy source to skeletal muscles, hearts and other tissues and organs of humans and other mammals during exercise and recovery; (2) cardiac energy supplementation following ischemia; (3) the maintenance of blood glucose and restoration of liver glycogen; and (4) the provision of fluid and electrolytes to humans and other mammals before, during and after exercise. The lactate compound is preferably a glycerol-lactate ester or a glycerol-acetate ester.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for transesterification of ketoester using polyaniline salt as catalyst, said process comprising reacting a keto ester with an alcohol in presence of a catalyst at a temperature range of 50 to 120° C. for a period in the range of 4 to 24 hours and separating the esters from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for the kinetic resolution of racemic and diastereomeric mixtures of chiral compounds. The critical elements of the method are: a non-racemic chiral tertiary-amine-containing catalyst; a racemic or diastereomeric mixture of a chiral substrate, e.g., a cyclic carbonate or cyclic carbamate; and a nucleophile, e.g., an alcohol, amine or thiol. A preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for achieving the kinetic resolution of racemic and diastereomeric mixtures of derivatives of &agr;- and &bgr;-amino, hydroxy, and thio carboxylic acids. In certain embodiments, the methods of the present invention achieve dynamic kinetic resolution of a racemic or diastereomeric mixture of a substrate, i.e.

Abstract: A low temperature process for preparing an aromatic acid having formula (I), said process comprising reacting an aromatic aldehyde having formula (II) with a gas having an oxygen content of 1 to 100 weight percent, based on the total weight of the gas, at a temperature of about 20° C. to less than 100° C. in the presence of a supported Group VIII metal catalyst, and a solvent having a flash point greater than 95° C. and/or a melting point less than 55° C., provided that the flash point of the solvent is greater than the reaction temperature, wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a C1-C8 linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group. The process of the invention yields an aromatic acid in excellent yield, and (i) does not involve the use of deleterious oxidizing agents; (ii) is essentially free of by-products; and (iii) is accomplished at a temperature of less than 100° C.

Abstract: A process for drying phenoxymethylbenzoic acids of the general formula I where X, Y, m and n have the following meanings: X, Y halogen or a C-organic radical, m a value from 0 to 4 and n a value from 0 to 5 which comprises drying the water- and/or solvent-wet phenoxymethylbenzoic acids at a temperature in the range from 1° to 25° C. above their melting point under the reaction conditions used.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward substituted hydroxyethylene compounds of formula (XII): useful in treating Alzheimer's disease and other similar diseases.

Abstract: A process for preparing carboxylic esters. A catalytic distillation column filled with acidic catalyst in solid phase is utilized. Alcohol is fed from the bottom of the catalytic distillation column, and carboxylic acid or carboxylic anhydride is fed from the top of the catalytic distillation column in such a manner that the carboxylic acid or carboxylic anhydride can remain in the catalytic distillation column for a sufficient time to cause the esterification to produce the carboxylic ester and water. An esterification pre-reactor can be connected in series with the catalytic distillation column to facilitate the esterification.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing all trans-vitamin A ester (I). According to the present invention, vitamin A ester (I) can simply be synthesized in good yields and high purity by the reaction of phosphonate compound (IV) with aldehyde (II) in an organic solvent in the presence of a base.

Abstract: A process for the oxidation of a C2 to C4 alkane to produce the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid which process comprises contacting in an oxidation reaction zone, said alkane, molecular oxygen-containing gas, and optionally, at least one of the corresponding alkene and water, in the presence of at least two catalysts each active, with different selectivities, for the oxidation of the alkane to the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid, to produce a product stream comprising said alkene, carboxylic acid and water, and in which process the molar ratio of alkene to carboxylic acid produced in said oxidation reaction zone is adjusted or maintained at a pre-determined value by controlling the relative proportions of the at least two catalysts in said oxidation reaction zone. Such an oxidation process may be used in an integrated process, such as for the manufacture of ethyl acetate or vinyl acetate.