Abstract: A method for making ?-ketophosphonates by reacting a trialkyl phosphonocarboxylate (such as triethyl phosphonoacetate) with an acyl halide (such as acetyl chloride) in a reaction involving ester formation, followed by decarboxylation, followed by purification. The reaction is run in a single solvent, which is not removed from the reaction mixture until the purification stage. Suitable solvents for this purpose include halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (such as mono-chlorobenzene).

Abstract: A method for making &bgr;-ketophosphonates by reacting a trialkyl phosphonocarboxylate (such as triethyl phosphonoacetate) with an acyl halide (such as acetyl chloride) in a reaction involving ester formation, followed by decarboxylation, followed by purification. The reaction is run in a single solvent, which is not removed from the reaction mixture until the purification stage. Suitable solvents for this purpose include halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (such as mono-chlorobenzene).

Abstract: The invention provides chimeric proteins and nucleic acids encoding these which can be used to generate vaccines against selected antigens. In one aspect, a chimeric protein comprises an antigen sequence and a domain for trafficking the protein to an endosomal compartment, irrespective of whether the antigen is derived from a membrane or non-membrane protein. In one preferred aspect, the trafficking domain comprises a lumenal domain of a LAMP polypeptide. Alternatively, or additionally, the chimeric protein comprises a trafficking domain of an endocytic receptor (e.g., such as DEC-205 or gp200-MR6). The vaccines (DNA, RNA or protein) can be used to modulate or enhance an immune response against any kind of antigen. In one preferred aspect, the invention provides a method for treating a patient with cancer by providing a chimeric protein comprising a cancer-specific antigen or a nucleic acid encoding the protein to the patient.

Abstract: The reaction of compounds of the formula:X.sub.2 O.sub.3 P CHY CZ.sub.2where Y and each Z are each H, PO.sub.3 X.sub.2, SO.sub.3 X or CO.sub.2 X (e.g. vinyl phosphonic acid or vinylidene diphosphonic acid) with hypophosphorous acid in the presence of free radicals provides novel compounds X.sub.2 O.sub.3 PCHYCZ.sub.2 PO.sub.2 XH which react with monomers such as vinyl sulphonate, vinyl phosphonate, vinylidene diphosphonate and acrylic acid to form telomers useful for scale inhibition, especially barium scale in oil wells. The polymers show better absorption to rock than PVSA and better thermal stability than random copolymers containing equivalent phosphorus.

Abstract: Phosphonic acid polymers are prepared from di- or polyphosphonic acids having one or more unsaturated C.dbd.C bonds (e.g. vinylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid), either as homopolymers or as higher polymers with at least one further compound having unsaturated C.dbd.C bonds (e.g. acrylic acid). The polymers can be used as, or in connection with, flame-retardants, corrosion inhibitors, coatings, cements and ion exchange resins.