Abstract: A tool steel as well as a method for manufacturing a tool steel for cold-work and/or high-speed-work applications, in particular as an intermediate product for manufacturing cold-work and/or high-speed-work tools with a PVD coating, consisting of the following alloying elements: (all amounts expressed in wt %): C=0.55 to 0.75 Si=0.70 to 1.00 Mn=0.20 to 0.50 Cr=4.00 to 5.00 Mo=1.80 to 3.50 V=0.80 to 1.50 W=1.80 to 3.00 Co=3.00 to 5.00 N=0.02 to 0.10 and optionally one or more of Ni?1.5 Cu?1.0 Ti?1.5 Nb?1.5 Ta?1.5 Hf?1.5 Zr?1.5 Al?1.5 B?0.8 S?0.35 P?0.35 and residual iron and inevitable smelting-related impurities.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of pure (S,S)-N-(1-ethoxycarbonyl-3-phenylpropyl) alanine,in which impure (S,S)-N-(1-ethoxycarbonyl-3-phenylpropyl)alanine is suspended in water, dissolved by heating to the boiling point and separated from insoluble impurities by filtration and the desired end product is then precipitated by cooling, filtered off and dried.