Abstract: By means of a new process for the resolution of racemic 3-aminopentanenitrile, enantiomerically enriched 3-aminopentanenitrile or its salts can be obtained. For this, racemic 3-aminopentanenitrile is reacted with an enantiomerically enriched organic acid and one of the two diastereomeric salts formed is separated off and then converted into the enantiomerically enriched 3-aminopentanenitrile or its salts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing stereoisomerically enriched 3-heteroaryl-3-hydroxycarboxylic esters by reducing 3-heteroaryl-3-oxocarboxylic esters in the presence of ruthenium-containing catalysts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing enantiomerically enriched aryl-aminopropanols and to their use and also to intermediates.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation and use as catalysts of diphosphines of the formula (I) 1

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the kinetic resolution of racemic functionalized epoxides in the presence of microorganisms, crude or pure preparations thereof comprising a polypeptide having epoxide hydrolase activity. Preferred microorganisms are yeasts and bacteria which may also be recombinant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts comprising chiral monophosphorus compounds and their use, the chiral monophosphorus compounds themselves and also their precursors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for preparing optically active trimethyllactic acid and/or its esters by catalytic hydrogenation of trimethylpyruvic acid and/or its esters in the presence of noble metal complex catalysts containing phosphorus ligands.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation and use as catalysts of diphosphines of the formula (I) in which R is C6-C14-aryl or C4-C13-heteroaryl containing 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, wherein the aryl and heteroaryl radicals may optionally be substituted by halogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, and/or trimethylsilyl, and R1 to R4, independently of one another, are each hydrogen, C1-C10-alkyl, C1-C10-alkoxy, F, Cl, or Br.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation and use as catalysts of diphosphines of the formula (I) 1

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation and use as catalysts of diphosphines of the formula (I) in which R is C6-C14-aryl or C4-C13-heteroaryl containing 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, wherein the aryl and heteroaryl radicals may optionally be substituted by halogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, and/or trimethylsilyl, and R1 to R4, independently of one another, are each hydrogen, C1-C10-alkyl, C1-C10-alkoxy, F, Cl, or Br.

Abstract: Process for preparing optically (S) and (R) active amines of the formula (I*) comprising reacting racemic amines corresponding to formula (I*) with esters of the formula: in the presence of lipase from Candida antarctica, and separating the (S)-amine directly from the resulting mixture, and separating the (R)-amine indirectly from the resulting mixture by reacting the acylated (R)-amine therein, which has the formula: with acid or base, wherein all the formula above, the variables are as defined herein. Certain precursors of the formula (III) are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation and use as catalysts of diphosphines of the formula (I) 1

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for preparing optically active trimethyllactic acid and/or its esters by catalytic hydrogenation of trimethylpyruvic acid and/or its esters in the presence of noble metal complex catalysts containing phosphorus ligands.

Abstract: Dibenzyl carbonates are prepared by reacting a dialkyl carbonate with a benzyl alcohol in the presence of a basic catalyst and removing the highly volatile components and the catalyst from the reaction mixture. This process permits the preparation of benzyl carbonates in a simple manner, in good yields and without any particular technical safety arrangements.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of d,l-menthol by catalytic isomerization of stereoisomers of menthol or mixtures of these isomers at temperatures of from 30 to 170° C. in the presence of a supported ruthenium catalyst, the support material used being Al2O3.

Abstract: 2-Methoxyethoxy-benzenes are obtained in an advantageous manner from the corresponding phenol compounds by reaction with 2-chloroethyl methyl ether if the process is carried out without the addition of a strong solvent at temperatures above 95° C. and under pressure. The present invention also relates to novel 2-methoxyethoxybenzyl cyanides.

Abstract: 2-Methoxyethoxy-benzenes are obtained in an advantageous manner from the corresponding phenol compounds by reaction with 2-chloroethyl methyl ether if the process is carried out without the addition of a strong solvent at temperatures above 95° C. and under pressure. The present invention also relates to novel 2-methoxyethoxy-benzyl cyanides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing optionally substituted benzyl carbazates of formula (I) ##STR1## wherein each R.sup.1 independently represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, di(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl)amino, nitro, halogen, hydroxyl, the group X-R.sup.3, wherein X represents O or S and R.sup.3 represents straight-chain or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, the group COOR.sup.4, wherein R.sup.4 represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, the group NR.sup.5 R.sup.6, wherein R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 independently represent C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, or a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -cycloalkyl group that is optionally substituted by straight-chain or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl groups, andn is an integer from 0 to 5,by reacting a dialkyl carbonate with an optionally substituted benzyl alcohol in the presence of a catalyst, separating off the resulting reaction mixture from the catalyst, and subsequently reacting the separated reaction mixture with hydrazine hydrate.

Abstract: Cis- and trans-pyrrolopiperidines are advantageously separated into their optical isomers when monoacylating by enzymatic process a mixture containing (R,R)- and (S,S)-pyrrolopiperidine or (S,R)- and (R,S)-pyrrolopiperidine, thereby obtaining a mixture (I) containing (R,R)- and (S,S)-6-acyl-pyrrolopiperidine or (S,R)- and (R,S)-6-acyl-pyrrolopiperidine. Said mixture (I) is then again acylated by enzymatic process, thereby obtaining a mixture (II) containing (S,S)-1,6-diacyl- and (R,R)-6-acyl-pyrrolipiperidine or (S,R)-1,6-diacyl- and (R,S)-6-acyl-pyrrolopiperidine; the enzyme and optionally the solvent and the excess acylating agent are separated from the mixture (II), and the rest is treated with aqueous acid, and the (S,S)-1,6-diacyl-pyrrolopiperidine or the (S,R)-1,6-diacyl-pyrrolopiperidine is separated by extraction and the extraction residue is alkalinized, and the (R,R)-6-acyl-pyrrolopiperidine or the (R,S)-6-acyl-pyrrolopiperidine is separated by extraction.

Abstract: Fluorinated benzaldehydes are obtainable in a simple and inexpensive manner and in significantly improved yields when chlorinated benzaldehydes are reacted with alkali metal fluorides at temperatures in the range from about 130 to 200.degree. C. in the presence of less than about 2 mol % of quaternary phosphonium salts, based on chlorine atoms to be replaced, at initial concentrations of more than 2.5 mol of the chlorinated benzaldehydes per kg of dipolar aprotic solvent. Fluorinated benzaldehydes obtained in this way can advantageously be hydrogenated with hydrogen in the presence of noble metal catalysts to give fluorinated benzyl alcohols.