Abstract: Fatty branched polyalkoxylates, particularly of the formula: R1O(AO)mR2 (I) where R1 is C8 to C30 aliphatic hydrocarbyl or acyl; AO is predominantly branched alkyleneoxy, particularly propyleneoxy; m is from 2 to 50; and R2 is H or a is C1 to C4 aliphatic hydrocarbyl or acyl, are used as fabric conditioners in CO2 based dry cleaning systems. The cleaning medium may include detergent surfactant and/or non surfactant cleaning additive or may be free from such additives in which case the treatment can be provided in a rinse cycle in a cleaning process.

Abstract: Fatty branched polyalkoxylates, particularly of the formula: R1O(AO)mR2 (I) where R1 is C8 to C30 aliphatic hydrocarbyl or acyl; AO is predominantly branched alkyleneoxy, particularly propyleneoxy; m is from 2 to 50; and R2 is H or a is C1 to C4 aliphatic hydrocarbyl or acyl, are used as fabric conditioners in CO2 based dry cleaning systems. The cleaning medium may include detergent surfactant and/or non surfactant cleaning additive or may be free from such additives in which case the treatment can be provided in a rinse cycle in a cleaning process.

Abstract: Detergent or micelle free cleaning media based on detergent free and/or micelle free liquid CO2 and including from 0.01 to 5% by weight of the formulation of a cleaning additive which is at least one multi-ester having a molecular weight of not more than 750 can be used in dry cleaning of textiles. Desirable cleaning additives are of the formula (1): R1(XR2)n where X, R1, R2, and n have defined meanings, particularly to be esters of multi-carboxylic acids and mono-hydroxy alcohols or esters of mono-carboxylic acids and multi-hydroxy alcohols.

Abstract: Cleaning media based on liquid CO2 and including from 0.01 to 5% by weight of the formulation of a cleaning additive which is at least one C6 to C24 hydrocarbyl ester of a multi-carboxylic acid can be used in dry cleaning of textiles. Desirable cleaning additives are of the formula (I): R1(CO2R2)n where R1 is the residue of a C1 to C10 hydrocarbyl group from which n hydrogen atoms have been removed, R2 is a C6 to C24 hydrocarbyl, particularly alkyl or alkenyl, group; and n is from 2 to 5; particularly C12 to C18 adipate esters.

Abstract: An enolate functionalized reaction intermediate of general formula (I), wherein X is an alkyl group; Z is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, hydrogen, halogen, alkoxy, thiol, aryloxy or ester; n is an integer and is at least one; Y is alkyl or H; the tetradentate ligand around the Al is optionally substituted. Also claimed is a process for the preparation of the enolate functionalized reaction intermediate and its reaction with a vinylic monomer and a Lewis acid to produce the corresponding vinylic polymer.

Abstract: A polymerisation process for the preparation of vinylic polymers from the corresponding vinylic monomers which process comprises the step of reacting a vinylic monomer in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a) a metal complex of general formula (I) where A is selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, cobalt, chromium, manganese, titanium, zirconium, vanadium and the rare earth metals; L1, L2, L3 and L4 are ligands and b) a Lewis acid of general formula (II) wherein at least one of W, Y or Z is capable of forming a co-ordination bond with A and the others of W, Y and Z are bulky groups; D is selected from the group consisting of aluminium, magnesium, zinc and boron.

Abstract: A method of producing a polymer comprises the steps of forming a heterogeneous reaction mixture comprising at least one addition polymerizable monomer, a supercritical fluid, and a stabilizer, wherein the stabilizer comprises a chain which is soluble in the supercritical fluid and functional end-group which is not polymerizable by a free-radical mechanism, and polymerizing said at least one monomer in the reaction mixture. In a preferred system for polymerizing acrylic monomers, the fluid comprises supercritical carbon dioxide and the stabilizer comprises an acid-functionalized perfluoropolyether.

Abstract: A polymerization process for the preparation of vinylic polymers from the corresponding vinylic monomers which process comprises the step of reacting a vinylic monomer in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a) a compound of general formula (I) where M is any metal capable of coordinating to an enolate or delocalized enolate-like species; B1, B2, B3 and B4 are chosen from nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur or phosphorus containing moieties wherein each of said nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur or phosporus is linked to at least one carbon atom of an organic group and to M; X1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, H, halogen, alkoxy, thiol aryloxy, ester, b) a metal, complex of general formula (II) where A is selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, cobalt, chromium, manganese, titanium, zirconium, vanadium and the rare earth metals; L1, L2, L3 and L4 are ligands and c) a Lewis acid of general formula (III) wherein at least one of W, Y or Z is capable of forming a co-ordination bond with A and the

Abstract: An enolate functionalized reaction intermediate of general formula (I), wherein X is an alkyl group; Z is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, hydrogen, halogen, alkoxy, thiol, aryloxy or ester; n is an integer and is at least one; Y is alkyl or H; the tetradentate ligand around the Al is optionally substituted. Also claimed is a process for the preparation of the enolate functionalized reaction intermediate and its reaction with a vinylic monomer and a Lewis acid to produce the corresponding vinylic polymer.

Abstract: An enolate functionalized reaction intermediate, represented by the formula (I) shown in the specification, such as, N,N′-ethylenebis (3,5-di-tertbutylsalicylidene imine) enolate of ter-butyl-isobutyrate aluminum, is useful for the production of vinyl polymers, such as polymethylmethacrylate, from the corresponding vinyl polymers, e.g., methylmethacrylate, by a living polymerization reaction. A Lewis acid may be used in the polymerization.

Abstract: 1 A polymerisation process for the preparation of vinylic polymers from the corresponding vinylic monomers which process comprises the step of reacting a vinylic monomer in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a) a metal complex of general formula (I) where A is selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, cobalt, chromium, manganese, titanium, zirconium, vanadium and the rare earth metals; L1, L2, L3 and L4 are ligands and b) a Lewis acid of general formula (II) wherein at least one of W, Y or Z is capable of formming a co-ordination bond with A and the others of W, Y and Z are bulky groups; D is selected from the group consisting of aluminium, magnesium, zinc and boron.

Abstract: A polymerization process for the preparation of vinylic polymers from the corresponding vinylic monomers which process comprises the step of reacting a vinylic monomer in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a) a compound of general formula (I) where M is any metal capable of coordinating to an enolate or delocalized enolate-like species; B1, B2, B3 and B4 are chosen from nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur or phosphorus containing moieties wherein each of said nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur or phosporus is linked to at least one carbon atom of an organic group and to M; X1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, H, halogen, alkoxy, thiol aryloxy, ester, b) a metal, complex of general formula (II) where A is selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, cobalt, chromium, manganese, titanium, zirconium, vanadium and the rare earth metals; L1, L2, L3 and L4 are ligands and c) a Lewis acid of general formula (III) wherein at least one of W, Y or Z is capable of forming a co-ordination bond with A and the

Abstract: An enolate functionalised reaction intermediate of general formula (I), wherein X is an alkyl group; Z is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, hydrogen, halogen, alkoxy, thiol, aryloxy or ester; n is an integer and is at least one; Y is alkyl or H; the tetradentate ligand around the Al is optionally substituted. Also claimed is a process for the preparation of the enolate functionalised reaction intermediate and its reaction with a vinylic monomer and a Lewis acid to produce the corresponding vinylic polymer.