Abstract: Pure Form II crystals of clarithromycin can be prepared by a simple, high-yield process comprising the steps of treating crude clarithromycin or different crystal forms of clarithromycin with formic acid in an organic solvent to obtain crystalline clarithromycin formate and neutralizing the clarithromycin formate with a base in a mixture of water and a water-miscible organic solvent.

Abstract: High purity Form II crystals of clarithromycin can be easily prepared in a high yield by a process comprising the steps of: protecting the 9-oxime hydroxy group of erythromycin A 9-oxime or a salt thereof with a tropyl group and the 2′- and 4″-hydroxy groups with trimethylsilyl groups; reacting 2′,4″-O-bis(trimethylsilyl)erythromycin A 9-O-tropyloxime with a methylating agent; removing the protecting groups and the oxime group of 2′,4″-O-bis(trimethylsilyl)-6-O-methylerythromycin A 9-O-tropyloxime to obtain crude clarithromycin; treating the crude clarithromycin with methanesulfonic acid in a mixture of a water-miscible organic solvent and water to obtain crystalline clarithromycin mesylate trihydrate; and neutralizing the crystalline clarithromycin mesylate trihydrate with aqueous ammonia in a mixture of a water-miscible organic solvent and water.

Abstract: An electropolishing apparatus for polishing an inner face of a deep hole of an article comprises a support for holding an article so that the article is maintained to erect in an electrolytic bath, and an electrode to be inserted into a deep hole of the article. The electrode is a hollow member having a through hole formed longitudinally. Electrolyte is supplied into the through hole of the electrode from upside. The electrolyte flows through the through hole of the electrode, a gap between the lower end of the electrode and the bottom of the hole, and another gap to be between an outer face of the electrode and an inner face of the hole. A plurality of removers consisting of nonwoven fabric may be fixed around the electrode. The support and the article rotate, while the electrode moves up and down. Furthermore, a plurality of magnets may be arranged around the article so that a magnetic field is formed in a zone including the article.

Abstract: The present invention elates to a process for preparing paclitaxel represented by formula (1) characterized in that: (a) an oxazolidine derivative represented by formula (2) or its salt in which X represents halogen, is coupled with a 7-trihaloacetyl-baccatin III represented by formula (3) in which R.sub.1 represents trihaloacetyl, in a solvent in the presence of a condensing agent to produce an oxazolidine substituent-containing taxane represented by formula (4) in which X and R.sub.1 are each as previously defined; (b) the oxazolidine ring is opened in a solvent in the presence of an acid, and the product thus obtained is reacted with benzoyl chloride in the presence of a base to produce a protected paclitaxel wherein the hydroxy group at 7-position is protected with trihaloacetyl group represented by formula (5) in which R.sub.1 is as previously defined; (c) then the protecting group at 7-position is removed by ammonia or a salt of ammonia with a weak acid in a solvent.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for discriminating if a video tape loaded into a VCR for use in recording according to programmed recording. A first detection switch (10) detects whether the recording safety tab is present, or if a piece of tape (70) is blocking a first side of the tab hole (60) of the video tape (50). A second detection switch (20) detects whether the recording safety tab of the video tape is present or if a piece of tape (70) is blocking a second side of the tab hole (60) of the video tape (50). A determining means (40) senses the states of the first and second detection switches (10, 20) and determines whether the video tape is a programmed recording tape, a recording protected tape, or a tape on which recordings may be freely made. A method is also disclosed to use the discriminating apparatus for ensuring that a video tape for use in programmed recording has been loaded when the VCR is in a programmed recording mode.

Abstract: A watch has a dial with numerals 1 through 12 circumferentially distributed thereon in a random sequence. The current time is indicated by the watch hands notwithstanding this random sequence of numerals, together with a digital display of the current time. The minute hand makes an abrupt large angular movement every five minutes to the relevant position indicating the minute of current time, while the hour hand makes an abrupt large movement for every hour to the relevant position indicating the hour of current time. When the minute hand reaches the position of numeral 12, the hour hand abruptly moves through a large angular distance to indicate the current hour. Drivers rotate the minute and watch hands in accordance with a predetermined stored program.