Abstract: The present invention relates to an asymmetrically modified borohydride type compound obtained by reacting an optically active amino alcohol represented by the formula, ##STR1## or its salt with an acid with a borohydride compound; its production method; and a method for producing an optically active alcohol derivative useful as fungicides, herbicides or plant growth regulators and represented by the formula, ##STR2## which comprises asymmetrically reducing a ketone compound represented by the formula, ##STR3## with the asymmetrically modified borohydride type compound.

Abstract: The optically active benzylamine derivatives of the present invention are very useful for use as the asymmetric ligand of an asymmetric reducing agent. By using the optically active amine-boron complex prepared from the compound of the present invention, optically active products can be obtained in a specifically high optical yield. Moreover, the separation and recovery of the reaction products and asymmetric ligand can be easily achieved.

Abstract: A solid base obtainable by heating and reacting an alkaline earth metal compound with alumina at a temperature of from 300.degree. to 600.degree. C. and then heating and reacting the reaction product with at least one material selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and hydrides of alkali metals in an inert gas atmosphere at a temperature of from 200.degree. to 450.degree. C., which can catalyze various reaction, for example, isomerization of an olefinic double bond.

Abstract: A solid base obtainable by heating and reacting an alkaline earth metal compound with alumina at a temperature of from 300.degree. to 600.degree. C. and then heating and reacting the reaction product with at least one material selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and hydrides of alkali metals in an inert gas atmosphere at a temperature of from 200.degree. to 450.degree. C., which can catalyze various rection, for example, isomerization of an olefinic double bond.

Abstract: .epsilon.-caprolactam is produced by gas phase reaction of cyclohexanone oxime using a solid acid as a catalyst in the presence of a compound represented by the formula (I): R.sub.1 --O--R.sub.2 (wherein R.sub.1 represents a lower alkyl group which may be substituted with a fluorine atom and R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or a phenyl group) such as a lower alcohol or an ether compound. The solid acid includes a crystalline metallosilicate or a crystalline silicate.

Abstract: Racemic dihalovinylcyclopropane carboxylic acid halides, which are intermediates of such insecticides as permethrin, cypermethrin etc., are prepared by allowing phosphorus iodides, silicon iodides or boron iodides to react with optically active dihalovinylcyclopropane carboxylic acid halides of the formula: ##STR1## wherein X and Y stand for halogen atoms and the mark * indicates an asymmetric carbon atom.

Abstract: An alkyl-substituted hydrocarbon is prepared by alkylating an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon having at least one hydrogen atom at an alpha-position in a side chain with an olefin in the presence of a solid base which is obtainable by heating an alumina, an alkali metal hydroxide and an alkali metal hydride or an alumina containing at least 1.3% by weight of water and an alkali metal hydride in an inert gas atmosphere at a temperature of 200.degree. to 800.degree. C. as a catalyst.

Abstract: Trans-2,2-dimethyl-3-(2,2-dihalovinyl)-cyclopropane carboxylic acid halides which are an intermediate for insecticides are prepared by allowing arylphosphines to react with cis- or cis-/trans-mixed 2,2-dimethyl-3-(2,2-dihalovinyl)-cyclopropane carboxylic acid halides of the formula ##STR1## wherein both X and Y are halogen atoms, respectively, at a temperature of -10.degree. to 100.degree. C., in the presence of absence of halogen compounds.

Abstract: Trans-2,2-dimethyl-3-(2,2-dihalovinyl)-cyclopropane carboxylic acid esters which are intermediate of insecticides are prepared by allowing (1) alkali metal alkoxides and titanium alkoxides or (2) silicon iodides to react with cis- or cis-/trans-mixed 2,2-dimethyl-3-(2,2-dihalovinyl)-cyclopropane carboxylic acid esters of the formula ##STR1## wherein X is a halogen atom and R is an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aralkyl group having 1-10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optically active borane complex represented by the general formula, ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents an aryl group, R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group and a mark * means an asymmetric carbon, and a method for producing optically active alcohol derivatives by the reduction of prochiral ketones with said borane complex. The optically active alcohol derivative is useful for fungicides, herbicides or plant growth regulators.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing optically active alcohol derivatives, which are useful as fungicides, herbicides or plant growth regulators, represented by the formula, ##STR1## by carrying out the asymmetric reduction of a ketone compound represented by the formula, ##STR2## with a boron hydride-reducing agent modified with an optically active amino alcohol represented by the formula, ##STR3## and also relates to the boron hydride type compound obtained by reacting the above optically active amino alcohol with a boron hydride compound and its production method.

Abstract: Optically active chrysanthemic acid or its derivatives of the formula ##STR1## (wherein X represents a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, a C.sub.1-20 alkoxy group or a 2,2-dimethyl-3-isobutenyl-cyclopropane carboxyl group and * mark shows asymmetric carbon atom) is racemized by allowing it to react with a bromine compound or a SH compound, in the presence of light.

Abstract: A solid base which is obtainable by reacting alumina with an alkali metal hydroxide and an alkali metal hydride or reacting water-containing alumina with an alkali metal hydride in an amount more than the molar equivalent of water container in the water-containing alumina, at a temperature of 200.degree. to 500.degree. C. in an inert gas atmosphere can effectively catalyze various reactions, particularly isomerization of olefins.

Abstract: A process for isomerizing an olefin to an internal olefin in the presence of a solid base which is obtainable by heating an alkali metal hydride and alumina, wherein the alumina has been pretreated with at least one salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal carbonates and alkali metal aluminates, in an atmosphere of an inert gas at a temperature of 200 to 450.degree. C.

Abstract: A solid base which is obtainable by reacting alumina with an alkali metal hydroxide and an alkali metal hydride or reacting water-containing alumina with an alkali metal hydride in an amount more than the molar equivalent of water contained in the water-containing alumina, at a temperature of 200.degree. to 500.degree. C. in an inert gas atmosphere can effectively catalyze various reactions, particularly isomerization of olefins.

Abstract: Racemization of an optically active chrysanthemic acid or its ester of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1-20 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group of 3-20 carbon atoms or an aralkyl group of 7-20 carbon atoms and * mark indicates asymmetric carbon atom, is effected by contacting the acid or its ester with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid bromide, a silicon bromide, an S-bromine compound, and N-bromine compound, a halo-bromine compound and an SH compound in the presence of a peroxide or an azo compound.

Abstract: Racemization of an optically active chrysanthemic acid derivatives of the formula: ##STR1## wherein X represents a chlorine atom, bromine atom or 2,2-dimethyl-3-isobutenyl-cyclopropane carboxyl group and * mark represents asymmetric carbon atom, is effected by contacting the acid derivatives with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of hydrogen bromide, a carboxylic acid bromide, an N-bromine compound, an S-bromine compound, a halobromine compound, a silicon-bromide compound, a phosphorus-bromide compound and an SH compound in the presence of a peroxide or an azo compound.

Abstract: Racemization of optically active chrysanthemic acid or its ester of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aralkyl group of 1-20 carbon atoms and * indicates an asymmetric carbon atom, is effected by contacting it with hydrogen bromide or a phosphorus bromide compound. This method may also be effected in the presence of a peroxide or an azo compound. This method is industrially very useful.

Abstract: A solid base with improved properties, such as excellent catalytic performance, is obtainable by reacting alumina with an alkali metal hydroxide in a reaction system at a temperature of 200.degree. to 500.degree. C. to form a reaction product; adding an alkali metal to the reaction system; and reacting the reaction product with the added alkali metal at a temperature of 180.degree. to 350.degree. C., or reacting water-containing alumina with an alkali metal in an amount of 1.01 to 2 times the molar equivalents of water contained in the water-containing alumina wherein a portion of the alkali metal of an amount not more than a molar equivalent of water contained in a reaction system at a temperature in a range between a melting point of the alkali metal and 500.degree. C. to form a reaction product and the reaction product is reacted with the rest of the alkali metal at a temperature of 180.degree. to 350.degree. C.

Abstract: Tetrahydronaphthalene derivatives of the formula: ##STR1## wherein either one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy and the other is acetyl and R.sup.3 is hydrogen or methyl in a racemic or optically active form, which are useful as perfumes or intermediates for production of perfumes, are prepared from an R.sup.4 -benzene and pyrocine through the intermediary compounds of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.4 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy present at either one of 6- and 7-positions and A is hydrogen, carboxyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkoxycarbonyl, halogen, methyl, hydroxymethyl or halomethyl.