Abstract: A process for the hydrogenation of imines with hydrogen under elevated pressure in the presence of iridium catalysts and with or without an inert solvent, wherein the reaction mixture contains an ammonium or metal chloride, bromide or iodide and additionally an acid.

Abstract: The asymmetric hydrogenation of aliphatic .alpha.-keto esters in the presence of rhodium catalysts which contain as chiral ligand a diphosphine of formula IV(R.sub.3).sub.2 P--Q--P(R.sub.3)hd 2 (IV)wherein R.sub.3 is phenyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkylphenyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxyphenyl, and Q is [2,2,1]-bicyloheptan-1,2-ylene or [2,2,1]-bicyclohept-4,5-en-1,2-ylene, gives the corresponding (R)- or(S)-.alpha.-hydroxycarboxylic acid esters in high rates of chemical conversion and in high enantiomer excesses.

Abstract: Compounds of general formula I or Ia ##STR1## or mixtures thereof, wherein the groups P-L-P are a ligand from the group comprising diphosphine and diphosphinite, in which the secondary phosphine groups or phosphinite groups P are coupled via 2 to 4 C atoms, and which form a 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring with the Ir atoms, X, X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3, X.sup.4, X.sup.5 and X.sup.6 independently of the others are Cl, Br or I, or X.sup.1 and X.sup.6 and H and X.sup.2, X.sup.3, X.sup.4 and X.sup.5 independently of the others are Cl, Br or I, or X.sup.1 and X.sup.5 and H and X.sup.2, X.sup.3, X.sup.4 and X.sup.6 independently of the others are Cl, Br or I, and M.sup..sym. is an alkali metal cation or quaternary ammonium. The compounds are suitable as homogeneous catalysts for the (preferably) asymmetric hydrogenation of N-substituted imines to secondary amines.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel sulfonic acid esters of formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is C.sub.5 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, R.sup.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 alkyl, R.sup.3 is phenyl which is substituted by halogen or nitro, and the asterisk denotes a carbon atom that is either present in the preponderant number of molecules in the S configuration or in the preponderant number of molecules in the R configuration.These compounds can be prepared by enantio-selective reduction of 4-R.sup.1 -substituted .alpha.-oxobutyric acid compounds and subsequent conversion of the resultant .alpha.-hydroxy group into the --OSO.sub.2 --R.sup.3 group. The compounds of formula I are suitable intermediates for the preparation of ACE inhibitors or precursors thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel sulfonic acid esters of formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is C.sub.5 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, R.sup.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 alkyl, R.sup.3 is phenyl which is substituted by halogen or nitro, and the asterisk denotes a carbon atom that is either present in the preponderant number of molecules in the S configuration or in the preponderant number of molecules in the R configuration.These compounds can be prepared by enantio-selective reduction of 4--R.sup.1 --substituted .alpha.-oxobutyric acid compounds and subsequent conversion of the resultant .alpha.-hydroxy group into the --OSO.sub.2 --R.sup.3 group. The compounds of formula I are suitable intermediates for the preparation of ACE inhibitors or precursors thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to vinylstilbene compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein Q is the grouping --COX or ##STR2## These compounds are obtained by reacting 1 molar equivalent of a compound of the formula II ##STR3## wherein X is chlorine, bromine or iodine, in the presence of a base and with the addition of palladium metal or of palladium compounds, as catalyst, which, under the reaction conditions, form labile palladium(O) compounds which do not contain phosphorus, with 1 molar equivalent of a compound of the formula III or with 1 molar equivalent of each of the compounds of the formulae III and IV ##STR4##

Abstract: Compounds of the formula I ##STR1## in which Z, Z.sub.1, R, m and p are as defined in patent claim 1, can be obtained in a simple and economical manner by a novel process wherein a halide of the formula II ##STR2## is reacted with a substituted or unsubstituted vinylbenzene or vinylnaphthalene derivative in the presence of a base and of certain palladium catalysts, such as palladium acetate. The compounds (I) or functional derivatives preparable therefrom are useful, for example, for the preparation of known dyes or fluorescent brighteners, or can be used directly as fluorescent brighteners or as scintillators.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula I ##STR1## in which p, m, Z, R, R' and Y are as defined in claim 1, can be obtained in a simple and economical manner by a novel process which comprises reacting a halide of the formula ##STR2## with the corresponding acrylic acid derivative, in the presence of a base and of certain palladium catalysts, such as palladium acetate. The compounds (I), and functional derivatives prepared therefrom, are useful for the preparation of photocrosslinkable polymers, which can in particular be employed as (so-called) photoresists.