Abstract: A process for purifying ethylene cyanohydrin involves incubating an industrial grade ethylene cyanohydrin product with at least one titanium(IV)alkoxide. Ethylene cyanohydrin products with purities of >99% contain less than 0.05% of ethylene glycol (EG), and/or contain a water content of less than 1000 ppm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, which comprises transesterification of ethylene glycol with an ester of methacrylic acid in the presence of catalysts, wherein a combination comprising lithium amide (LiNH2) and lithium chloride (LiCl) is used as catalyst. The process of the invention makes it possible to prepare ethylene glycol dimethacrylate particularly inexpensively and in a very high purity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, which comprises transesterification of ethylene glycol with an ester of methacrylic acid in the presence of catalysts, wherein a combination comprising lithium amide (LiNH2) and lithium chloride (LiCl) is used as catalyst. The process of the invention makes it possible to prepare ethylene glycol dimethacrylate particularly inexpensively and in a very high purity.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel mutants of ?PLE, to vehicles containing the same and to their use in the production of enantiomer-enriched alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing allyl methacrylate, comprising the reaction of allyl alcohol with an ester of methacrylic acid, wherein the reaction is catalyzed by zirconium acetylacetonate. The process according to the invention enables particularly favorable preparation of allyl methacrylate with a very high purity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing (meth)acrylates, which comprises the transesterification of an alcohol with a low-boiling ester of (meth)acrylic acid in the presence of catalysts, with the alcohol liberated from the low-boiling ester of (meth)acrylic acid being separated off by distillation, characterized in that the molar ratio of low-boiling ester of (meth)acrylic acid to starting alcohol present in the reaction mixture is increased during the reaction by addition of low-boiling ester of (meth)acrylic acid. The process of the invention makes a particularly inexpensive preparation of (meth)acrylates having a very high purity possible.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing butanediol dimethacrylates, which comprises the transesterification of butanediol with an ester of methacrylic acid in the presence of catalysts, wherein a combination comprising at least one lithium compound and at least one calcium compound is used as catalyst, at least one of the compounds of lithium and/or of calcium is an oxide, a hydroxide, an alkoxide having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a carboxylate having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and at least part of the reaction is carried out in the presence of an effective amount of water. The process of the invention makes a particularly inexpensive preparation of butanediol dimethacrylates having a very high purity possible.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel mutants of ?PLE, to vehicles containing the same and to their use in the production of enantiomer-enriched alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing (meth)acrylates, which comprises the transesterification of an alcohol with a low-boiling ester of (meth)acrylic acid in the presence of catalysts, with the alcohol liberated from the low-boiling ester of (meth)acrylic acid being separated off by distillation, characterized in that the molar ratio of low-boiling ester of (meth)acrylic acid to starting alcohol present in the reaction mixture is increased during the reaction by addition of low-boiling ester of (meth)acrylic acid. The process of the invention makes a particularly inexpensive preparation of (meth)acrylates having a very high purity possible.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing butanediol dimethacrylates, which comprises the transesterification of butanediol with an ester of methacrylic acid in the presence of catalysts, wherein a combination comprising at least one lithium compound and at least one calcium compound is used as catalyst, at least one of the compounds of lithium and/or of calcium is an oxide, a hydroxide, an alkoxide having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a carboxylate having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and at least part of the reaction is carried out in the presence of an effective amount of water. The process of the invention makes a particularly inexpensive preparation of butanediol dimethacrylates having a very high purity possible.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing allyl methacrylate, comprising the reaction of allyl alcohol with an ester of methacrylic acid, wherein the reaction is catalysed by zirconium acetylacetonate. The process according to the invention enables particularly favourable preparation of allyl methacrylate with a very high purity.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel polypeptides which have the biological activity of an NAD- or NADP-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase. The invention furthermore relates to nucleic acids encoding said polypeptides, to nonhuman hosts or host cells and to reaction systems which may be used for preparing desired products. The polypeptides of the invention are preferably used in the preparation, starting from aldehydes or ketones, of primary and enantiomerically pure secondary alcohols which may serve as intermediates for medicaments. Alternatively, the polypeptides of the invention may also be employed in the reverse reaction, i.e. the oxidation of alcohols with the formation of aldehydes or ketones.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel polypeptides which have the biological activity of an NAD- or NADP-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase. The invention furthermore relates to nucleic acids encoding said polypeptides, to non-human hosts or host cells and to reaction systems which may be used for preparing desired products. The polypeptides of the invention are preferably used in the preparation, starting from aldehydes or ketones, of primary and enantiomerically pure secondary alcohol's which may serve as intermediates for medicaments. Alternatively, the polypeptides of the invention may also be employed in the reverse reaction, i.e. the oxidation of alcohol's with the formation of aldehydes or ketones.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel amidases which can be isolated from thermophilic bacteria, in particular from thermophilic Actinomycetes, e.g. Pseudonocardia thermophila, in which the resultant amidases not only have a high temperature stability, but are also distinguished by the enantioselective reaction of a broad substrate spectrum.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel chiral ligands of formula (I), the production thereof and the use of the same in catalytic reactions.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing optically active ?-atninocarboxylic acids from racemic N-acylated ?-aminocarboxylic acids by cnantiosclccthc hydrolysis of the N-acylated ?-aminocarboxylic acid in the presence of a hydrolase by way of biocatalyst, wherein the N-acyl substituent of the N-acylated ?-aminocarboxylic acid (I) exhibits Structure I in which R1, R2 are each selected, independently of one another, from H, halogen, alkiyl residues, OH, alkoxy residues and aryloxy residues; R3 is selected from halogen, alkoxy residues and aryloxy residues; (II) Structure IIA or IIB or the structure of the corresponding salts or (III) Structure III or the structure of the corresponding salt.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel chiral ligands of formula (I), the production thereof and the use of the same in catalytic reactions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to unsymmetric bidendate organophosphorus ligands of the formula (I) which have a modular structure and have a trivalent phosphine function and a second trivalent phosphorus group which is bound via a heteroatom to a chiral ligand framework, R1R2PZC*HR3XP(YR4)(YR5)  (I) where X is —O—, —S— or —NR6—, Y is a direct phosphorus-carbon bond, —O— or —NR7—, Z represents 1 to 6 carbon atoms which are joined by single or double bonds and link the phosphine unit PR1R2 to the carbon center C*, and P is trivalent phosphorus. The invention also relates to complexes comprising such a chiral ligand system of the formula (I).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of 2-arylethylamine derivates having an alkyl substituent in the 1-position, of the formula (I)

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 2,3-dihydroindoles of the formula (I) by reaction of halostyrenes of the formula (IIa) or (IIb) with amines of the formula (III) R1—NH2  (III) in at least one inert solvent or in water, and in the presence of at least one base.