Abstract: A process for the manufacture of (all-rac)-?-tocopherol by the acid-catalyzed reaction of trimethylhydroquinone with isophytol or phytol is characterized by carrying out the reaction in the presence of methane trisulphonate as the catalyst in an organic solvent. The product of the process is the most active and industrially most important member of the vitamin E group.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of (all-rac)-?-tocopherol by the acid-catalyzed reaction of trimethylhydroquinone with isophytol or phytol is characterized by carrying out the reaction in the presence of methane trisulphonate as the catalyst in an organic solvent. The product of the process is the most active and industrially most important member of the vitamin E group.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of making (all-rac)-&agr;-tocopherol in a reaction having the following steps: a) reacting trimethylhydroquinone and a phytol selected from the group consisting of isophytol and phytol in the presence of a bis(perfluorinated hydrocarbyl sulphonyl)imide catalyst or a metal salt thereof of formula I: [(R1SO2)2N]xR2  (I)  wherein each R1, independently, signifies a perfluoroalkyl group CnF2n+1 or a pentafluorophenyl, or both symbols R1 together signify a poly-difluoromethylene group—(CF2)m—, with the proviso that both symbols R1 cannot simultaneously signify trifluoromethyl, R2 signifies a proton or a cationic form of a metal selected from the group consisting of boron, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, scandium, titanium, vanadium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, yttrium, zirconium, rhodium, palladium, silver, tin, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, europium, dysprosium, thulium, ytterbium, hafnium, platinum, an

Abstract: The present invention is a method of making (all-rac)-&agr;-tocopherol in a reaction having the following steps:

Abstract: A method of making (all-rac.)-&agr;-tocopherol by the acid-catalyzed condensation of trimethylhydroquinone with isophytol or phytol wherein the condensation is carried out in the presence of a tris(perfluoroalkanesulphonyl or pentafluorobenzenesulphonyl)methane or a metal salt thereof as the catalyst in an organic solvent. In addition to the metal salt, a Bronsted acid, e.g. sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or p-toluenesulphonic acid, may be used as a co-catalyst. The product of the method of making is the most active member of the vitamin E group.

Abstract: A method of making (all-rac.)-&agr;-tocopherol by the acid-catalyzed condensation of trimethylhydroquinone with isophytol or phytol wherein the condensation is carried out in the presence of a tris(perfluoroalkanesulphonyl or pentafluorobenzenesulphonyl)methane or a metal salt thereof as the catalyst in an organic solvent. In addition to the metal salt, a Bronsted acid, e.g. sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or p-toluenesulphonic acid, may be used as a co-catalyst. The product of the method of making is the most active member of the vitamin E group.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a 5-cyano-4-lower alkyl-oxazole by the dehydration of a 5-carbamoyl-4-lower alkyl-oxazole is disclosed. The reaction is carried out by dehydrating the oxazole with silicon tetrachloride in the presence of an amine in an aprotic organic solvent. 5-Carbamoyl-4-methyl-oxazole may be dehydrated by the process in accordance with the invention to obtain 5-cyano-4-methyl-oxazole, which is a valuable intermediate in the synthesis of pyridoxine.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of d,1-.alpha.-tocopherol by the catalyzed condensation of trimethylhydroquinone with isophytol comprises carrying out the condensation in the presence of bis-(trifluoromethylsulphonyl)amine ?HN(SO.sub.2 CF.sub.3).sub.2 ! or a metal salt thereof of the formula Met ?N(SO.sub.2 CF.sub.3).sub.2 !.sub.n (I), wherein Met signifies a metal atom selected from the group of lithium, boron, magnesium, aluminium, silicon, scandium, titanium, vanadium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, yttrium, zirconium, rhodium, palladium, silver, tin, lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, praseodymium, europium, dysprosium, ytterbium, hafnium, platinum and gold and n signifies the corresponding valency (1, 2, 3, or 4) of the metal atom Met, as the catalyst or of a combination of a metal salt of formula I and a strong Bronsted acid as the catalyst system in an organic solvent. The product of the process is the most active member of the vitamin E group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the dehydration of amides to nitrites which comprises carrying out the dehydration in the presence of an adduct of sulphur trioxide and an amine as the dehydrating reagent in a basic reaction mixture. Thereby, for example, aliphatic, aromatic and heteroaromatic amides are dehydrated to the corresponding nitrites, such as 5-carbamoyl-4-methyl-oxazole to 5-cyano-4-methyl-oxazole, a valuable intermediate in the synthesis of pyridoxine.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of 5-cyano-4-lower alkyl-oxazoles is described in which a 5-carbamoyl-4-lower alkyl-oxazole is dehydrated in an organic solvent under mild conditions with cyanuric chloride and an N,N-disubstituted-formamide.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with novel antioxidants, namely the [R] and, respectively, [S] compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together represent the --S(O)-- group and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 represent hydrogen, or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together represent the --S(O)-- group and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent hydrogen.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a process for the manufacture of ascorbyl phosphates, namely of phosphates of the formula ##STR1## wherein M.sup.k.sym. denotes a cation, k.sup..sym. denotes the valency and m denotes the equivalents, with the proviso that the product from k.m=3, by phsophorylating ascorbic acid.k is 1 to 3, especially 1 or 2.The process comprises using pre-formed sodium (or potassium) dichlorophosphate as the phosphorylating reagent, adding ascorbic acid to this pre-formed phosphorylating reagent in aqueous solution, especially at pH values between about 11.0 and about 13.0, in the presence of a water-soluble trialkylamine as the catalyst and at temperatures between about +10.degree. C. and about -8.degree. C., especially at temperatures below 0.degree. C., and, if desired, trans-salting the I which is obtained as the sodium (or potassium) salt and/or, if desired, purifying via an amine salt.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of 6-aliphatic C.sub.2-20 -carboxylic acid esters of ascorbic acid by esterifying the ascorbic acid with an aliphatic C.sub.2-20 -carboxylic acid halide in the presence of a N,N-dialkyl-alkanecarboxylic acid amide, of a cyclic amide of the 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone type, of a tetraalkylcarbamide such as tetramethylurea, of a cyclic carbamide of the 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone type or of a phosphoric acid triamide of the hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide type. The 6-ascorbyl linolate which can be manufactured in this manner is novel and is likewise an object of the present invention. The thus-manufacturable 6-aliphatic C.sub.2-20 -carboxylic acid esters of ascorbic acid are important alternative application forms of L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C).

Abstract: The carbonyl compounds 5,6-carbonyl-ascorbic acid and 5,6-carbonyl-erythorbic acid been found useful for the preparation of explosive and propellant materials by admixing them with nitrate-containing oxidation agents and optionally further ingredients.

Abstract: The novel 5,6-sulfinyl-L-ascorbic acid and its stereoisomers, their manufacture by sulfinylating L-ascorbic acid or corresponding stereoisomers, compositions having oxidation-inhibiting properties which contain 5,6-sulfinyl-L-ascorbic acid or a stereoisomer thereof as well as the use of 5,6-sulfinyl-L-ascorbic acid or a stereoisomer thereof as an antioxidant are described.

Abstract: The novel sunscreen agents which are esters, namely esters of p-methoxy-cinnamic acid with d,1-.alpha.-tocopherol, pantolactone or panthenol.

Abstract: A novel process for the manufacture of the optically active lactone of the formula ##STR1## is described.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of intermediates in the synthesis of biotin as well as of biotin itself is described. In this process the side chain is attached to the ring system by means of a Grignard reaction, the resulting compound is then dehydrated and subsequently reduced.

Abstract: Aluminium panthenolate and zinc panthenolate, their manufacture and use as topical medicaments are described.

Abstract: Aluminium panthenolate and zinc panthenolate, their manufacture and use as topical medicaments are described.