Abstract: Process for the preparation of hydroxytyrosol, characterized by reacting 4-chloroacetyl-catechol with a metal formate and formic acid in an aqueous solvent optionally containing a lower alkanol and catalytically hydrogenating the 4-hydroxyacetyl-catechol obtained in the presence of a precious metal, preferably on a carrier.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of hydroxytyrosol, characterized by reacting 4-chloroacetyl-catechol with a metal formate and formic acid in an aqueous solvent optionally containing a lower alkanol and catalytically hydrogenating the 4-hydroxyacetyl-catechol obtained in the presence of a precious metal, preferably on a carrier.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a novel process for the manufacture of 4alkanoyloxy-2,3,5-trimethylphenyl (E/Z)-phytyl ethers, precursors of ?-tocopheryl alkanoates, by cross-metathesis reaction of alkenyl ethers of 1-alkanoyloxy-2,3,6-trimethylhydroquinone with 2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecene or a phytol derivative, e.g. an ester, an ether or a silyl ether, in the presence of a cross-metathesis catalyst. As the crossmetathesis catalyst especially ruthenium metal carbene complexes are suitable which possess (a) ruthenium metal center(s), have an electron count of 16 or 18 and are penta- or hexa-coordinated. A further object of the invention is a process for the manufacture of ?tocopheryl alkanoates comprising this reaction.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a novel process for the manufacture of 4alkanoyloxy-2,3,5-trimethylphenyl (E/Z)-phytyl ethers, precursors of ?-tocopheryl alkanoates, by cross-metathesis reaction of alkenyl ethers of 1-alkanoyloxy-2,3,6-trimethylhydroquinone with 2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecene or a phytol derivative, e.g. an ester, an ether or a silyl ether, in the presence of a cross-metathesis catalyst. As the crossmetathesis catalyst especially ruthenium metal carbene complexes are suitable which possess (a) ruthenium metal center(s), have an electron count of 16 or 18 and are penta- or hexa-coordinated. A further object of the invention is a process for the manufacture of atocopheryl alkanoates comprising this reaction.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a novel process for the manufacture of (E/Z)-4-alkanoyloxy-3,5,6-trimethyl-2-phytylphenyl esters and silyl ethers, precursors of ?-tocopherol and ?-tocopheryl alkanoates, by cross-metathesis reaction of 2-alkenyl-3,5,6-trimethylhydroquinone dialkanoates or 4-alkanoyloxy-2-alkenyl-3,5,6-trimethylphenyl silylethers with 2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecene or a phytol derivative, e.g. phytyl acetate, in the presence of a cross-metathesis catalyst. As the cross-metathesis catalyst especially ruthenium metal carbene complexes are suitable which possess (a) ruthenium metal center(s), have an electron count of 16 or 18 and are penta- or hexa-coordinated. A further object of the invention is a process for the manufacture of ?-tocopherol and ?-tocopheryl alkanoates comprising this reaction.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of non-.alpha.-tocopherols into (.alpha.-tocopherol by the catalytic permethylation is disclosed. The methylating agent is methanol in the near-critical or super-critical pressure and temperature region or a mixture which is equivalent to methanol and which in particular consists of hydrogen and carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide. The catalyst is a mixed oxide catalyst which is produced from hydrotalcites and which has at least copper and magnesium oxide as well as at least one oxide of a trivalent metal, e.g., aluminium oxide, iron(III) oxide, vanadium oxide, chromium oxide and/or gallium oxide. The product of this process has a very high content of .alpha.-tocopherol, which is the biologically most valuable tocopherol.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of 4H-imidazo?1,5-a!?1,4!benzodiazepine derivatives of formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is phenyl or mono- or disubstituted phenyl;R.sup.2 is hydrogen, halogen, nitro, cyano, trifluoromethyl or lower alkyl;R.sup.3 is hydrogen or lower alkyl; andR.sup.4 is hydrogen or lower alkyland of pharmaceutically usable salts of these compounds by decarboxylating a 4H-imidazo?1,5-a!?1,4!benzodiazepinecarboxylic acid of formula II ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 have the above significances, at elevated temperature and under elevated pressure in the presence of an organic solvent. The compounds of formula I and their pharmaceutically usable acid addition salts are known muscle relaxants, sedatives and anticonvulsants.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula ##STR1## wherein two of the residues R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 represent C.sub.10-30 -alkyl residues with at least 8 C-atoms in a straight chain, at least one of these residues being substituted by at least 2 C.sub.1-3 -alkyl residues and the sum of the C-atoms in the two residues being greater than 20; and the third residue is a residue --P(O)(O.sup.-)OR.sup.4 in which R.sup.4 represents a lower-alkyl or C.sub.5-7 -cycloalkyl residue which is substituted by a quaternary ammonium group or a C.sub.5-7 -cycloalkyl residue which contains a di-(lower-alkyl)-substituted nitrogen atom,are useful for the manufacture of colloidal solution systems. The compounds of formula I can be prepared starting from glycerol derivatives as described in more detail in the specification.