Abstract: Nutraceutical compositions comprise biotin in an amount sufficient to administer to a subject a daily dosage of 0.01 mg per kg body weight to about 3 mg per kg body weight and at least one additional component selected from pantethine or a metabolite thereof, EGCG, phytanic acid, lipoic acid and policosanol. The compositions are useful for the treatment of both type 1 and 2 diabetes, and for the prevention of type 2 diabetes in those individuals with pre-diabetes, or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or obesity.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 1,2-propanediol by catalytic hydrogenation of glycerol at elevated temperature and elevated pressure, which comprises using glycerol having a water content of up to 20% by weight and a catalyst comprising the metals cobalt, copper, manganese and molybdenum in amounts of, based on the total weight of the catalyst,from 40 to 70% by weight of cobalt,from 10 to 20% by weight of copper,from 0 to 10% by weight of manganese andfrom 0 to 10% by weight of molybdenum,where this catalytically active material may additionally contain inorganic polyacids and/or heteropolyacids in an amount of up to 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the catalyst.

Abstract: A process for preparing .alpha.-tocopherol or tocopheryl acetate by cyclocondensation of trimethylhydroquinone with phytol or isophytol in the presence of an acid catalyst and of a solvent and, where appropriate, subsequent acetylation, which comprises carrying out the cyclocondensation and, where appropriate, the subsequent acetylation in liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide as solvent.

Abstract: The novel compound 2-neopentylanthraquinone which is prepared by Friedel-Crafts acylation of neopentylbenzene with phthalic anhydride and subsequent cyclization of the resulting 2-(4-neopentylbenzoyl)-benzoic acid in the presence of a strong, anhydrous acid, is a catalyst for the preparation of hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: Salts of riboflavin 5'-phosphate which are obtained by phosphorylation of riboflavin and reaction of the resulting riboflavin 5'-phosphate (5'-FMN), contaminated with unconverted riboflavin and isomeric riboflavin monophosphates and diphosphates, with an alkali metal hydroxide or a nitrogen base are purified by a process in which(a) a roughly 1-15% strength by weight homogeneous, clear, aqueous 5'-FMN salt solution having a pH of from 4 to 7 is prepared from the crude 5'-FMN obtained in the phosphorylation, water and the alkali metal hydroxide or the nitrogen base, preferably sodium hydroxide solution, if necessary with heating at from 30.degree. to 100.degree. C.,(b) the resulting solution is treated with a suitable polymeric adsorber resin and(c) the 5'-FMN salt substantially freed from unconverted riboflavin is isolated from the resulting solution and, if desired, the solution is fed to a subsequent fine purification.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of 1,4-butanediol or tetrahydrofuran or both by the catalytic hydrogenation of maleic anhydride, succinic anhydride, maleic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, or the alkyl esters of these acids at temperatures of from 100.degree. C. to 350.degree. C. and pressures of from 50 bar to 350 bar over a catalyst containing cobalt as the active metal and one or both of the elements copper and phosphorus, if necessary in the presence of an aliphatic alcohol.

Abstract: 1-tert-Butoxy-.omega.-alkenes of the general formula ICH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--CH.sub.2).sub.n O--C(CH.sub.3).sub.3 (I)wherein n is an integer from 4 to 10, their preparation and their use for imparting fragrance properties to perfumes or to products to be perfumed, or for improving or modifying the fragrance properties of the said perfumes or products, and scent compositions containing these compounds.

Abstract: Cyclic N,N'-dimethylureas are prepared by catalytic hydrogenation of a cyclic urea which carries hydroxyl groups in the .alpha.-position to the two nitrogen atoms.

Abstract: Aromatics are acylated by the Friedel-Crafts method by carrying out the acylation in the presence of metalalkyls or metalalkyl halides of metals or semimetals of main groups two to five and/or of metals of subgroups two or four of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: 4,4-Dimethyltetrahydrofuran-2,3-dione is prepared by reacting a dimethylpyruvate (II) with formaldehyde or a formaldehyde donor at 80.degree.-150.degree. C.

Abstract: Highly heat-resistant polyaryl ether ketones are composed of(A) from 50 to 100 mol % of repeat units of the general formula I ##STR1## or a ring-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy, aryl, chlorine or fluorine derivative thereof and(B) from 0 to 50 mol % of repeat units, different from I, of the general formulae II and/or III ##STR2## or a ring-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy, aryl, chlorine or fluorine derivative thereof, where Q, Q', Y, Y', T, T', Z and Z' are each --O--, --CO-- or a chemical bond, one or more of these substituents is a --CO-- group, and s, t and u are each 0 or 1.

Abstract: Alkyl-substituted aromatic ketones are prepared by reacting alkylbenzenes with carboxylic anhydrides in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst by performing the reaction in the presence of a tertiary amine or diamine.

Abstract: Polyaryl ether ketones are prepared by reacting aromatic dihydroxy compounds with aromatic dihalogen compounds in polar aprotic solvents in the presence of alkali metal carbonates, in particular by reacting aromatic dihydroxy compounds I ##STR1## or ring-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy, aryl, chlorine or fluorine derivatives thereof, n and m each being 0 or 1, with aromatic dihalogen compounds ##STR2## or ring-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy, aryl, chlorine or fluorine derivatives thereof, r and s each being 0 or 1, A being oxygen or a chemical bond and X being chlorine or fluorine.

Abstract: Aryl ether ketones of the general formula I ##STR1## where n is from 0 to 5,X is ##STR2## and Y is tert-butyl, acetyl, benzyl, benzoyl, tert-butoxycarbonyl or, in the case of n=0, H,and the ring-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy, aryl, chlorine or fluorine derivatives thereof are useful for preparing highly heat-resistant polyaryl ether ketones.

Abstract: .beta.-Aryl alcohols for the general forumla I ##STR1## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are identical or different and each is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 -cycloalkyl, aryl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.12 -aralkyl or C.sub.7 -C.sub.12 -alkaryl, n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, or where two adjacent R.sup.1 's are linked to form a 5- or 6-membered ring, are prepared by reacting an aromatic of the formula II ##STR2## with an alkylene oxide of the formula III ##STR3## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 have the abovementioned meanings, in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst, by carrying out the reaction in the presence of a titanium(IV) alcoholate at from -20.degree. to +40.degree. C. in the presence or absence of a solvent.

Abstract: Aldehydes and ketones of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is hydrogen or an organic radical of 1 to n carbon atoms and R.sup.2 is a non-aromatic organic radical of 1 to m carbon atoms, (m+n) ranging from 2 to 24 and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 being combinable to form a 4- to 12-membered ring, are prepared in a continuous manner by oxidizing an alcohol of the general formula II ##STR2## with oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas at elevated temperatures in the gas phase in the presence of a catalyst, by effecting the oxidation by means of a supported catalyst composed of an inert carrier having a smooth surface and from 0.1 to 20% by weight, based on the amount of carrier, of an active layer of copper, silver and/or gold in a tubular reactor or tube bundle reactor where the internal diameter D of the tube or tubes ranges from 10 to 50 mm and the largest diameter d of the coated supported catalysts is subject to the relationship d=from 0.1 to 0.2 D.

Abstract: Esters of optically active 2-arylalkanoic acids I ##STR1## where Ar is an isocyclic or heterocyclic aryl radical and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, are prepared by subjecting an optically active ester II ##STR2## where X is Cl, Br or --O--SO.sub.2 --Y and Y is Cl or a hydrocarbon radical, to a Friedel-Crafts reaction with an aromatic compound ArH (III).

Abstract: 3-Hydroxy-.alpha.-cyclocitral derivatives of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is ##STR2## wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 can be identical or different and are each straight-chain or branched alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 together form an ethylene or propylene group which can be substituted by methyl or ethyl, processes for their preparation and their use for the preparation of safranal and 3-hydroxy-.beta.-cyclocitral, as well as optically active - cyclocitral derivatives of the general formulae A and B ##STR3## where R.sup.1 is ##STR4## if X is hydrogen and Y is OH, but is otherwise ##STR5## where R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 have the above meanings, and X and Y together are oxygen, or X is hydrogen if Y is OH, and a process for the preparation of optically active 3-oxo-.alpha.-cyclocitral acetals, wherein a mixture of the corresponding racemic 3-oxo-.alpha.-cyclocitral acetals is separated into the optically active compounds by chromatography over a suitable chiral adsorbent.