Abstract: A process for producing a monoalkyl ether which comprises a first step of contacting the following components (A) and (B):(A): an aqueous liquid phase containing: (a1) a C3-6 polyol having 3 or 4 hydroxyl groups, a palladium compound, a water-soluble tertiary phosphine or phosphite, and water; or (a2) a C3-6 polyol having 3 to 4 hydroxyl groups, a complex of palladium and a water-soluble tertiary phosphine or phosphite, and water, and (B): an oily liquid phase containing a conjugated diene, to give an alkadienyl ether containing an alkadienyl group resulting from dimerization of conjugated dienes; and a second step of hydrogenating the alkadienyl group in the alkadienyl ether in a hydrogen atmosphere in the presence of a catalyst containing an element selected from the Groups 8 to 10 elements of the periodic table.

Abstract: An aluminum compounds represented by the following general formula (1): Al(R1—SO3)1(R2)m(R3)n   (1) wherein R1 is a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted, R2 is a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted, an aliphatic hydrocarbonoxy group which may be substituted, or a halogen atom, R3 is an aromatic hydrocarbonoxy group which may be substituted, and 1, m and n are independently a number of 0 to 3, with the proviso that 1+m+n equals 3, and 1 is not 0, an acid catalyst comprising the aluminum compound, and a process for producing an ester, acetal, ketal, ether or alkyl glycoside making use of the catalyst. The catalyst is suitable for use in a variety of acid-catalyzed reactions of alcohols, i.e., reactions with carbonyl compounds, such as esterification, transesterification, acetalization and ketalization, etherification, ring-opening reactions of epoxy compounds, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polyvalent metal salts of a phosphoric diester represented by formula (1) and organo(poly)siloxanes modified with a polyvalent metal salt of a phosphoric diester having the structural units represented by formulae (9) and (10): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a C1 to C20 linear or branched alkyl group, R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 are the same or different and independently represent a C2 to C3 linear or branched alkylene group, R.sup.3 represents a C3 to C20 linear or C5 to C20 branched alkylene group, A represents a group --COO-- or --O--, x and y are the same or different from each other and independently represent an integer of 0 to 10, L represents a C1 to C40 linear or branched alkyl group or a group, R.sup.1 --(OR.sup.2).sub.x --A--R.sup.3 (OR.sup.4).sub.y -- wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, A, x and y have the same meaning as defined herein before, M represents a divalent or polyvalent metal atom, and m represents the same value as the valence of M.

Abstract: Phosphoric diesters having formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is an acyl group having at least one phenyl group; R.sup.2 is a C.sub.2-12 linear or branched alkylene group which may optionally be inserted with an oxygen atom between carbon atoms thereof; L is a C.sub.2-40 linear or branched alkyl group which may optionally be inserted with an oxygen atom between carbon atoms thereof or the group R.sup.1 -O-R.sup.2 ; M is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal ion, a metal ion of di- or higher valence, an ammonium group, an alkanolammonium group having 2 to 14 carbon atoms, C.sub.1-14 alkylammonium group; and n is the valence of M are useful UV absorbing compounds. The phosphoric diesters remain on the skin for long periods of time and exhibit lasting UV shielding effects. The compounds and the cosmetic compositions containing the compounds are very safe to the skin.