Abstract: Water-soluble or water-swellable polymers, preferably having a particle size no greater than 10 &mgr;m, which, in addition to from 0.01 to 5% by weight of crosslinking structures originating from monomers having at least two olefinic double bonds, comprise, in random distribution, from 1 to 50% by weight of the repeat structural unit (1) and from 49.99 to 98.99% by weight of the repeat structural unit (2), in which R1, R2 and R3 independently of one another are a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and Z is a C1-C4-alkylene group. These polymers are used as thickeners, preferably in cosmetic or pharmaceutical preparations.

Abstract: Water-soluble or water-swellable polymers, preferably having a particle size no greater than 10 &mgr;m, which, in addition to from 0.01 to 5% by weight of crosslinking structures originating from monomers having at least two olefinic double bonds, comprise, in random distribution, from 1 to 50% by weight of the repeat structural unit (1) and from 49.99 to 98.

Abstract: Water-soluble or water-swellable polymers, preferably having a particle size no greater than 10 &mgr;m, which, in addition to from 0.01 to 5% by weight of crosslinking structures originating from monomers having at least two olefinic double bonds, comprise, in random distribution, from 1 to 50% by weight of the repeat structural unit (1) and from 49.99 to 98.99% by weight of the repeat structural unit (2), in which R1, R2 and R3 independently of one another are a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and Z is a C1-C4-alkylene group. These polymers are used as thickeners, preferably in cosmetic or pharmaceutical preparations.

Abstract: The invention relates to chiral tertiary alkyldiarylphosphines of the formula (I), ##STR1## where: R.sup.1 is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl, which can also be substituted by F, CF.sub.3, OCH.sub.3,Ar.sup.1, Ar.sup.2 are phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, which can also bear one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkoxy, CF.sub.3, F,* designates the chiral carbon atom which can have either an (R) or an (S) configuration,and also a process for preparing these compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to 2-alkylmercapto-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic esters of the formula (II), in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are, independently of each other, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6) alkyl, and a process for their preparation, which comprises reacting 3,4-dichlorobenzotrifluoride electrochemically at an anode with CO.sub.2 to give 2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-benzoate, converting it into the corresponding benzoic ester of the formula (I), and then reacting it with an alkylmercaptide R.sup.2 S.sup.e.