Abstract: Disclosed is a photochromic material that includes a first polymeric layer having a photochromic compound that is capable of being activated in response to a stimulus. The first polymeric layer is configured such that the activated photochromic compound becomes inactivated within 10 minutes, preferably within 5 minutes, most preferably within 1 minute, in the absence of said stimulus.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel nitrone compounds, holographic recording media that include the nitrone compound(s) and a polymer binder, a method of manufacturing a holographic recording medium where the nitrone compound, as a photochromic dye, is mixed with a polymer binder to form a holographic composition and molding the holographic composition into holographic data recording medium. Disclosed herein too is a method for recording a hologram by exposing the holographic recording medium to mutually coherent signal and reference light sources at a wavelength that causes a change in the chemical structure of the nitrone compound.

Abstract: A process comprising the steps of dissolving a dihydric phenol in a solvent to form a solution A, contacting the solution A with an adsorbent material selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, modified metal oxides, activated carbons, and clays, filtering the adsorbent material to form a solution B, adding an anti-solvent to the solution B to form a solution C, and distilling the solution C, wherein the dihydric phenol is represented by Formula (I): wherein R is a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic functionality having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and n is an integer having a value of 1 to 4.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising reacting a phenolphthalein material and a primary hydrocarbyl amine in the presence of an acid catalyst to form a reaction mixture comprising 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine, wherein the phenolphthalein material comprises greater than or equal to 95 weight percent phenolphthalein, based on the total weight of phenolphthalein material; quenching the reaction mixture and treating the quenched reaction mixture to obtain a first solid. The first solid is then triturated with a trituration solvent and washed to obtain a second solid, wherein the second solid comprises greater than or equal to 97 weight percent 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine, based on the total weight of the second solid. The second solid may be polymerized to form a polycarbonate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising reacting a phenolphthalein material and a primary hydrocarbyl amine in the presence of an acid catalyst to form a reaction mixture comprising 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine, wherein the phenolphthalein material comprises greater than or equal to 95 weight percent phenolphthalein, based on the total weight of phenolphthalein material; quenching the reaction mixture and treating the quenched reaction mixture to obtain a first solid. The first solid is then triturated with a trituration solvent and washed to obtain a second solid, wherein the second solid comprises greater than or equal to 97 weight percent 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine, based on the total weight of the second solid. The second solid may be polymerized to form a polycarbonate.

Abstract: A method of making a carbonyl compound comprises contacting a compound comprising a secondary hydroxyl group with a basic metal oxide catalyst at a temperature sufficient to maintain the compound comprising a secondary hydroxyl group in a vapor phase.

Abstract: A method for purifying a 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine comprises contacting a crude 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine with a purification agent, removing a 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compound from the crude 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine, and producing a purified 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine product comprising less than 200 parts per million of the 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compound. The purification agent is selected from the group consisting of an acidic material, an organic acid chloride, an organic anhydride, or a combination thereof. The 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compound has a formula: wherein each R1 is independently selected from a group consisting of a hydrocarbyl radical, a nitro radical, and a halogen atom; “a” is an integer from 0 to 4; and Ar1 and Ar2 are independently at each occurrence an aromatic radical.

Abstract: A process comprising the steps of dissolving a dihydric phenol in a solvent to form a solution A, contacting the solution A with an adsorbent material selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, modified metal oxides, activated carbons, and clays, filtering the adsorbent material to form a solution B, adding an anti-solvent to the solution B to form a solution C, and distilling the solution C, wherein the dihydric phenol is represented by Formula (I): wherein R is a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic functionality having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and n is an integer having a value of 1 to 4.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for preparing 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidines having a formula of: wherein R1 is independently selected from a group consisting of a hydrocarbyl radical, a nitro radical, and a halogen atom; “a” is an integer from 0-4; and Ar1 and Ar2 are each independently an aromatic radical, are disclosed. The 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compounds are useful for preparing other useful monomers and polymers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing a neutral or an ionic guanidine compound from aqueous media optionally comprising an alkali metal halide, wherein the method is selected from the group consisting of (a) adsorption onto a carbonaceous adsorbent, (b) adsorption onto a clay adsorbent, (c) filtration through a nanofiltration membrane, and (d) removal of water and calcination.

Abstract: A method for purifying a 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine comprises contacting a crude 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine with a purification agent, removing a 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compound from the crude 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine, and producing a purified 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine product comprising less than 200 parts per million of the 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compound. The purification agent is selected from the group consisting of an acidic material, an organic acid chloride, an organic anhydride, or a combination thereof. The 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compound has a formula: wherein each R1 is independently selected from a group consisting of a hydrocarbyl radical, a nitro radical, and a halogen atom; “a” is an integer from 0 to 4; and Ar1 and Ar2 are independently at each occurrence an aromatic radical.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for preparing 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidines having a formula of: wherein R1 is independently selected from a group consisting of a hydrocarbyl radical, a nitro radical, and a halogen atom; “a” is an integer from 0-4; and Ar1 and Ar2 are each independently an aromatic radical, are disclosed. The 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compounds are useful for preparing other useful monomers and polymers.

Abstract: A method for increasing a mean particle size of a 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine is provided. The method comprises forming a mixture comprising a feedstream of the 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine, and a solvent composition comprising an organic solvent and water, wherein the organic solvent is capable of at least partially dissolving the 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine and forming an adduct with the 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine. Then the mixture is heated at a temperature and for a time effective to decompose the adduct and form a 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine product having a mean particle size greater than 5 microns. The 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidines with increased particle size are useful for producing polymers.

Abstract: A method of making a catalyst comprising mixing a metal oxide precursor and a pore former to form a metal oxide precursor mixture and calcining the metal oxide precursor mixture in the presence of a flowing gas having a flow rate to form the catalyst comprising metal oxide. The catalyst comprises a first distribution of pores having a median pore diameter of 10 to 50 angstroms and a second distribution of pores having a median pore diameter of 1 to 500 angstroms. The median pore diameter of the second distribution of pores is inversely related to the flow rate of the gas.

Abstract: A method of making a carbonyl compound comprises contacting a compound comprising a secondary hydroxyl group with a basic metal oxide catalyst at a temperature sufficient to maintain the compound comprising a secondary hydroxyl group in a vapor phase.

Abstract: A method of making a polyether polymer comprises reacting a salt of a dihydroxy-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon with a substituted aromatic compound of formula (I) Z(A1—X1)2 ??(I) in the presence of a catalyst to form an intermediate polymer having endgroups, wherein the molar ratio of the salt of a dihydroxy-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon to the substituted aromatic compound is less than 1, Z is an activating radical, A1 is an aromatic radical and X1 is fluoro, chloro, bromo or nitro; determining the additional amount of the salt of a dihydroxy-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon needed to form a final polyether polymer with a predetermined molecular weight and adding the additional amount of the salt of a dihydroxy-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon to the intermediate polymer.

Abstract: A method of making a polyether polymer comprises reacting a salt of a dihydroxy-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon with a substituted aromatic compound of formula (I) Z(A1-X1)2 ??(I) in the presence of a catalyst to form an intermediate polymer having endgroups, wherein the molar ratio of the salt of a dihydroxy-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon to the substituted aromatic compound is less than 1, Z is an activating radical, A1 is an aromatic radical and X1 is fluoro, chloro, bromo or nitro; determining the additional amount of the salt of a dihydroxy-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon needed to form a final polyether polymer with a predetermined molecular weight and adding the additional amount of the salt of a dihydroxy-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon to the intermediate polymer.

Abstract: A method for ring-halogenating an aromatic compound comprises contacting with chlorine or bromine, a mixture comprising the aromatic compound and a mixed copper salt of formula Cu(Y)X, where Y comprises a counterion derived from an organic acid, where the organic acid has a pKa relative to water of 0 or greater; and X comprises Cl, Br, I, or (SO42?)1/2; to produce a reaction mixture comprising a haloaromatic compound and a copper(II) halide residue.

Abstract: A method for recovering and reusing a ring-halogenation catalyst comprises: (A) contacting an aromatic compound with chlorine or bromine in the presence of a catalyst composition, where the catalyst composition comprises at least one salt comprising a Group 4-13 metal, a lanthanide metal, or an actinide metal; and at least one organic counterion derived from an organic acid having a pKa relative to water of 0 or greater; and at least one organic sulfur compound; to form a first product mixture comprising a monochloro or a monobromo aromatic compound and a Group 4-13 metal halide, a lanthanide metal halide or an actinide metal halide; (B) separating the metal halide from the first product mixture; and (C) contacting at least a portion of the metal halide and an aromatic compound with chlorine or bromine, and at least one organic sulfur compound; to form a second product mixture comprising a monochloro or a monobromo aromatic compound and a Group 4-13 metal halide, a lanthanide metal halide or an actinide metal

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing a neutral or an ionic guanidine compound from an aqueous media optionally comprising an alkali metal halide, wherein the method is selected from the group consisting of (a) adsorption onto a carbonaceous adsorbent, (b) adsorption onto a clay adsorbent, (c) filtration through a nanofiltration membrane, and (d) removal of water and calcination.