Abstract: A process for manufacturing a 3-unsubstituted, 3-monosubstituted or 3,3-disubstituted 9-acyloxy-1,5-dihydro-8-methylpyrido[3,4-e] [1,3]dioxepin (I) and optionally for manufacturing pyridoxine involves performing an addition reaction between a 4-methyl-5-alkoxy-oxazole (II) and a 2-unsubstituted, 2-monosubstituted or 2,2-disubstituted 4,7-dihydro-(1,3)-dioxepin (III) in the substantial absence of a solvent and a catalyst to give a product mixture consisting essentially of the appropriate Diels-Alder adduct (IV) in a major proportion and the appropriate 3-unsubstituted, 3-monosubstituted or 3,3-disubstituted 1,5-dihydro-8-methylpyrido[3,4-e] [1,3]dioxepin 9-ol (V) in a minor proportion, removal of a substantial proportion of the unreacted oxazole and dioxapin starting materials from the product mixture by distillation under reduced pressure, addition of a substantially anhydrous organic acid to said product mixture and rearrangement of the Diels-Alder adduct IV to further V in the presence of said substantially

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of cyclic thio esters (thiolactones) and related compounds by hydrogenation of cyclic thioanhydrides in the presence of metal catalysts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for the manufacture of Grewe-diamine comprising the following step: hydrolyzing a compound of formula (II), wherein R is hydrogen or straight- or branched chain C1-4 alkyl, with an aqueous alkali or alkaline-earth metal hydroxide solution, characterized in that the hydrolysis is carried out in the presence of an organic solvent.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a 3-unsubstituted, 3-monosubstituted or 3,3-disubstituted 9-acyloxy-1,5-dihydro-8-methylpyrido[3,4-e] [1,3]dioxepin (I) and optionally for manufacturing pyridoxine involves performing an addition reaction between a 4-methyl-5-alkoxy-oxazole (II) and a 2-unsubstituted, 2-monosubstituted or 2,2-disubstituted 4,7-dihydro-(1,3)-dioxepin (III) in the substantial absence of a solvent and a catalyst to give a product mixture consisting essentially of the appropriate Diels-Alder adduct (IV) in a major proportion and the appropriate 3-unsubstituted, 3-monosubstituted or 3,3-disubstituted 1,5-dihydro-8-methylpyrido[3,4-e] [1,3]dioxepin 9-ol (V) in a minor proportion, removal of a substantial proportion of the unreacted oxazole and dioxapin starting materials from the product mixture by distillation under reduced pressure, addition of a substantially anhydrous organic acid to said product mixture and rearrangement of the Diels-Alder adduct IV to further V in the presence of said substantially

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of an acetylenically unsaturated alcohol comprising reacting formaldehyde, an aldehyde or a ketone (a carbonyl compound) with acetylene in the presence of ammonia and a strongly basic macroporous anion exchange resin, the latter preferably featuring a polystyrene matrix and quaternary ammonium groups, preferably of type I or Type II. The reaction products, which depending on the starting carbonyl compound are propargyl alcohol or 1-monosubstituted or 1,1-disubstituted derivatives thereof, are of use as intermediates in the synthesis of many useful end products, inter alia in the field of vitamins and carotenoids.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of an acetylenically unsaturated alcohol comprising reacting formaldehyde, an aldehyde or a ketone (a carbonyl compound) with acetylene in the presence of ammonia and a strongly basic macroporous anion exchange resin, the latter preferably featuring a polystyrene matrix and quaternary ammonium groups, preferably of type I or Type II. The reaction products, which depending on the starting carbonyl compound are propargyl alcohol or 1-monosubstituted or 1,1-disubstituted derivatives thereof, are of use as intermediates in the synthesis of many useful end products, inter alia in the field of vitamins and carotenoids.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for converting trimethylhydroquinone diacetate (TMHQ-DA) into trimethylhydroquinone-1-monoacetate (TMHQ-1-MA) by contacting TMHQ-DA with a lipase to effect an enzymatic monosaponification of the TMHQ-DA. Also provided are methods of making (all-rac)-&agr;-tocopherol and (all-rac)-&agr;-tocopherol acetate.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for converting trimethylhydroquinone diacetate (TMHQ-DA) into trimethylhydroquinone-1-monoacetate (TMHQ-1-MA) by contacting TMHQ-DA with a lipase to effect an enzymatic monosaponification of the TMHQ-DA. Also provided are methods of making (all-rac)-&agr;-tocopherol and (all-rac)-&agr;-tocopherol acetate.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of 5-cyano-4-lower alkyl-oxazoles is described in which a 5-carbamoyl-4-lower alkyl-oxazole is dehydrated in an organic solvent under mild conditions with cyanuric chloride and an N,N-disubstituted-formamide.