Abstract: The present invention provides for controlled release chemical compositions having improved controlled release properties wherein core substrate particles comprising a water soluble chemical compound, such as a fertilizer or oil well chemical, which are surrounded and encapsulated by a controlled release coating which is slowly permeable to water, such as a thin layer of polymeric material, are further overcoated with one or more coating layers comprising a finely divided filler preferably talc, dispersed in a metal or ammonium lignosulfonate binder. The outer coating serves to protect the underlying, thin film, controlled release coating from abrasion and impact damage occasioned by packaging, blending and dispensing equipment, thereby preserving the water permeating properties designed into such coating.

Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of trans-3-formylbut-2-enenitrile (V), a key intermediate in the synthetic pathway leading to trans-zeatin (I) and dihydrozeatin (II), both of which are naturally occurring cytokinins. The process involves a base catalyzed condensation of a dialkyl or cyclic acetal of pyruvaldehyde (III) with acetonitrile to yield the corresponding dialkyl or cyclic acetal of 3-formylbut-2-enenitrile (IV). The reaction proceeds regioselectively to form the favored trans-isomer in good yield. The .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated nitrile thus formed is hydrolyzed under acidic conditions to yield trans-3-formylbut-2-enenitrile (V), which can be easily distilled without contamination of the cis-isomer. The trans-3-formylbut-2-enenitrile can be selectively or exhaustively reduced to form either trans-3-hydroxymethylbut-2-enylamine (VI) or 3-hydroxymethylbutylamine (VII), which compounds can be condensed with 6-chloropurine (IX) by known methods to form trans-zeatin or dihydrozeatin respectively.

Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of trans-3-formylbut-2-enenitrile (V), a key intermediate in the synthetic pathway leading to trans-zeatin (I) and dihydrozeatin (II), both of which are naturally occurring cytokinins. The process involves a base catalyzed condensation of a dialkyl or cyclic acetal of pyruvaldehyde (III) with acetonitrile to yield the corresponding dialkyl or cyclic acetal of 3-formylbut-2-enenitrile (IV). The reaction proceeds regioselectively to form the favored trans-isomer in good yield. The .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated nitrile thus formed is hydrolyzed under acidic conditions to yield trans-3-formylbut-2-enenitrile (V), which can be easily distilled without contamination of the cis-isomer. The trans-3-formylbut-2-enenitrile can be selectively or exhaustively reduced to form either trans-3-hydroxymethylbut-2-enylamine (VI) or 3-hydroxymethylbutylamine (VII), which compounds can be condensed with 6-chloropurine (IX) by known methods to form trans-zeatin or dihydrozeatin respectively.