Abstract: A process (1) for the preparation of 4-cyanoacetylpyrazoles of the general formula (I) wherein R1 is C1-6 alkyl, R2 is C1-6 alkyl or C1-6 haloalkyl, and X is hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl which comprises using a pyrazolecarboxylic acid halide and a cyanoacetate ester; a process (2) for the preparation of the same which comprises using a pyrazolecarboxylic acid and a cyanoacetate ester; a process (3) for the preparation of the same which comprises using a pyrazolecarbonitrile; and a process (4) for the preparation of the same which comprises using a haloacetylpyrazole. Furthermore, an industrially advantageous process for preparing pyrazolecarboxylic acids useful as intermediates in the above processes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of a 4-substituted azetidinone. The process comprises reacting ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a protecting group for N, R.sup.1 represents an alkyl which may be a substituent having an unprotected or protected hydroxyl group; and Z represents a leaving group; with ##STR2## wherein R.sup.2 represents hydrogen or alkyl, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each represent hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, cycloalkyl, or naphthyl, or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded, form a ring system; X and Y each represent oxygen, sulfur or N-r.sup.1, wherein r.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or lower alkyl; A, B, D and E each represent nitrogen or C-r.sup.2, wherein r.sup.2 represents hydrogen, halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, provided that at least two of A, B, D and E are C-r.sup.

Abstract: By using the fluoran compound represented by the following general formula (I); ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 is alkyl containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R.sup.4 is hydrogen or alkyl containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 may bond with each other to form a ring together with a N atom, R.sup.2 is alkyl containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and n denotes 0, 1 or 2, however, the substituents represented by R.sup.2 may be different with each other when n is 2, as a color former for color forming recording materials, recording materials which have excellent properties in whiteness of the background of the material under light and in photostability of color-formed images on the materials as well as in sufficient color forming capability of the material even after having exposed them to light, can be provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to substituted bicycloheptadione derivatives with high herbicidal activity which are represented by general formula (I) ##STR1## (where R.sup.1 is a lower alkyl group, a phenyl group which may be substituted, an aralkyl group which may be substituted, or a heterocyclic group which may be substituted;R.sup.2 is, same or different, a halogen, an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an alkyl group, an alkoxyalkyl group, or an alkoxylcarbonyl group, and n is 0 to 4;R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are, same or different, hydrogen or a lower alkyl group).

Abstract: There is provided a novel process for the preparation of a dipeptide represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein Ar represents an aromatic group; R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group; R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aromatic group; Y represents a hydroxy group, an amino group or an acylamino group, which comprises subjecting a .beta.-lactam compound represented by the formula: ##STR2## wherein Ar, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 have the same meanings as defined above, and X represents a hydroxy group, an amino group or an acylamino group, an azido group or a benzyloxy group, to hydrogenolysis in the presence of a catalyst. The process can be practiced without any complicated procedure as seen in the conventional processes for the preparation of peptides.