Abstract: Cyanomethyl esters are prepared by reacting a carboxylic acid halide with an alpha-hydroxynitrile, a molar excess of a hydrogen halide acceptor and a catalytic amount of a tertiary-aminopyridine or N-methylimidazole.

Abstract: A cyanohydrination catalyst for the preparation of alphahydroxynitriles from aldehydes and ketones comprises a solid cyclo(D-phenylalanyl-D-histidine) dipeptide having a non-crystalline or amorphous component.

Abstract: A cyanohydrination catalyst for the preparation of alpha-hydroxynitriles from aldehydes and ketones comprises a solid cyclo(D-phenylalanyl-D-histidine) or cyclo(L-phenylalanyl-L-histidine) dipeptide having a non-crystalline or amorphous component.

Abstract: A cyanohydrination catalyst for the preparation of alphahydroxynitriles from aldehydes and ketones comprises a solid cyclo(D-phenylalanyl-D-histidine) dipeptide having a non-crystalline or amorphous component.

Abstract: A method of preparing an "A-alpha" single stereoisomer of an S-alpha-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl S-alpha-isopropylphenylacetate by precipitation from a solution of an "alpha" diastereoisomer pair, S-alpha-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl R,S-alpha-isopropylphenylacetate, and optional hydrolysis of the mother liquor and recycle of the components thereof. The phenylacetate "alpha" is prepared from the S-alpha-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol and racemic alpha-isopropylphenylacetic acid or reactive derivative thereof.

Abstract: A pesticidal phenylacetate Y enantiomer pair is prepared by precipitating crystals of novel phenylacetate X enantiomer pair in the presence of crystals of phenylacetate X from a solution of racemic phenylacetate and recovering the filtrate rich in the Y enantiomer pair. The phenylacetate X crystals can be redissolved, epimerized and the epimerizaion product recycled to improve the yield of phenylacetate Y enantiomer pair.

Abstract: An improved process for preparation of insecticidal esters of alpha-cyano-m-aryloxybenzyl alcohols is disclosed which includes the steps of preparing an acid chloride of the formula: ##STR1## by reacting the corresponding acid with thionyl chloride, purifying the acid chloride thus obtained by fractional distillation and reacting the purified acid chloride with a phenoxybenzaldehyde and a cyanide solution to yield the desired insecticidal product. In this improved process, the presence of difficult to remove ketene reaction products in the final insecticidal product is avoided by treating the purified acid chloride with an ahydrous hydrogen halide prior to reaction with the phenoxybenzaldehyde.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel polymers containing high energy groups comprising a polyether having the general formula ##STR1## WHEREIN EACH R is an alkyl or hydrogen and n is an integer from about 10 to 60. The preparation of these novel polyethers and their use as binder materials for high energy solid propellants is also described.

Abstract: 1. A highly unsaturated polyether having repeating units having the structure ##EQU1## wherein R is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl groups, and n is an integer greater than 2.