Abstract: Novel phosphonium salts of benzotraizoles, which are highly reactive coupling agents, and are particularly useful in peptide synthesis, are disclosed. Further disclosed is a process of preparing the novel phosphonium salts and methods utilizing same for preparing peptides.

Abstract: Novel phosphonium salts of benzotraizoles, which are highly reactive coupling agents, and are particularly useful in peptide synthesis, are disclosed. Further disclosed is a process of preparing the novel phosphonium salts and methods utilizing same for preparing peptides.

Abstract: A novel, simple, high-yield process for the production of 2,3,5,6-tetrachloropyridine comprises reacting an ester of 2,2,4-trichloro-4-cyanobutyric acid with excess phosphorus oxychloride in the presence of a catalytic amount of hydrogen chloride and optionally in the presence of an aprotic inert solvent, at a temperature of 100.degree.-160.degree. C., preferably at 120.degree.-140.degree. C. for about 5-10 hours, under elevated pressure, if necessary.

Abstract: D-histidine and its derivatives are manufactured from L-histidine, by mixing L-histidine and tartaric acid with an aldehyde in acetic acid medium and thereafter precipitating D-histidine tartrate from the reaction mass. Pure D-histidine can then be recovered from the crude D-histidine tartrate.

Abstract: A process for the assymetric cyanohydrination of m- phenoxybenzaldehyde with HCN, using a catalytically effective amount of enantiomeric cyclo(phenylalanylhistidine) absorbed on a solid support comprising a nonionic polymer resin is described.

Abstract: A catalyst for the asymmetric cyanohydrination of m-phenoxybenzaldehyde, comprises a catalytically effective amount of enantiomeric cyclo (phenylalanyl-histidine) adsorbed on a solid support comprising a non-ionic polymer resin.The catalyst is particularly useful as a catalyst in a process for the preparation of (s)-m-phenoxybenzaldehyde cyanohydrin, in which m-phenoxybenzaldehyde is reacted in a cyanohydrination solvent.

Abstract: In the transalkylation of tertiary amines, unexpected higher yields are achieved requiring substantially less catalyst and much shorter reaction times at lower reaction temperatures using a homogeneous catalyst in the presence of an alcohol solvent and carbon monoxide. The process may be exemplified by reacting triethylamine and tripropylamine in the presence of a homogeneous triosmiumdodecacarbonyl catalyst, ethanol, and carbon monoxide to prepare diethylpropylamine and ethyldipropylamine.

Abstract: There is provided a one-step process for the production of diols.There is provided a process for the conversion of diols in a one-step reaction to polyesters and to lactones, wherein the diols are reacted in the presence of a Group VIII (of the Periodic Table) catalyst with an oxidizing agent, i.e. an agent adapted to remove hydrogen from the reactants, the process being carried out at elevated temperatures. According to a specific embodiment diols having a certain number of carbons are directly converted to lactones, while another embodiment provides for the conversion of but-2-yne-1, 4-diol to butyrolactone.