Abstract: Compounds halogenated in the .alpha.-position to an electron-attracting group of formula ##STR1## in which X denotes a halogen atom, R denotes a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon radical or a radical --(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --COOR.sub.1 and Z denotes a radical --CHO, --COR.sub.2, --COOR.sub.3, --CONR.sub.4 R.sub.5, --CN, --SO.sub.2 R.sub.6, --NO.sub.2, --CO--(CH.sub.2)p--COO.sub.1 or --COO(CH.sub.2)p--COOR.sub.1 are made by a halogenating deacylation of a compound of formula ##STR2## in which R' denotes a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon radical, R" denotes a methyl radical and Z' denotes a radical --CHO, --COR.sub.2, --COOR.sub.3, --CONR.sub.4 R.sub.5, --CN, --SO.sub.2 R.sub.6 or --NO.sub.2 or R' and R" may form a radical --(CH.sub.2)-- or R' and R" may form a radical --CO--(CH.sub.2)p-- or --COO(CH.sub.2)p--, using an alkali metal alcoholate or an alkali or alkaline-earth metal carbonate and a halogenating agent.

Abstract: New anisotropic compounds with a cross-polarizing substituent have the formula (1) ##STR1## The increase in .epsilon..perp. is achieved by the polarizing group X, preferably the cyano group or a halogen atom, which is not laterally on the ring, as with the known compounds, but is on the bridge, that is to say is part of the main bridge bonding rings A and B to one another. Ring A has the formula (1a) or (1b) given herein and is always cycloaliphatic, while ring B can be identical to ring A or is an aromatic ring of the formula (1c) or (1d) herein. R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are identical or different end groups of the formula (1e) herein.The radical X on the bridge causes less widening of the molecule than a radical X on a ring, which provides comparatively higher clear points and moreover enables aromatic rings to be omitted from the anisotropic compounds.

Abstract: Stilbene derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein X is chlorine or bromine, R.sub.1 is hydrogen, carboxyl, cyano, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl or a non-chromophorically esterified carboxyl group, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 independently of one another are each hydrogen, unsubstituted or non-chromophorically substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl or C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 -alkenyl, or a non-chromophoric substituent of the 2nd order.They are valuable intermediates for producing optical brighteners of the 4,4'-disubstituted stilbene series.

Abstract: 2,4-Diamino-5-benzylpyrimidines of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, A, Z and n are as hereinafter set forth, are described. The 2,4-diamino-5-benzylpyrimidines of the invention have useful antibacterial activity. More particularly, they inhibit bacterial dihydrofolate reductase and potentiate the antibacterial activity of sulfonamides.

Abstract: Alpha-tertiary nitriles, a process for making the same, and fragrant substances containing the same, in which the nitriles having the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents an alkyl radical with 1-3 carbon atoms,R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 stand for hydrogen and an alkyl radical with 1-3 carbon atoms, andR.sub.4 is an allyl or benzyl radical.

Abstract: An olefin, especially an activated olefin, is arylated by reaction with an arylamine, such as an aniline, in an inert polar organic solvent and in the presence of an alkyl nitrite, a hydrogen halide, and a catalytic amount of a copper catalyst having the copper in an oxidation state below +2.

Abstract: There are described compounds of the formula ##STR1## where n is 2 or 3, X and Y are each independently hydrogen, loweralkyl, or halogen, and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently hydrogen, loweralkyl, cyano, beta,beta,beta-trichloroethyoxycarbonyl, cyclopropylmethyl, phenethyl, or cyanoethyl, but at least one of the two is loweralkyl, which are useful as antidepressant and analgesic agents; novel intermediate compounds for preparing said compounds; and methods for synthesizing the foregoing compounds.

Abstract: Preparation of certain optically-active alpha-hydroxynitriles or a mixture enriched therein comprises treating an aldehyde with hydrogen cyanide in a substantially water-immiscible, aprotic solvent in the presence of a cyclo(D-phenylalanyl-D-histidine) as a catalyst.