Abstract: The invention relates to novel polymorphs of picropodophyllin, methods for preparing said polymorphs and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said polymorphs, as well as the use of said polymorphs in therapy such as cancer therapy.

Abstract: To improve energy efficiency of prior art processes while preserving the standards of quality and total yield of desired end products, a process for the preparation of phenolic compounds is proposed.

Abstract: A system for purifying a cumene hydroperoxide cleavage product mixture comprises a cumene hydroperoxide cleavage product mixture feed containing impurities in fluid communication with an aqueous alkaline solution feed; the cumene hydroperoxide cleavage product mixture and aqueous alkaline solution feeds in fluid communication with a neutralization drum having a aqueous salt phase outlet; a aqueous salt phase feed containing impurities in fluid communication with a decomposer reactor having an oxidized aqueous salt phase outlet; an oxidizing agent feed in fluid communication with the aqueous salt phase feed containing the impurities prior to the decomposer reactor; and an oxidized aqueous salt phase feed containing water-soluble oxidized derivatives of the impurities in fluid communication with the cumene hydroperoxide cleavage product mixture prior to the neutralization drum.

Abstract: A system for purifying a cumene hydroperoxide cleavage product mixture comprises a cumene hydroperoxide cleavage product mixture feed containing impurities in fluid communication with an aqueous alkaline solution feed; the cumene hydroperoxide cleavage product mixture and aqueous alkaline solution feeds are in fluid communication with a neutralization drum having an aqueous salt phase outlet; an aqueous salt phase feed containing impurities in fluid communication with a heat treatment vessel having a heat-treated aqueous salt phase outlet; and a heat-treated aqueous salt phase feed containing water-soluble derivatives of the impurities in fluid communication with the cumene hydroperoxide cleavage product mixture prior to the neutralization drum.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved method for the recovery of phenol from a cleavage mass resulting from the sulfuric acid cleavage of cumene hydroperoxide comprising neutralizing the cleavage mass, forming an aqueous phase and an organic phase, separating the organic phase into an acetone-rich stream and a phenol-rich stream, removing phenol tars from the phenol-rich stream and cracking the phenol tars wherein the improvement comprises maintaining the pH of the cleavage mass during neutralization between 4.0 and about 4.9 whereby the sulfuric acid is converted to the bisulfate salt and substantially no free sulfuric acid remains in the cleavage mass and corrosion of process equipment is reduced.As a result of this improved process, a phenol tar waste stream containing less than about 4 parts per million by weight of chromium is obtained.

Abstract: A process for the reduction of methylbenzofuran (MBF) impurities in phenol obtained from the decomposition product of cumene hydroperoxide requires treating the phenol to reduce the level of acetol, contacting the phenol containing a low level of acetol with an acid resin at sufficient temperature and residence time to reduce the level of MBF by conversion to higher boiling compounds, then distilling the phenol to separate phenol from higher boiling compounds. The phenol may be treated in known ways, such as by treatment with an amine, to reduce the level of acetol. The phenol containing a low level of acetol is contacted with a strong acid resin to reduce the level MBF.

Abstract: A method of separating isomers of functionalized aromatic compounds using solvent-modified supercritical carbon dioxide is disclosed and claimed. In one embodiment, isomers of hydroxynaphthoic acid are separated by selective extraction of the more soluble species.

Abstract: An improved process for isolating organic compounds from crude product or reaction mixtures by dissolving said crude product or reaction mixture in a suitable solvent, contacting the resulting solution with a lithium salt to form a solid metal salt complex, separating, and thereafter recovering a pure product by decomposing the lithium salt complex.

Abstract: A process for the extraction of phenolic compounds from aqueous solutions is disclosed. The process comprises contacting said aqueous solution with an organic solution comprising at least one tertiary phosphine oxide and a high boiling organic solvent.

Abstract: A process for purifying 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl comprising contacting a solution of 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl alkali metal salt with activated carbon followed by removing the activated carbon from the solution and acidifying the solution with sufficient acid to convert essentially all of the 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl alkali metal salt to water insoluble 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl and 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl product containing less than 0.45 weight percent of 4-monohydroxydiphenyl impurity.

Abstract: Dihydric phenol is effectively prevented from discoloration by mixing the dihydric phenol with 0.00001 to 0.1% by weight of hydrocarboxylic acid on the basis of the dihydric phenol.

Abstract: The waste water being formed upon the preparation of hydroxy aromatics, preferably of resorcinol and .beta.-naphthol, by caustic alkaline melt of the corresponding aryl-sulfonic acids or aryl sulfonates is purified by wet oxidation with oxygen or oxygen-containing gases at temperatures of from about 100.degree. to 370.degree. C. and under a pressure of from about 1 to 300 bars. The COD-decomposition rates amount to about 90% and more.When a hydroxy aromatic is prepared by means of a caustic soda melt, this process provides a sulfate, especially sodium sulfate, which is of sufficient purity for further use without complementary purification stages. The obtention of the pure salt is important for the economy of the process.