Abstract: The present invention recites a process for the of 2,5-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde by reacting a 2-hydroxy-5 methoxy-benzaldehyde with a suitable metal hydroxide in the presence of a suitable solvent to make a metal salt of 2-hydroxy-5-methoxy benzaldehyde comprising. The invention further provides a method for alkylating said metal salts with dimethylsulfate in the presence of a suitable solvent so as to provide a 2,5-dimethoxy benzaldehyde.

Abstract: The present invention provides chemical processes for the preparation of disaccharide and trisaccharide C6 to C12 fatty acid esters having a high alpha content. Yet still further, the invention provides materials prepared by the processes disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for the preparation of enantiomerically-enriched cyclopropylalanine derivatives by the hydrogenation of certain enamides in the presence of a catalyst comprising a transition metal and a substantially enantiomerically-pure bis-phosphine catalyst and certain novel enamide ester compounds which are intermediates in the processes. The processes include novel 2-step and 3-step processes for the preparation of enantiomerically-enriched cyclopropylalanine derivatives. The two-step process comprises the steps of reacting cyclopropanecarboxaldehyde with a substituted phosphorylglycine to afford an enamide ester which then is hydrogenated in the presence of a catalyst comprising a transition metal and a substantially enantiomerically-pure bis-phosphine catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed are thermally-stable, red, anthraquinone colorants which contain one or more ethylenically-unsaturated, photopolymerizable radicals and which may be copolymerized with ethylenically-unsaturated monomers to produce colored compositions such as colored acrylic polymers, colored polystyrenes, and similar colored polymeric materials derived from other ethylenically-unsaturated monomers. The compounds possess good stability to ultraviolet light, good solubility in vinyl monomers, good color strength and thermal stability. Also disclosed are acrylic polymeric materials, i.e., polymers derived from acrylic acid esters, methacrylic acid esters and/or other copolymerizable vinyl compounds, having copolymerized therein one or more of the colorant compounds of the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel phosphinometallocenylamides that are useful as ligands for asymmetric catalysis. The novel ligands, which are readily modifiable, contain both a phosphine and an amide functionality linked by a metallocene backbone. In addition, the novel compounds are phosphine-amides derived from a phosphine-amine, rather than a phosphine-carboxylic acid. Further, described herein are both processes to make the novel ligands as well as processes that employ such ligands in a catalytically active composition comprising one or more phosphinometallocenylamide compounds in complex association with one or more Group VIb or Group VIII metals to provide chiral products. Further, we describe exemplary catalyst complexes incorporating the novel ligands.

Abstract: Disclosed are thermally-stable, colored, photopolymerizable compounds containing a vinyl group which are capable of being copolymerized with reactive vinyl monomers to produce colored compositions such as polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polystyrene, etc. The compounds exhibit good thermal stability, fastness (stability) to UV-light, good solubility in the reactive monomers and good color strength.

Abstract: Poly(3-cyclopropyl-3-hydroxypropionates) (I) which are useful for the preparation of vinylcyclopropane and cyclopropylacetylene are disclosed. Methods for the preparation of a variety of intermediates obtained from (I) such as 3-cyclopropyl-3-hydroxypropionic acid and esters and salts thereof, 3-cyclopropylacrylic acid, and vinylcyclopropane also are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to new cyclodextrin derivatives, processes for producing these cyclodextrin derivatives, and inclusion complexes comprised of the new cyclodextrin derivatives and guest molecules, as well as methods of making such materials and related materials and methods of using the same.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of recovering and purifying 3,4-epoxy-1-butene (epoxybutene) from an epoxidation effluent gas obtained by the vapor phase, catalytic, partial oxidation of 1,3-butadiene (butadiene) with molecular oxygen in the presence of a silver catalyst wherein the epoxybutene-laden epoxidation product gas is reacted with a water-miscible solvent to absorb the epoxybutene. The disclosed process includes a method of separating epoxybutene from the solvent and other reaction by-products by a novel combination of distillation and decantation steps.

Abstract: Disclosed are substantially enantiomerically pure bis-phosphine compounds comprising a substantially enantiomerically pure chiral backbone linking two phosphine residues wherein one of the phosphine residues has three phosphorus-carbon bonds and the other phosphine residue has two phosphorus-carbon bonds and one phosphorus-nitrogen bond wherein the nitrogen is part of the chiral backbone. The compounds, which have exhibited surprising air stability, are useful as ligands for metal catalysts for asymmetric reactions and have demonstrated excellent results, in particular as rhodium complexes for asymmetric hydrogenation of enamide, itaconate, and &agr;-ketoester compounds. Also disclosed are novel processes for the preparation of the bis-phosphine compounds and novel intermediate compounds useful in the preparation of the bis-phosphine compounds.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of obtaining a cellulose material from corn fiber wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) heating a mixture of corn fiber and a liquid; (b) contacting the mixture of step (a) with a protease enzyme, thereby providing a proteolyzed corn fiber and a liquid; (c) separating the liquid from the proteolyzed corn fiber; (d) contacting the proteolyzed corn fiber at least once with an alkaline extractant, thereby providing an insoluble cellulose material and a first liquid comprising arabinoxylan; (e) separating the insoluble cellulose material from the first liquid comprising arabinoxylan at a temperature of at or above about 60° C.; and (f) rinsing the insoluble cellulose material to remove essentially all alkali, thereby providing a cellulose material having a cellulose content of at least about 50% and consisting essentially of cellulose I. Cellulose esters and ethers are also prepared from the derivatizable cellulose prepared according to the methods herein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the recovery and purification of 3,4-epoxy-1-butene (epoxybutene) from mixtures comprising epoxybutene and aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons containing five to seven carbon atoms having boiling points between about 20° C. and 115° C. by means of extractive distillation of the epoxybutene using certain extractive distillation solvents.

Abstract: Disclosed is a 4-step process for the preparation of alkyl esters of 1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid which comprises the steps of (1) converting &ggr;-butyrolactone to &agr;-methyl-&ggr;-butyrolactone; (2) converting the &agr;-methyl-&ggr;-butyrolactone from step (1) to an alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate; (3) producing a xylene solution of the alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate; and (4) contacting the xylene solution of an alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate from step (3) with an alkali metal alkoxide under conditions of temperature and pressure which causes vaporization of (i) an alkanol as it is formed and (ii) an alkyl 1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylate as it is formed from the alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate. Also disclosed are processes whereby the alkyl 1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylate, prepared as described above, is converted to 1-methylcyclopropylamine.

Abstract: A novel process for preparing polymers having an average particle size of less than about 40 micrometers is described. The process involves dissolving a polymer in a solvent to form a solution that is introduced into an agitating aqueous medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of 3-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF) from 3-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran (HOMeTHF) by contacting HOMeTHF with hydrogen in the presence of an acidic, supported catalyst comprising a Group VIII metal.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making an incorporated photographic amide comprising a) continuously combining an amine capable of forming an incorporated photographic amide, an acid chloride, one or more acid-absorbing reagents, and one or more water-immiscible solvents to continuously form a reaction mixture; b) continuously reacting the amine and acid chloride to form an incorporated photographic amide; and c) separating the incorporated photographic amide from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of recovering 3,4-epoxy-1-butene (epoxybutene) from an epoxybutene-laden reaction product gas by absorption into a high-boiling solvent. Also disclosed is a process for the purification of the epoxybutene by separating epoxybutene from the solvent and other reaction by-products by a novel combination of distillation and decantation steps.

Abstract: A process for the purification and isolation of a chemical compound, by extractive solution crystallization. The process comprises combining in any order a first solvent, a second solvent, and a mixture comprising a chemical compound with at least one impurity. The second solvent phase extracts impurities out of the first solvent, and keeps the impurities dissolved to avoid their co-crystallization with the phenyl ester salt. Once the chemical compound has crystallized out of solution, it is collected, washed and/or dried. The second solvent may be added after the mixture containing at least one chemical compound is dissolved in a first solvent, as long as the second solvent phase is added prior to the end of crystallization. Advantageously, this invention combines the previously distinct steps of extraction and crystallization in one unit operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for isolating a phenyl ester salt from a mixture comprising sulfolane (tetrahydrothiophene-1,1-dioxide). The invention includes adjusting the temperature of a mixture comprising a phenyl ester salt and sulfolane to a temperature of about 100-150° C. This step leads to the formation of a mixture comprising a solid phenyl ester salt and sulfolane. Next, the solid phenyl ester salt is separated, while maintaining the temperature of the mixture at about 100-150° C. The invention also relates to a process that includes adding a sufficient amount of a solvent to a mixture comprising a phenyl ester salt and sulfolane to decrease the viscosity or the density of the mixture. The solvent added has a density less than about 1.20 g/cm3 at 100° C. or a viscosity of less than about 2.56 centipoise at 100° C. The embodiments of the invention may be used alone or in combination.

Abstract: According to the invention, waste materials containing amido-carboxylic acid esters, which are generated during the preparation of phenyl ester salts, can be converted into amido-carboxylic acids. The recovered amido-carboxylic acid is then useful in the preparation of additional phenyl ester salt by the original preparation process or other processes known in the art. The process of the invention combines a waste material containing amido-carboxylic acid esters with an aqueous solution of a strong acid having a pH less than about 1 to form a mixture. The process heats the mixture to a temperature of at least 90° C. and maintains the mixture at that temperature for a time sufficient to hydrolyze the amido-carboxylic acid esters to amido-carboxylic acids. Sufficient base is the added to adjust the pH of the mixture to greater than about 2. The mixture is then maintained at a temperature of at least 80° C.