Abstract: Formulations comprising hydroxy methionine analog and having low levels of sulfate ions and bisulfate salts, processes for preparing the formulations, compositions comprising the formulations, and methods of using the formulations.

Abstract: An efficient synthesis of the anticonvulsant drug, Pregabalin hydrochloride is described using simple transformations in high enantiopurity (>99% ee) and overall yield of 44 to 50%.

Abstract: A continuous process for the production of choline hydroxide includes reacting ethylene oxide, trimethylamine, and water in a reaction zone to form a reaction mixture and extracting heat from the reaction mixture. Subsequently, phase separation of the reaction mixture is induced to obtain a choline hydroxide phase and an organic liquid phase comprising trimethylamine. A choline hydroxide solution (e.g., at a concentration of about 40% to 50% by weight, based on total weight of the choline hydroxide solution) is obtained from the choline hydroxide phase.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to processes for the conversion of glucose to caprolactam employing chemocatalytic oxidation and reduction reactions. The present invention also includes processes for the conversion of glucose to caprolactam via amido polyhydroxy acid products and amidocaproic acid or derivatives thereof. The present invention also includes processes that catalytically oxidize an amidopolyol to amidopolyhydroxy acid or derivatives thereof, and processes that catalytically hydrodeoxygenate amino or amido polyhydroxy acid or derivatives thereof to an amino or amidocaproic acid product. The amino or amidocaproic acid product may then be converted to caprolactam. The present invention also includes products produced by such processes and products producable from such products.

Abstract: A reaction system suitable for production of a methionine salt contains a reactive rectification column containing a weir having a height of 100 mm or more.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaving unsaturated fatty chains comprising a step of oxidative cleavage in which at least one fatty acid derivative having at least one unsaturation is reacted in the liquid phase with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst for activating the reaction of oxidative cleavage and of molecular oxygen and in the absence of organic solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing aminopolycarboxylates proceeding from an amino acid which, in a first process step is reacted with ethylene oxide to give an intermediate mixture comprising the corresponding dialkanolamine, and then the intermediate mixture, in a second process step is converted catalytically using a base to the corresponding aminopolycarboxylate, wherein the amino acid, before the reaction with ethylene oxide in the first process step, is supplied to a partial neutralization with 0.70 to 0.99 equivalent of base per acid group, or, in the first process step, an amino acid which has already been partly neutralized with 0.70 to 0.99 equivalent of base per acid group is used.

Abstract: The invention provides novel compounds and methods to carry out organocatalytic Michael additions of aldehydes to nitroethylene catalyzed by a proline derivative to provide ?-substituted-?-nitroaldehydes. The reaction can be rendered enantioselective when a chiral pyrrolidine catalyst is used, allowing for Michael adducts in nearly optically pure form (e.g., 96-99% e.e.). The Michael adducts can bear a single substituent or dual substituents adjacent to the carbonyl. The Michael adducts can be efficiently converted to protected ?2-amino acids, which are essential for systematic conformational studies of ?-peptide foldamers.

Abstract: A process for preparing aminopolycarboxylates proceeding from the corresponding polyalkanolamines by oxidative dehydrogenation in the presence of a catalyst comprising 1 to 90% by weight of copper, based on the total weight of the catalyst, using a base, which comprises first performing a partial conversion of the polyalkanolamine to a reaction mixture comprising the aminopolycarboxylate at a temperature in the range from 140 to 180° C. until at least 10 to 90 mol% of the polyalkanolamine has been depleted, and then continuing the conversion at elevated temperature.

Abstract: A reaction system suitable for production of a methionine salt contains a reactive rectification column containing a weir having a height of 100 mm or more.

Abstract: Process for preparing one or more complexing agents selected from methylglycinediacetic acid, glutamic acid diacetic acid and salts thereof Process for preparing one or more complexing agents selected from methylglycinediacetic acid, glutamic acid diacetic acid and salts thereof by catalytic dehydrogenation of N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)alanine and/or N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glutamic acid and/or salts thereof in the presence of alkali metal hydroxide, where a catalyst comprising copper and zirconium dioxide is used, the activation of which is a reduction, wherein the precursor of the catalyst in question has a degree of crystallization K, defined as K = I K · 100 I K + I A , in the range from 0 to 50%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing methionine, comprising a first step of reacting 2-amino-3-buten-1-ol with methanethiol, and a second step of oxidizing 2-amino-4-methylthio-1-butanol obtained in the first step. The present invention also relates to a process for producing 2-amino-4-methylthio-1-butanol, comprising a step of reacting 2-amino-3-buten-1-ol with methanethiol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a sulfur-containing amino acid, comprising a step of oxidizing a 2-aminoethanol compound having, at position 2, a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms in the presence of oxygen and at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of the elements of Groups 8, 9 and 10 of the periodic table.

Abstract: The invention provides novel compounds and methods to carry out organocatalytic Michael additions of aldehydes to nitroethylene catalyzed by a proline derivative to provide ?-substituted-?-nitroaldehydes. The reaction can be rendered enantioselective when a chiral pyrrolidine catalyst is used, allowing for Michael adducts in nearly optically pure form (e.g., 96-99% e.e.). The Michael adducts can bear a single substituent or dual substituents adjacent to the carbonyl. The Michael adducts can be efficiently converted to protected ?2-amino acids, which are essential for systematic conformational studies of ?-peptide foldamers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a sulfur-containing amino acid, comprising a step of oxidizing a 2-aminoethanol compound having, at position 2, a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms in the presence of copper and water.

Abstract: A method is described for producing acyl glycinate salts of formula (II) in which R1 represents a saturated linear or branched alkyl radical comprising 1 to 21 carbon atoms or a monounsaturated or polyunsaturated linear or branched alkenyl radical comprising 2 to 21 carbon atoms, and B represents a cation, and/or the corresponding protonated acyl glycinic acid. Said method is characterized in that one or more fatty acid monoethanol amides of formula (I) in which R1 has the meaning indicated above is/are oxidized with oxygen in the presence of an optionally supported bimetallic catalyst consisting of gold and a metal from group VIII of the periodic table in the alkaline medium in order to obtain one or more acyl glycinate salts of formula (II). In order to produce the protonated acyl glycinic acids, the acyl glycinate salt/s of formula (II) is/are additionally reacted with an acid.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to processes for the conversion of glucose to caprolactam employing chemocatalytic oxidation and reduction reactions. The present invention also includes processes for the conversion of glucose to caprolactam via amido polyhydroxy acid products and amidocaproic acid or derivatives thereof. The present invention also includes processes that catalytically oxidize an amidopolyol to amidopolyhydroxy acid or derivatives thereof, and processes that catalytically hydrodeoxygenate amino or amido polyhydroxy acid or derivatives thereof to an amino or amidocaproic acid product. The amino or amidocaproic acid product may then be converted to caprolactam. The present invention also includes products produced by such processes and products producable from such products.

Abstract: This invention is directed a process for preparation of a carboxylic acid salt by dehydrogenation of a primary alcohol. The invention is also directed to a catalyst for dehydrogenating primary alcohols. In one embodiment, for example, the catalyst comprises a metal support (preferably a metal sponge support) having a copper-containing coating at the surface thereof. In another embodiment, the catalyst comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, cobalt, iron, tin and combinations thereof having a copper-containing coating at the surface thereof.

Abstract: To provide a method for the production of a hydroxycarboxylic acid derivative, by which a hydroxycarboxylic acid derivative, which can be reused in various applications, can be obtained from a polyamide at a high yield without consuming a large amount of energy. A method for the production of a hydroxycarboxylic acid derivative, which is characterized by including allowing an alcohol in a supercritical state to act on a polyamide in the presence of a carboxylic acid derivative to depolymerize the polyamide to obtain the hydroxycarboxylic acid derivative.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing aminocarboxylates, proceeding from amines, by employing a reaction sequence composed of ethoxylation to amino alcohols and subsequent oxidative dehydrogenation to the corresponding aminocarboxylates, especially the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts of the complexing agents MGDA (methylglycinediacetic acid), EDTA (ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid) and GLDA (glutamic acid diacetic acid) or the free acids thereof.

Abstract: A method is described for producing acyl glycinate salts of formula (II) in which R1 represents a saturated linear or branched alkyl radical comprising 1 to 21 carbon atoms or a monounsaturated or polyunsaturated linear or branched alkenyl radical comprising 2 to 21 carbon atoms, and B represents a cation, and/or the corresponding protonated acyl glycinic acid. Said method is characterized in that one or more fatty acid monoethanol amides of formula (I) in which R1 has the meaning indicated above is/are oxidized with oxygen in the presence of an optionally supported bimetallic catalyst consisting of gold and a metal from group VIII of the periodic table in the alkaline medium in order to obtain one or more acyl glycinate salts of formula (II). In order to produce the protonated acyl glycinic acids, the acyl glycinate salt/s of formula (II) is/are additionally reacted with an acid.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for reforming an alcohol. The process comprises contacting an alcohol with a reforming catalyst comprising copper at the surface of a metal supporting structure, preferably a metal sponge supporting structure comprising nickel. In a certain preferred embodiment, hydrogen produced by the reforming process is used as a fuel source for a hydrogen fuel cell to generate electric power, particularly for driving a vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for preparing 2-hydroxy-4-methylselenobutyric acid from 3-methylselenoproprion-aldehyde. The 2-hydroxy-4-methylselenobutyric acid is obtained alone or as a mixture with its sulphur-containing analogue. The invention also relates to the compositions, in particular nutritional compositions, comprising a mixture of 2-hydroxy-4-methylselenobutyric acid and 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid, and a physiologically acceptable medium, and to the use of this mixture as a dietary ingredient.

Abstract: Raney copper which is doped with at least one metal from the group comprising iron and/or noble metals is used as a catalyst in the dehydrogenation of alcohols.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions comprising organocatalysts that facilitate stereo-selective reactions and the method of their synthesis and use. Particularly, the invention relates to metal-free organocatalysts for facilitation of stereo-selective reactions, and the method of their synthesis and use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the selective, economically viable preparation of methacrylic acid and methacrylic esters starting from acetone cyanohydrin, wherein, in a first step, 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionic acid is prepared by reacting acetone cyanohydrin with sulphuric acid in the presence of water and a suitable polar solvent and is isolated and methacrylic acid is subsequently prepared by ?-elimination of water starting from 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionic acid.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for making a salt of a carboxylic acid. The process comprises contacting a catalyst with an alkaline mixture comprising a primary alcohol. In one embodiment, for example, the catalyst comprises a metal support (preferably a metal sponge support) having a copper-containing active phase at the surface thereof. The support is resistant to deformation under the conditions of the dehydrogenation reaction. In another embodiment, the catalyst comprises a metal sponge having a copper-containing active phase at the surface thereof and a supporting structure containing at least 10% non-copper metal. This invention is also directed to copper-containing catalysts which may, for example, be used in the above process. This invention is further directed to processes for making such catalysts.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process for oxidizing a primary amidoalcohol to the corresponding amidocarboxylic acid in high yield.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process for oxidizing a primary amidoalcohol to the corresponding amidocarboxylic acid in high yield.

Abstract: Provided herein are improved methods for producing methacrylic acid and methacrylate esters using combined or “integrated” processing steps including integrated hydrolysis, integrated cracking systems, and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, other aspects of an methacrylic acid and methacrylate ester production trains are integrated. Also provided are methods to purify crude methacrylic acid streams to form glacial methacrylic acid that is at least 95% pure.

Abstract: The invention concerns an improved method for separating hydroxymethylthiobutyric acid by neutralising hydroxymethylthiobutyronitrile sulphuric hydrolysate, decanting and treating each phase with an organic solvent.

Abstract: A process for producing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid is provided wherein 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyronitrile is converted to 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanamide by using sulfuric acid, then adding an aqueous solution containing ammonium bisulfate and ammonium sulfate to the reaction liquid to obtain an oil layer containing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid and an aqueous layer containing ammonium bisulfate and ammonium sulfate, then a part of the ammonium salts is separated from the aqueous layer, and the aqueous layer containing ammonium bisulfate and ammonium sulfate thus obtained is recycled as the aqueous solution containing ammonium bisulfate and ammonium sulfate described above. According to the present invention, 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid of high quality can be obtained without requiring organic solvents and with a greatly reduced amount of waste water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing betaines of formula (I) wherein R1 represents a C1-C24 hydrocarbon group, and R2 and R3 independently represent a C1-C3 hydrocarbon group, comprising reacting an aqueous solution of an ethoxylated quaternay ammonium compound of formula (II) wherein R1, R2, and R3 have the same meaning as described above and X− represents a suitable anion, with oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas under alkaline conditions in the presence of a supported and promoted Pt catalyst at a temperature ranging from room temperature to 70° C. Preferably, use is made of a Pt/Bi/C catalyst.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing specific polycarboxylic acids by oxidative cleavage of double-bond compounds with hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen peroxide donors. The polycarboxylic acids thus obtained are notable for excellent acid stability, and consequently ease of handling in aqueous solution and are useful for treating cellulosic fibers or textile or paper materials produced therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new and useful improvement in the process to manufacture a carboxylic acid salt, particularly an amino carboxylic acid salt, from a primary alcohol, particularly a primary aminoalcohol. The process of manufacturing amino carboxylic acid salts comprises contacting an aqueous solution of a primary aminoalcohol with a strong hydroxide base selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, an ammonium hydroxide compound including a tetraalkyl ammonium hydroxide, or the like, in the presence of an effective amount of a catalyst. The catalyst comprises one or more of elements selected from the group consisting of copper, cobalt, nickel, and cadmium as well as optionally lesser amounts of chromium, titanium, niobium, tantalum, zirconium, vanadium, molybdenum, manganese, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for making an iminodiacetic acid compound from a monoethanolamine substrate having the formula: wherein R1 is hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, or substituted hydrocarbyl. The process includes a series of reactions comprising a cyanomethylation, a hydrolysis and a dehydrogenation with the hydrolysis and dehydrogenation steps being carried out either sequentially or concurrently. In a particular embodiment, the iminodiacetic acid produced is disodium iminodiacetic acid and the monoethanolamine substrate used is 2-aminoethanol.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for oxidizing primary amino alcohols, primary or secondary alkenols or alkinols into the corresponding acids or ketones. According to said method, a primary amino alcohol or a primary or secondary alkenol or alkinol is oxidized in the form of a substrate, in the presence of an equimolar quantity of periodate or a molar excess thereof in relation to the alcoholic hydroxy groups and catalytic quantities of dichromate or CrO3 and in the presence of an acid in water, a water/solvent mixture or a solvent at a temperature of −20 ° C. to +50 ° C., to produce the corresponding acid or the corresponding ketone.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for preparing amino-, imino-, and nitrilocarboxylic acids, and their alkali metal salts, starting from alkanolamines. The method employs oxidative dehydrogenation of the alkanolamine(s) in an alkali metal hydroxide medium, using a copper catalyst containing silver.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for making a salt of a carboxylic acid. The process comprises contacting a catalyst with an alkaline mixture comprising a primary alcohol. In one embodiment, for example, the catalyst comprises a metal support (preferably a metal sponge support) coated with copper. The support comprises at least about 10% (by weight) non-copper metal, and the copper-containing coating comprises from about 0.005 to about 0.5 grams of copper (per gram of said metal support). In another embodiment, the catalyst comprises a metal support (preferably a metal sponge support) coated with silver. The support comprises at least about 10% (by weight) non-silver metal, and the silver-containing coating comprises from about 0.005 to about 0.5 grams of copper (per gram of said metal support). In another embodiment, the catalyst comprises at least about 15% (by weight) non-copper metal, and at least about 10% (by weight) copper.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of amine-group-containing carboxylic acid salts by oxidation of amine-group-containing primary alcohols in an aqueous-alkaline reaction medium, in the presence of a copper catalyst, and at an elevated temperature, which is characterized in that the copper catalyst used is a reduced copper/chrome or copper/zinc spinel.

Abstract: A fixed bed Raney copper catalyst, which is doped with iron, noble metals or other metals, is employed as the fixed bed catalyst in the fixed bed dehydrogenation of alcohols.

Abstract: A method for the production of a salt of carboxylic acid by catalytic dehydrogenation effected by reacting the corresponding primary alcohol in aqueous solution with an alkaline hydroxide in the present of a copper catalyst, in which, before the catalytic dehydrogenation, the mass of the reagents comprising the said aqueous solution of a primary alcohol is subjected to a deoxygenation stage in order to remove or reduce the level of dissolved molecular oxygen. The deoxygenation stage is preferably carried out by bubbling an inert gas or by adding a reducing agent.

Abstract: Aliphatic primary alcohols, including aliphatic primary alcohols possessing one or more oxygen, nitrogen and/or phosphorus heteroatoms that may be atoms substituting for carbon atoms in the alkyl group or component atoms of substituents on the alkyl group, were converted into salts of carboxylic acids by contacting an alkaline aqueous solution of the primary alcohol with a catalyst comprising cobalt, copper, and at least one of cerium, iron, zinc, and zirconium. Diethanolamine, for example, was converted to sodium iminodiacetate by treatment in an aqueous medium containing sodium hydroxide with a catalyst that was obtained by reducing a mixture of cobalt, copper, and zirconium oxides with hydrogen.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of N-acetyl protected amino acids of Formula I by amido carbonylation utilizing carbon monoxide, nitrile, and an aldehyde in the presence of a metal catalyst.

Abstract: Catalyst for dehydrogenating amino alcohols to aminocarboxylic acids or ethylene glycol (derivatives) to oxycarboxylic acids, said catalyst containing zirconium, copper and possibly an additional metal, whereby the cited metals are precipitated as hydroxides, washed, dried, calcined, and reduced, preparable in that zirconium hydroxide is precipitated from an aqueous zirconium salt solution using a base until a pH of 4 to 10 is attained, the aqueous solution of a copper salt and possibly of an additional salt is added to the zirconium hydroxide suspension, and by adding further base copper hydroxide and possibly the hydroxide of the metal contained in the additional salt is precipitated until a pH of 8 to 14 is attained, the suspension obtained is filtered, washed, dried, calcined in air at 450 to 600.degree. C. for 2 to 4 hours and finally reduced at 200 to 250.degree. C. in a hydrogen stream for 2 to 4 hours.

Abstract: This invention relates to analogs of peptidase substrates in which the amide group containing the scissile amide bond of the substrate peptide has been replaced by an activated electrophilic ketone moiety. These analogs of the peptidase substrates provide specific enzyme inhibitors for a variety of proteases, the inhibition of which will have useful physiological consequences in a variety of disease states.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a TEMPO-catalyzed oxidation of primary alcohols, RCH.sub.2 OH to corresponding carboxylic acids, RCOOH in the presence of catalytic in the presence of catalytic amount of NaClO and stoichiometric amount of NaClO.sub.2 as an oxidant.

Abstract: A process for producing an amide and/or acid from a nitrile comprises introducing a nitrile, as a first reactant, and a hydration compound, as a second reactant which is capable of reacting with the nitrile to convert it to its corresponding amide thus hydrating the nitrile and/or to convert it to its corresponding acid, into a treatment zone. The nitrile is subjected to catalytic distillation in the treatment zone in the presence of the hydration compound, to hydrate at least some of the nitrile to the corresponding amide and/or to form its corresponding acid. The amide and/or acid is withdrawn from the treatment zone.

Abstract: Betaine is produced by the oxidation of a choline salt in the presence of a base and a supported noble metal catalyst at temperatures from about 20.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. and pressures from atmospheric to about 100 psi. This process is advantageous over prior processes for the production of betaine in that no amine halocarboxylate contaminants are produced by this reaction.

Abstract: Process for making secondary amphoacetate and amphodiacetate of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 -alkyl or C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 -alkenyl, R.sup.2 is hydrogen or a group of the formula --CH.sub.2 COOM and M is alkaline or alkaline earth metal, which comprises heating a compound of the formula 2 ##STR2## at pH between 7-14, at a temperature of 80 to 90 deg C. and for at least 24 hours and subsequent reaction with an aqueous solution of chloroacetic acid or is alkali salt at a pH from 7 fo 14 and a temperature of 80 to 90.degree. C. Due to the long period for the ring opening in the first step predominantly secondary products are obtained which are advantageous in that they show a low viscosity of their aqueous solution.