Disclosed is a method for synthesizing β-cyano ketone compound, including steps of (1) adding a α-keto acid and sodium hydroxide to a separator-free electrolytic cell, adding acetonitrile thereto, and dissolving the α-keto acid and sodium hydroxide in acetonitrile by stirring to be uniform, to obtain a dissolution solution; (2) adding an alkene or a derivative thereof, cyanobenziodoxolone, and an electrolyte to the dissolution solution, to obtain a mixed solution; (3) subjecting the mixed solution to an electrochemical reaction by electrifying a cathode of a platinum sheet, and an anode of a graphite electrode to obtain a reacted solution; and (4) after the electrochemical reaction, collecting the reacted solution, adding water thereto and stirring to obtain a mixture, subjecting the mixture to an extraction to obtain an organic phase, drying the organic phase and purifying, to obtain the β-cyano ketone compound.

The present invention relates to regioselective chemical and electrochemical processes for the preparation of an oxidized heterocyclic alpha-amino amide compounds. By applying specific catalysts or catalyst systems during chemical oxidation or by applying particular electrochemical oxidation conditions the present invention provides access to valuable alpha amino amide compounds, which are oxidized at the heterocyclic amino group by regioselective introduction of either a hydroxyl or a keto group. In a more particular embodiment, the present invention describes a chemical oxidation reaction, which advantageously is applicable in the enantioselective synthesis of valuable oxidized heterocyclic alpha-amino amide compounds, like levetiracetam, brivaracetam or the synthesis of piracetam. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a process for the electrochemical recycling of alkali perhalogenate oxidants as spent during said regioselective oxidation reactions of the invention. Still another aspect of the invention relates to the electrochemical preparation of perhalogenates.

A method includes collecting exhaust gas comprising carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) at a wellsite to provide a collected exhaust gas, separating CO.sub.2 from the collected exhaust gas to provide a separated CO.sub.2, and forming urea utilizing at least a portion of the separated CO.sub.2. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.

A method includes collecting exhaust gas comprising carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) at a wellsite to provide a collected exhaust gas, separating CO.sub.2 from the collected exhaust gas to provide a separated CO.sub.2, and forming urea utilizing at least a portion of the separated CO.sub.2. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.

A device for producing an azo compound includes a reaction unit in which a first solution comprising a hydrazo compound and at least one type of M.sub.aX.sub.b; a negative electrode disposed to be in direct contact with the hydrazo compound inside the reaction unit; and a positive electrode disposed inside the reaction unit so as to be in contact with the solution. X is a halogen element, M is at least one selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Ag, Zn, Sn, Zr, and Ti, or at least one selected from the group consisting of a primary ammonium ion, a secondary ammonium ion, and a tertiary ammonium ion, H is hydrogen, and a and b are each independently any one integer between 1 and 4.

A device for producing an azo compound includes a reaction unit in which a first solution comprising a hydrazo compound and at least one type of M.sub.aX.sub.b; a negative electrode disposed to be in direct contact with the hydrazo compound inside the reaction unit; and a positive electrode disposed inside the reaction unit so as to be in contact with the solution. X is a halogen element, M is at least one selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Ag, Zn, Sn, Zr, and Ti, or at least one selected from the group consisting of a primary ammonium ion, a secondary ammonium ion, and a tertiary ammonium ion, H is hydrogen, and a and b are each independently any one integer between 1 and 4.

The present invention relates to a novel biocatalytic process for the stereoselective preparation of alpha amino amide compounds catalyzed by NHase enzymes. A further aspect of the invention relates to novel NHase enzymes as well as further improved NHase enzyme mutants, nucleic acid molecules encoding these enzymes, recombinant microorganisms suitable for preparing such enzymes and mutants. Another aspect of the invention relates to a chemo-biocatalytic process for the preparation of lactam compounds comprising the new catalytic process for the preparation of alpha amino amide compounds catalyzed by NHase enzymes, as well as the chemical oxidation of the alpha amino amide by applying certain chemical oxidation catalysts suitable for converting the alpha amino amide under retention of its stereochemical configuration to the respective lactam. The novel chemo-biocatalytic process is particularly suited for the synthesis of valuable pharmaceutical compounds, like in particular (S)-Levetiracetam.

An electrode catalyst in which a metal or a metal oxide is supported on an electrode support composed of a conductive substance is provided. It is preferable that the electrode support contain one or more metals which are selected from the group consisting of a transition metal and a typical metal in Groups 12 to 14 or a carbon material and the metal or the metal oxide contain one or more metals which are selected from the group consisting of a transition metal and a typical metal in Groups 12 to 14 or a metal oxide.

An electrode catalyst in which a metal or a metal oxide is supported on an electrode support composed of a conductive substance is provided. It is preferable that the electrode support contain one or more metals which are selected from the group consisting of a transition metal and a typical metal in Groups 12 to 14 or a carbon material and the metal or the metal oxide contain one or more metals which are selected from the group consisting of a transition metal and a typical metal in Groups 12 to 14 or a metal oxide.

A catalyst-free electrochemical deuteration method using deuterium oxide as a deuterium source, adding an electrolyte, an organic compound containing an ethylenic bond or acetylenic bond, deuterium oxide, and an organic solvent into a reactor, applying a direct current voltage of 4-8 V between electrodes of a carbon felt in an atmosphere of an inert gas for an electrolytic reaction, to obtain a product, and purifying the product to obtain a deuterated product. In the method provided by the present disclosure, with the organic compound containing an ethylenic bond or acetylenic bond as a raw material, deuterium oxide as a deuterium source, cheap and readily available carbon electrode materials as cathodes and anodes, it is possible to obtain deuterated products by a direct current electrolysis in an organic solvent, without any transition metal catalysts.