An improved biodiesel production process includes the steps of processing a feedstock to produce biodiesel, cooling the biodiesel so as to form sediment, and filtering the biodiesel to remove the sediment. The resulting biodiesel from the cold filtration process avoids problems of sediment formation during storage and transportation.

Described herein are methods of preparing cutin-derived monomers, oligomers, or combinations thereof from cutin-containing plant matter. The methods can include heating the cutin-derived plant matter in a solvent at elevated temperature and pressure. In some preferred embodiments, the methods can be carried out without the use of additional acidic or basic species.

Described herein are methods of preparing cutin-derived monomers, oligomers, or combinations thereof from cutin-containing plant matter. The methods can include heating the cutin-derived plant matter in a solvent at elevated temperature and pressure. In some preferred embodiments, the methods can be carried out without the use of additional acidic or basic species.

The present disclosure discloses salts formed by 2-(1-acyloxy-n-pentyl)benzoic acid and basic amino acid or aminoguanidine, a preparation method thereof, pharmaceutical preparations containing these salts, and application thereof in preparation of drugs for preventing or treating ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, resisting thrombosis and improving cardio-cerebral circulation disorders. The compound of the present disclosure has excellent water solubility, aqueous solution stability and pharmacokinetic properties, also has significant anti-platelet aggregation, anti-thrombosis, anti-cerebral ischemia and neuroprotective activity. The compound of the present disclosure has significantly better effects than those of (S)-butylphthalide and potassium (R/S)-2-(1-hydroxy-n-pentyl) benzoate (PHPB), has significantly lower acute toxicity to mice by intravenous injection than that of butylphthalide and PHPB, has a lower inhibition rate of the hERG potassium channel in CHO-hERG cells than that of (S)-butylphthalide, and has a negative result in Bacterial Reverse Mutation Test (Ames test).

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a mixture of cetylated fatty acids and a system for carrying out said process. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a composition comprising, or alternatively, consisting of said mixture of cetylated fatty acids. Finally, the present invention relates to said composition for use in the treatment and/or prevention of: (i) rheumatoid arthritis of inflammatory and non-inflammatory origin, in particular osteoarthritis; (ii) other inflammatory joint conditions; (iii) psoriasis, lupus, periodontal diseases or cardiovascular or heart diseases; (iv) all post-traumatic osteoarticular pathologies including sports injuries; (v) all degenerative joint pathologies (arthrosis, gonarthrosis, coxarthrosis, etc.), and (vi) inflammatory-traumatic tendon and muscular conditions. Furthermore, it is envisaged that the composition of the present invention be used in the treatment and/or prevention of the above-mentioned pathologies and disorders (i)-(vi) in association with a rehabilitative therapy. The composition comprising said mixture is formulated in a pharmaceutical form for oral use (novel food, supplement or medical device), i.e. in the form of a pill, pastille, capsule, tablet, granules, dispersible powder, syrup, solution or sprayable solution; for topical use, i.e. in the form of a cream, unguent, ointment, gel or spray to be used as such for application on the skin, or else for transdermal use in the form of a patch.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a mixture of cetylated fatty acids and a system for carrying out said process. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a composition comprising, or alternatively, consisting of said mixture of cetylated fatty acids. Finally, the present invention relates to said composition for use in the treatment and/or prevention of: (i) rheumatoid arthritis of inflammatory and non-inflammatory origin, in particular osteoarthritis; (ii) other inflammatory joint conditions; (iii) psoriasis, lupus, periodontal diseases or cardiovascular or heart diseases; (iv) all post-traumatic osteoarticular pathologies including sports injuries; (v) all degenerative joint pathologies (arthrosis, gonarthrosis, coxarthrosis, etc.), and (vi) inflammatory-traumatic tendon and muscular conditions. Furthermore, it is envisaged that the composition of the present invention be used in the treatment and/or prevention of the above-mentioned pathologies and disorders (i)-(vi) in association with a rehabilitative therapy. The composition comprising said mixture is formulated in a pharmaceutical form for oral use (novel food, supplement or medical device), i.e. in the form of a pill, pastille, capsule, tablet, granules, dispersible powder, syrup, solution or sprayable solution; for topical use, i.e. in the form of a cream, unguent, ointment, gel or spray to be used as such for application on the skin, or else for transdermal use in the form of a patch.

A macromolecules containing a metal and a use thereof as a catalyst are disclosed. The macromolecules containing a metal may be obtained by causing a ligand to react with a zinc compound or a cobalt compound. The ligand has an imidazole group that is bonded to a macromolecule via a linker. The metal-containing macromolecules are highly active as a catalyst, stable, and easy to recover and reuse.

A macromolecules containing a metal and a use thereof as a catalyst are disclosed. The macromolecules containing a metal may be obtained by causing a ligand to react with a zinc compound or a cobalt compound. The ligand has an imidazole group that is bonded to a macromolecule via a linker. The metal-containing macromolecules are highly active as a catalyst, stable, and easy to recover and reuse.

The present invention provides processes for preparing an α-necrodyl compound of the following general formula (3): wherein R.sup.2 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, the process comprising: subjecting a 3, 5, 5-trimethyl-3-cyclopentene compound of the following general formula (1): wherein R.sup.2 is as defined above, and X represents a leaving group, to a nucleophilic substitution reaction with a methylating agent of the following general formula (2): wherein M represents Li, MgZ.sup.1, ZnZ.sup.1, Cu, CuZ.sup.1, or CuLiZ.sup.1, and Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or a methyl group, to form the α-necrodyl compound (3). The present invention further provides processes for preparing γ-necrodyl compounds of the following general formula (4): wherein R.sup.2 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, the process comprising: subjecting the α-necrodyl compound (3) thus obtained to a positional isomerization reaction at the double bond to form the γ-necrodyl compound (4).

##STR00001##

The present invention provides processes for preparing an α-necrodyl compound of the following general formula (3): wherein R.sup.2 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, the process comprising: subjecting a 3, 5, 5-trimethyl-3-cyclopentene compound of the following general formula (1): wherein R.sup.2 is as defined above, and X represents a leaving group, to a nucleophilic substitution reaction with a methylating agent of the following general formula (2): wherein M represents Li, MgZ.sup.1, ZnZ.sup.1, Cu, CuZ.sup.1, or CuLiZ.sup.1, and Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or a methyl group, to form the α-necrodyl compound (3). The present invention further provides processes for preparing γ-necrodyl compounds of the following general formula (4): wherein R.sup.2 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, the process comprising: subjecting the α-necrodyl compound (3) thus obtained to a positional isomerization reaction at the double bond to form the γ-necrodyl compound (4).

##STR00001##