The present invention provides a process for preparing 2-methyl-N-(2′-methylbutyl) butanamide of the following formula (1):the process comprising: subjecting an α-arylethyl-2-methylbutylamine compound of the following general formula (2): wherein Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, to N-2-methylbutyrylation to form an N-α-arylethyl-2-methyl-N-(2′-methylbutyl)butanamide compound of the following general formula (3): wherein Ar is as defined above, and removing the α-arylethyl group of the resulting compound (3) to form 2-methyl-N-(2′ -methylbutyl)butanamide (1). ##STR00001##

The present invention provides a process for preparing 2-methyl-N-(2′-methylbutyl) butanamide of the following formula (1):the process comprising: subjecting an α-arylethyl-2-methylbutylamine compound of the following general formula (2): wherein Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, to N-2-methylbutyrylation to form an N-α-arylethyl-2-methyl-N-(2′-methylbutyl)butanamide compound of the following general formula (3): wherein Ar is as defined above, and removing the α-arylethyl group of the resulting compound (3) to form 2-methyl-N-(2′ -methylbutyl)butanamide (1). ##STR00001##

##STR00001##

Disclosed is a method for preparing compound Formula S-1, comprising resolving compound Formula rac-2 with a compound of Formula 3 wherein R.sup.1.Math.R.sup.4, m and n are as defined in the disclosure.

The present invention relates to catalytically active material, comprising grains of non-graphitizing carbon with cobalt nanoparticles dispersed therein, wherein d.sub.p, the average diameter of cobalt nanoparticles in the non-graphitizing carbon grains, is in the range of 1 nm to 20 nm, D, the average distance between cobalt nanoparticles in the non-graphitizing carbon grains, is in the range of 2 nm to 150 nm, and ω, the combined total mass fraction of metal in the non-graphitizing carbon grains, is in the range of 30 wt % to 70 wt % of the total mass of the non-graphitizing carbon grains, and wherein d.sub.p, D and ω conform to the following relation: 4.5 d.sub.p/ω>D≥0.25 d.sub.p/ω. The present invention, further, relates to a process for the manufacture of material according to the invention, as well as its use as a catalyst.

The present invention relates to catalytically active material, comprising grains of non-graphitizing carbon with cobalt nanoparticles dispersed therein, wherein d.sub.p, the average diameter of cobalt nanoparticles in the non-graphitizing carbon grains, is in the range of 1 nm to 20 nm, D, the average distance between cobalt nanoparticles in the non-graphitizing carbon grains, is in the range of 2 nm to 150 nm, and ω, the combined total mass fraction of metal in the non-graphitizing carbon grains, is in the range of 30 wt % to 70 wt % of the total mass of the non-graphitizing carbon grains, and wherein d.sub.p, D and ω conform to the following relation: 4.5 d.sub.p/ω>D≥0.25 d.sub.p/ω. The present invention, further, relates to a process for the manufacture of material according to the invention, as well as its use as a catalyst.

Systems and methods for recycling polymers are provided. One embodiment provides a method for recycling synthetic polymers by combining the polymers with a solid depolymerizing catalyst in a vessel, mechanically shearing the combined polymers and the solid depolymerizing catalyst against each other to produce monomers from the polymers; and collecting the monomers. In some embodiments the solid depolymerizing catalyst is solid sodium hydroxide. In some embodiments collecting the monomers is achieved by contacting the sheared polymer and catalyst with a recyclable volatile solvent to dissolve the monomers. In some embodiments, the method includes purifying the collected monomers for repolymerization. In some embodiments purifying the monomers is achieved using nanofiltration membrane technology, cyclic fixed bed adsorption, simulated moving-bed adsorption or a combination thereof.

Systems and methods for recycling polymers are provided. One embodiment provides a method for recycling synthetic polymers by combining the polymers with a solid depolymerizing catalyst in a vessel, mechanically shearing the combined polymers and the solid depolymerizing catalyst against each other to produce monomers from the polymers; and collecting the monomers. In some embodiments the solid depolymerizing catalyst is solid sodium hydroxide. In some embodiments collecting the monomers is achieved by contacting the sheared polymer and catalyst with a recyclable volatile solvent to dissolve the monomers. In some embodiments, the method includes purifying the collected monomers for repolymerization. In some embodiments purifying the monomers is achieved using nanofiltration membrane technology, cyclic fixed bed adsorption, simulated moving-bed adsorption or a combination thereof.

In order to enable a reductive amination reaction at a low temperature and a low hydrogen pressure, provided is a catalyst comprising cobalt supported on an oxide, the catalyst produced by a method comprising the following steps (1) to (4): (1) a step of mixing a salt containing a cobalt ion and an oxide in water, (2) a step of distilling water away from a mixed solution obtained in step (1) and drying a resulting solid material, (3) a step of calcining a dried material obtained in step (2) in a nitrogen stream, and (4) a step of reducing a calcined product obtained in step (3) in a hydrogen stream.

In order to enable a reductive amination reaction at a low temperature and a low hydrogen pressure, provided is a catalyst comprising cobalt supported on an oxide, the catalyst produced by a method comprising the following steps (1) to (4): (1) a step of mixing a salt containing a cobalt ion and an oxide in water, (2) a step of distilling water away from a mixed solution obtained in step (1) and drying a resulting solid material, (3) a step of calcining a dried material obtained in step (2) in a nitrogen stream, and (4) a step of reducing a calcined product obtained in step (3) in a hydrogen stream.

A pharmaceutical or food composition including alverine, 4-hydroxy alverine, a derivative thereof, or a salt thereof and their uses are disclosed. The composition is useful for preventing, alleviating, or treating muscular weakness-related diseases. When myoblasts are treated with the alverine, 4-hydroxy alverine, derivative thereof, or salt thereof, differentiation into myotubes is promoted. Therefore, the alverine, 4-hydroxy alverine, derivative thereof, or salt thereof can be effectively used in the promotion of differentiation of myoblasts and the prevention, alleviation, or treatment of muscular weakness-related diseases.