The invention relates to a process for synthesizing an aqueous N,N-dimethyl glucamine solution, characterized in that a formaldehyde solution is metered into an N-methyl glucamine solution in the presence of a metal catalyst at hydrogen pressure.

The invention relates to a process for synthesizing an aqueous N,N-dimethyl glucamine solution, characterized in that a formaldehyde solution is metered into an N-methyl glucamine solution in the presence of a metal catalyst at hydrogen pressure.

The invention relates to a process for synthesizing an aqueous N,N-dimethyl glucamine solution, characterized in that a formaldehyde solution is metered into an N-methyl glucamine solution in the presence of a metal catalyst at hydrogen pressure.

Sorbent compositions that include a base sorbent material having a high porosity and surface area and a boron-selective agent are particularly useful for the sequestration of boron from waste materials such as coal combustion residual leachate (CCRs). By using a boron-selective agent in conjunction with a high surface area base sorbent material such as activated carbon or biochar, a sorbent composition with a high capacity for sequestering boron at relatively low cost is provided.

Sorbent compositions that include a base sorbent material having a high porosity and surface area and a boron-selective agent are particularly useful for the sequestration of boron from waste materials such as coal combustion residual leachate (CCRs). By using a boron-selective agent in conjunction with a high surface area base sorbent material such as activated carbon or biochar, a sorbent composition with a high capacity for sequestering boron at relatively low cost is provided.

Methods of making N-hydroxyalkylated polyamines are provided, in which the method includes reacting a polyamine comprising Formula (XXIV): ##STR00001##
with a cyclic oxide to produce the N-hydroxyalkylated polyamine, where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently a —C or —CH group; R.sup.3 is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl; and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently acyclic hydrocarbyls, or are covalently connected to form an unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbyl.

Methods of making N-hydroxyalkylated polyamines are provided, in which the method includes reacting a polyamine comprising Formula (XXIV): ##STR00001##
with a cyclic oxide to produce the N-hydroxyalkylated polyamine, where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently a —C or —CH group; R.sup.3 is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl; and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently acyclic hydrocarbyls, or are covalently connected to form an unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbyl.

Processes are disclosed for the synthesis of an α-amino acid or α-amino acid derivative, from a starting compound or substrate having a carbonyl functional group (C═O), with hydroxy-substituted carbon atoms at alpha (α) and beta (β) positions, relative to the carbonyl functional group. According a particular embodiment, an α-, β-dihydroxy carboxylic acid or carboxylate is dehydrated to form a dicarbonyl intermediate by transformation of the α-hydroxy group to a second carbonyl group (adjacent a carbonyl group of the starting compound) and removal of the β-hydroxy group. The dicarbonyl intermediate is optionally cracked to form a second, in this case cracked, dicarbonyl intermediate having fewer carbon atoms relative to the dicarbonyl intermediate but preserving the first and second carbonyl groups. Either or both of the dicarbonyl intermediate and the cracked dicarbonyl intermediate may be aminated to convert the second carbonyl group to an amino (—NH.sub.2) group, for producing the corresponding α-amino acid(s).

Processes are disclosed for the synthesis of an α-amino acid or α-amino acid derivative, from a starting compound or substrate having a carbonyl functional group (C═O), with hydroxy-substituted carbon atoms at alpha (α) and beta (β) positions, relative to the carbonyl functional group. According a particular embodiment, an α-, β-dihydroxy carboxylic acid or carboxylate is dehydrated to form a dicarbonyl intermediate by transformation of the α-hydroxy group to a second carbonyl group (adjacent a carbonyl group of the starting compound) and removal of the β-hydroxy group. The dicarbonyl intermediate is optionally cracked to form a second, in this case cracked, dicarbonyl intermediate having fewer carbon atoms relative to the dicarbonyl intermediate but preserving the first and second carbonyl groups. Either or both of the dicarbonyl intermediate and the cracked dicarbonyl intermediate may be aminated to convert the second carbonyl group to an amino (—NH.sub.2) group, for producing the corresponding α-amino acid(s).

The present application relates to extracting a plurality of compounds from a traditional Chinese medicine, or synthesizing a compound capable of promoting nucleic acid delivery, and utilizing the extracted compound, or a plurality of combinations to promote absorption and entry of a nucleic acid such as sRNA into a target cell, and to facilitate the entry of a nucleic acid into a target site in a subject in need thereof.