The present invention is directed to inhibitors of tyrosinase, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such tyrosinase inhibitors, and methods of making and using the same. Specifically, included in the present invention are compositions of matter comprised of at least one 2,4-dihydroxybenzene analog, which inhibit the activity of tyrosinase and which inhibit the overproduction of melanin.

An anionic surfactant of general formula (I) in which n and m are, independently of one another, numbers from 0 to 17 and 2<n+m<20, and X.sup.+ is a charge-balancing cation. The invention also relates to a production method by way of: the acid-catalysed reaction of 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl) tetrahydrofuran with an alkene having 5 to 22 C atoms in equimolar amounts, at an increased temperature; subsequent sulphation with a sulphating agent; and optional neutralisation by a subsequent reaction with ##STR00001##
X.sup.+OH.sup.− or X.sup.+.sub.2 CO.sup.2−.sub.3, where X.sup.+ is an alkali metal cation or a group N.sup.+R.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.3, in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are, independently of one another, hydrogen, an alkyl group with 1 to 6 C atoms, or a hydroxyalkyl group with 2 to 6 C atoms. Detergents or cleaning agents containing—the surfactant, and the use of same to improve the performance of the detergents or cleaning agents, are also disclosed.

An anionic surfactant of general formula (I) in which n and m are, independently of one another, numbers from 0 to 17 and 2<n+m<20, and X.sup.+ is a charge-balancing cation. The invention also relates to a production method by way of: the acid-catalysed reaction of 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl) tetrahydrofuran with an alkene having 5 to 22 C atoms in equimolar amounts, at an increased temperature; subsequent sulphation with a sulphating agent; and optional neutralisation by a subsequent reaction with ##STR00001##
X.sup.+OH.sup.− or X.sup.+.sub.2 CO.sup.2−.sub.3, where X.sup.+ is an alkali metal cation or a group N.sup.+R.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.3, in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are, independently of one another, hydrogen, an alkyl group with 1 to 6 C atoms, or a hydroxyalkyl group with 2 to 6 C atoms. Detergents or cleaning agents containing—the surfactant, and the use of same to improve the performance of the detergents or cleaning agents, are also disclosed.

The invention provides a process for refining non-petroleum based ethylene glycol, wherein impurities having a boiling point close to that of ethylene glycol are separated. In the process, C.sub.5-C.sub.20 oleophilic alcohol compounds, C.sub.5-C.sub.20 alkanes and/or C.sub.4-C.sub.20 oleophilic ketone compounds are subjected to azeotropism as an azeotropic agent together with the non-petroleum based ethylene glycol to obtain an azeotrope containing ethylene glycol. Then the azeotropic agent in the azeotrope is separated and removed to obtain an ethylene glycol crude product which is further purified to obtain ethylene glycol.

The invention provides a process for refining non-petroleum based ethylene glycol, wherein impurities having a boiling point close to that of ethylene glycol are separated. In the process, C.sub.5-C.sub.20 oleophilic alcohol compounds, C.sub.5-C.sub.20 alkanes and/or C.sub.4-C.sub.20 oleophilic ketone compounds are subjected to azeotropism as an azeotropic agent together with the non-petroleum based ethylene glycol to obtain an azeotrope containing ethylene glycol. Then the azeotropic agent in the azeotrope is separated and removed to obtain an ethylene glycol crude product which is further purified to obtain ethylene glycol.

The present invention provides a compound represented by formula (I) [wherein L represents an oxygen atom or CH.sub.2, E represents a C2-C10 chain hydrocarbon group or the like, R.sup.1 represents a C1-C3 chain hydrocarbon group or the like, R.sup.2 represents a C1-C3 chain hydrocarbon group or the like, and n is 0, 1, 2 or 3.] or its N oxide or agriculturally acceptable salt, which is a compound that have excellent pests controlling effects.

##STR00001##

The present invention provides a compound represented by formula (I) [wherein L represents an oxygen atom or CH.sub.2, E represents a C2-C10 chain hydrocarbon group or the like, R.sup.1 represents a C1-C3 chain hydrocarbon group or the like, R.sup.2 represents a C1-C3 chain hydrocarbon group or the like, and n is 0, 1, 2 or 3.] or its N oxide or agriculturally acceptable salt, which is a compound that have excellent pests controlling effects.

##STR00001##

A radiation-sensitive resin composition includes a resin including a structural unit having an acid-dissociable group, an onium salt compound represented by formula (1), and a solvent. R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a monovalent group provided that the monovalent group is not a fluoro group or a monovalent organic group containing a fluorine atom. X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are each independently a single bond, —O—, —S— or —NR′— wherein R′ is a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group. In a case where X.sup.1 is —NR′—, R.sup.2 is a monovalent organic group or a hydrogen atom. In a case where X.sup.2 is —NR′—, R.sup.3 is a monovalent organic group or a hydrogen atom. In a case where neither X.sup.1 nor X.sup.2 is —NR′—, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently a monovalent organic group. ##STR00001##

A radiation-sensitive resin composition includes a resin including a structural unit having an acid-dissociable group, an onium salt compound represented by formula (1), and a solvent. R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a monovalent group provided that the monovalent group is not a fluoro group or a monovalent organic group containing a fluorine atom. X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are each independently a single bond, —O—, —S— or —NR′— wherein R′ is a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group. In a case where X.sup.1 is —NR′—, R.sup.2 is a monovalent organic group or a hydrogen atom. In a case where X.sup.2 is —NR′—, R.sup.3 is a monovalent organic group or a hydrogen atom. In a case where neither X.sup.1 nor X.sup.2 is —NR′—, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently a monovalent organic group. ##STR00001##

An anionic surfactant of general formula (I) in which n and m are, independently of one another, numbers from 0 to 17 and 2<n+m<20, and X.sup.+ is a charge-balancing cation. The invention also relates to a production method by way of: the acid-catalysed reaction of 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl) tetrahydrofuran with an alkene having 5 to 22 C atoms in equimolar amounts, at an increased temperature; subsequent sulphation with a sulphating agent; and optional neutralisation by a subsequent reaction with

##STR00001##

X.sup.+OH.sup.− or X.sup.+.sub.2CO.sup.2−.sub.3, where X.sup.+ is an alkali metal cation or a group N.sup.+R.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.3, in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are, independently of one another, hydrogen, an alkyl group with 1 to 6 C atoms, or a hydroxyalkyl group with 2 to 6 C atoms. Detergents or cleaning agents containing the surfactant, and the use of same to improve the performance of the detergents or cleaning agents, are also disclosed.