Provided herein are novel extended branched alcohols having a lower branching number and improved biodegradability when compared to other branched alcohols. Also provided are novel extended branched ethoxylates having surfactant properties which can be more efficient in reducing surface tension when compared to the ethoxylated form of other branched alcohols. Further provided are novel syntheses of making extended branched alcohols and extended branched ethoxylates.

The disclosure relates to an electrolyte for an energy store comprising a conducting salt and a solvent. The solvent comprises at least one compound according to the general formula (1), as indicated in the following: wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 are, identically or independently of each other, selected from the group comprising linear or branched C.sub.1-6-alkyl, C.sub.2-6-alkenyl C.sub.3-6-cycloalkyl and/or phenyl, each unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted by a substituent selected from the group comprising F, CN and/or C.sub.1-2-alkyl, mono- or polysubstituted with fluorine.

The invention provides a compound of chemical formula (1), a precursor compound for producing the compound, a surfactant composition and a detergent composition including the compound,

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wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, X is a single bond or a hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 5 or less carbon atoms, a total number of carbon atoms of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and X is 2 or more and 39 or less, A.sup.1 is O(-A.sup.11O).sub.l-H, A.sup.2 is OCH.sub.2CH(O(-A.sup.21O).sub.m-H)(CH.sub.2O(-A.sup.22O).sub.n-H) or OCH(CH.sub.2O(-A.sup.23O).sub.s-H)(CH.sub.2O(-A.sup.24O).sub.t-H), A.sup.11, A.sup.21, A.sup.22, A.sup.23, and A.sup.24 are each independently an alkanediyl group having 2 or more and 8 or less carbon atoms, l, m, n, s, and t are an average value and are each independently 0 or more, and a total of l, m, and n, and a total of l, s, and t are each independently more than 0 and 200 or less.

A system and a method for producing ethylene glycol are disclosed. Alkylene oxide and water are flowed into a first reactor unit and subjecting the alkylene oxide and water, in the first reactor unit, to first reaction conditions such that an effluent of the first reactor unit comprises an alkylene glycol, unreacted alkylene oxide, and unreacted water. At least a portion of the unreacted alkylene oxide may be routed to a second reaction unit and subjected to reaction conditions sufficient to produce additional alkylene glycol, wherein the second reactor unit is a reactive distillation column.

A system and a method for producing ethylene glycol are disclosed. Alkylene oxide and water are flowed into a first reactor unit and subjecting the alkylene oxide and water, in the first reactor unit, to first reaction conditions such that an effluent of the first reactor unit comprises an alkylene glycol, unreacted alkylene oxide, and unreacted water. At least a portion of the unreacted alkylene oxide may be routed to a second reaction unit and subjected to reaction conditions sufficient to produce additional alkylene glycol, wherein the second reactor unit is a reactive distillation column.

The present invention relates to a mannitol-based amphipathic compound, a method of preparing the same, a method of extracting, solubilizing, stabilizing or crystallizing a membrane protein using the compound, and a method of analyzing a structure of the membrane protein under an electron microscope using the compound. When the mannitol-based compound according to the present invention is used, the membrane protein can be stably stored in an aqueous solution for a prolonged period of time and thus can be applied to analysis of functions and structures thereof. Since the analysis of the structures and functions of the membrane protein is one of the fields of most interest in biology and chemistry currently, and more than half of new drugs currently in development are targeting membrane proteins, the present invention is applicable to research on the structures of membrane proteins closely related to the development of the new drugs.

The present invention relates to a mannitol-based amphipathic compound, a method of preparing the same, a method of extracting, solubilizing, stabilizing or crystallizing a membrane protein using the compound, and a method of analyzing a structure of the membrane protein under an electron microscope using the compound. When the mannitol-based compound according to the present invention is used, the membrane protein can be stably stored in an aqueous solution for a prolonged period of time and thus can be applied to analysis of functions and structures thereof. Since the analysis of the structures and functions of the membrane protein is one of the fields of most interest in biology and chemistry currently, and more than half of new drugs currently in development are targeting membrane proteins, the present invention is applicable to research on the structures of membrane proteins closely related to the development of the new drugs.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a CaMgAl mixed oxide comprising the steps: a) providing a modified layered double hydroxide of the formula (I) wherein in formula (I) 0<x<0.9; b is from 0 to 10, preferably 1 to 10; c is from 0 to 10, preferably 1 to 10 and the AMO-solvent is an organic solvent miscible with water; b) calcining the modified layered double hydroxide; c) reacting the calcined modified layered double hydroxide with a calcium salt in the presence of an (a) organic acid; and d) calcining the product obtained in step c) to obtain the CaMgAl mixed oxide; a CaMgAl mixed oxide obtainable this way; and the use thereof.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a CaMgAl mixed oxide comprising the steps: a) providing a modified layered double hydroxide of the formula (I) wherein in formula (I) 0<x<0.9; b is from 0 to 10, preferably 1 to 10; c is from 0 to 10, preferably 1 to 10 and the AMO-solvent is an organic solvent miscible with water; b) calcining the modified layered double hydroxide; c) reacting the calcined modified layered double hydroxide with a calcium salt in the presence of an (a) organic acid; and d) calcining the product obtained in step c) to obtain the CaMgAl mixed oxide; a CaMgAl mixed oxide obtainable this way; and the use thereof.

A (meth)acrylic monomer is represented by general formula (1) (wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R.sup.2 to R.sup.4 independently represent CH.sub.3 or CH.sub.2OR.sup.5, wherein at least one of R.sup.2 to R.sup.4 represents CH.sub.2OR.sup.5; R.sup.5 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and Z represents multiple atoms necessary for the formation of an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 10 carbon atoms in conjunction with a carbon atom). The (meth)acrylic monomer has a property of high acid degradability and can be removed by the action of an acid.