Methods and systems for producing alkyl hydroxyalkanoates from hydroxycarboxylic acid recovery bottoms. The methods generally comprise the steps of obtaining a hydroxycarboxylic acid recovery bottom, adding a mono-alcohol to the hydroxycarboxylic acid recovery bottom to obtain a first mixture, heating the first mixture, optionally in the presence of a catalyst to form a reaction product, distilling the reaction product, and recovering an alkyl hydroxyalkanoate fraction.

Methods and systems for producing alkyl hydroxyalkanoates from hydroxycarboxylic acid recovery bottoms. The methods generally comprise the steps of obtaining a hydroxycarboxylic acid recovery bottom, adding a mono-alcohol to the hydroxycarboxylic acid recovery bottom to obtain a first mixture, heating the first mixture, optionally in the presence of a catalyst to form a reaction product, distilling the reaction product, and recovering an alkyl hydroxyalkanoate fraction.

A method for producing a polyvalent alcohol ester compound, characterized in that a polyvalent alcohol compound and a carboxylic acid compound are allowed to react in the presence of an acidic solid catalyst swollen with the polyvalent alcohol compound or the carboxylic acid compound without using a solvent to selectively produce a monocarboxylic acid ester or a polycarboxylic acid ester of a polyvalent alcohol. In this manner, a mono-fatty acid ester and a poly-fatty acid ester (e.g., di-fatty acid ester) of a polyvalent alcohol can be selectively and effectively produced from a polyvalent alcohol compound and a fatty acid compound.

A method for producing a polyvalent alcohol ester compound, characterized in that a polyvalent alcohol compound and a carboxylic acid compound are allowed to react in the presence of an acidic solid catalyst swollen with the polyvalent alcohol compound or the carboxylic acid compound without using a solvent to selectively produce a monocarboxylic acid ester or a polycarboxylic acid ester of a polyvalent alcohol. In this manner, a mono-fatty acid ester and a poly-fatty acid ester (e.g., di-fatty acid ester) of a polyvalent alcohol can be selectively and effectively produced from a polyvalent alcohol compound and a fatty acid compound.

A method for producing a polyvalent alcohol ester compound, characterized in that a polyvalent alcohol compound and a carboxylic acid compound are allowed to react in the presence of an acidic solid catalyst swollen with the polyvalent alcohol compound or the carboxylic acid compound without using a solvent to selectively produce a monocarboxylic acid ester or a polycarboxylic acid ester of a polyvalent alcohol. In this manner, a mono-fatty acid ester and a poly-fatty acid ester (e.g., di-fatty acid ester) of a polyvalent alcohol can be selectively and effectively produced from a polyvalent alcohol compound and a fatty acid compound.

The present invention provides a process for preparing 2-(1,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclopentenyl)ethyl acetate of the following formula (3), wherein Ac represents an acetyl group, the process comprising: subjecting a haloacetaldehyde alkyl 3,4,4-trimethyl-2-cyclopentenyl acetal compound of the following general formula (1), wherein R represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and Y represents a halogen atom, to a dehydrohalogenation reaction in the presence of a base, followed by a rearrangement reaction to obtain a (1,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclopentenyl)acetate compound of the following general formula (2), wherein R is as defined above, and subjecting the alkoxycarbonylmethyl group (i.e., —CH.sub.2C(═O)OR) of the (1,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclopentenyl)acetate compound (2) to a multi-step conversion to be converted into a 2-acetoxyethyl group (i.e., —CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OAc) to obtain 2-(1,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclopentenyl)ethyl acetate (3).

##STR00001##

The present invention provides a process for preparing 2-(1,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclopentenyl)ethyl acetate of the following formula (3), wherein Ac represents an acetyl group, the process comprising: subjecting a haloacetaldehyde alkyl 3,4,4-trimethyl-2-cyclopentenyl acetal compound of the following general formula (1), wherein R represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and Y represents a halogen atom, to a dehydrohalogenation reaction in the presence of a base, followed by a rearrangement reaction to obtain a (1,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclopentenyl)acetate compound of the following general formula (2), wherein R is as defined above, and subjecting the alkoxycarbonylmethyl group (i.e., —CH.sub.2C(═O)OR) of the (1,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclopentenyl)acetate compound (2) to a multi-step conversion to be converted into a 2-acetoxyethyl group (i.e., —CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OAc) to obtain 2-(1,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclopentenyl)ethyl acetate (3).

##STR00001##

Provided herein are methods for the production of glycopyrronium tosylate and glycopyrronium tosylate compositions. Also provided herein are compositions useful in the production of glycopyrronium tosylate. Additionally provided herein are glycopyrronium tosylate compositions. Glycopyrronium tosylate is useful for the treatment of, among other conditions, hyperhidrosis.

Provided herein are methods for the production of glycopyrronium tosylate and glycopyrronium tosylate compositions. Also provided herein are compositions useful in the production of glycopyrronium tosylate. Additionally provided herein are glycopyrronium tosylate compositions. Glycopyrronium tosylate is useful for the treatment of, among other conditions, hyperhidrosis.

There is provided a catalyst that enables the production of isobutylene with a high selectivity in the production of isobutylene by dehydration of isobutanol. The catalyst according to the present invention contains at least one metal selected from Group 6 to Group 14 metal elements in Period 4 to Period 6 of the periodic table, in alumina which includes alumina consisting of one or more crystal phases of a monoclinic crystal phase, a tetragonal crystal phase, and a cubic crystal phase.