The invention relates to a process comprising the following process steps: a) introducing a first alcohol, the first alcohol having 2 to 30 carbon atoms; b) adding a phosphine ligand and a compound which comprises Pd, or adding a complex comprising Pd and a phosphine ligand; c) adding a second alcohol; d) supplying CO; e) heating the reaction mixture, the first alcohol reacting with CO and the second alcohol to form an ester;
where the phosphine ligand is a compound of formula (I) ##STR00001##
where m and n are each independently 0 or 1; R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 are each independently selected from —(C.sub.1-C.sub.12)-alkyl, —(C.sub.3-C.sub.12)-cycloalkyl, —(C.sub.3-C.sub.12)-heterocycloalkyl, —(C.sub.6-C.sub.20)-aryl, —(C.sub.3-C.sub.20)-heteroaryl; at least one of the R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 radicals is a —(C.sub.3-C.sub.20)-heteroaryl radical; and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, if they are —(C.sub.1-C.sub.12)-alkyl, —(C.sub.3-C.sub.12)-cycloalkyl, —(C.sub.3-C.sub.12)-heterocycloalkyl, —(C.sub.6-C.sub.20)-aryl or —(C.sub.3-C.sub.20)-heteroaryl, may each independently be substituted by one or more substituents selected from —(C.sub.1-C.sub.12)-alkyl, —(C.sub.3-C.sub.12)-cycloalkyl, —(C.sub.3-C.sub.12)-heterocycloalkyl, —O—(C.sub.1-C.sub.12)-alkyl, —O—(C.sub.1-C.sub.12)-alkyl-(C.sub.6-C.sub.20)-aryl, —O—(C.sub.3-C.sub.12)-cycloalkyl, —S—(C.sub.1-C.sub.12)-alkyl, —S—(C.sub.3-C.sub.12)-cycloalkyl, —COO—(C.sub.1-C.sub.12)-alkyl, —COO—(C.sub.3-C.sub.12)-cycloalkyl, —CONH—(C.sub.1-C.sub.12)-alkyl, —CONH—(C.sub.3-C.sub.12)-cycloalkyl, —CO—(C.sub.1-C.sub.12)-alkyl, —CO—(C.sub.3-C.sub.12)-cycloalkyl, —N—[(C.sub.1-C.sub.12)-alkyl].sub.2, —(C.sub.6-C.sub.20)-aryl, —(C.sub.6-C.sub.20)-aryl-(C.sub.1-C.sub.12)-alkyl, —(C.sub.6-C.sub.20)-aryl-O—(C.sub.1-C.sub.12)-alkyl, —(C.sub.3-C.sub.20)-heteroaryl, —(C.sub.3-C.sub.20)-heteroaryl-(C.sub.1-C.sub.12)-alkyl, —(C.sub.3-C.sub.20)-heteroaryl-O—(C.sub.1-C.sub.12)-alkyl, —COOH, —OH, —SO.sub.3H, —NH.sub.2, halogen.

The present invention provides a method for industrially producing: a pyrimidine compound having pest control efficacy; 2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethylamine which is a production intermediate of the pyrimidine compound; a phenylethylamine compound useful as a pharmaceutical and agrochemical intermediate; and further a 3-arylpropionamide compound and a 3-arylpropionic acid ester compound useful as production intermediates of the phenylethylamine compound. The 3-arylpropionamide compound or the 3-arylpropionic acid ester compound can be efficiently and industrially produced in a single step by reacting a compound represented by formula (1) ##STR00001##
(wherein X represents a chlorine atom or a bromine atom; and Y represents an alkyl group optionally substituted with fluorine atom(s), a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a cyano group, an alkylcarbonyl group, a dialkylamino group, or the like) with acrylamide or an acrylic acid ester in the presence of a metal catalyst and a reducing agent.

A thermochromic pigment composition including: (A) at least one electron-donor organic dye compound, (B) at least one electron-acceptor compound, and (C) at least one compound responding to the following formula (I), in which: R.sub.1 is H or a phenyl group, —R.sub.2 is H or a phenyl group, and -n=1-8. The thermochromic pigment composition includes thermochromic pigment microcapsules ink compositions including such thermochromic pigment microcapsules, and writing instruments including such ink compositions.

A thermochromic pigment composition including: (A) at least one electron-donor organic dye compound, (B) at least one electron-acceptor compound, and (C) at least one compound responding to the following formula (I), in which: R.sub.1 is H or a phenyl group, —R.sub.2 is H or a phenyl group, and -n=1-8. The thermochromic pigment composition includes thermochromic pigment microcapsules ink compositions including such thermochromic pigment microcapsules, and writing instruments including such ink compositions.

Provided are prodrugs of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid as well as compositions and uses thereof.

Provided are prodrugs of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid as well as compositions and uses thereof.

The invention relates to a process for preparing carboxylic acids or salts thereof by hydrolysis or saponification of an ester, which is obtained by alkoxycarbonylation of a C2 to C20 hydrocarbon having at least one multiple bond, preferably having at least one olefinic double bond, in which the homogeneous catalyst system used is separated from the product mixture by means of membrane separation. In a development of the present invention, the ester thus formed is converted into another ester by transesterification and then hydrolyzed or saponified.

The invention relates to a process for preparing carboxylic acids or salts thereof by hydrolysis or saponification of an ester, which is obtained by alkoxycarbonylation of a C2 to C20 hydrocarbon having at least one multiple bond, preferably having at least one olefinic double bond, in which the homogeneous catalyst system used is separated from the product mixture by means of membrane separation. In a development of the present invention, the ester thus formed is converted into another ester by transesterification and then hydrolyzed or saponified.

The spontaneous orientation aid for a liquid crystal composition provides storage stability and allows liquid crystal molecules to be vertically aligned without a PI layer when added to a liquid crystal composition. When used in a liquid crystal composition, the spontaneous orientation aid can adsorb to substrates sandwiching a liquid crystal composition (liquid crystal layer) and keep the liquid crystal molecules aligned in a vertical direction. The spontaneous orientation aid makes it possible to align liquid crystal molecules without a PI layer (to induce vertical alignment of liquid crystal molecules under no applied voltage and to achieve horizontal alignment of the liquid crystal molecules under an applied voltage).

The spontaneous orientation aid for a liquid crystal composition provides storage stability and allows liquid crystal molecules to be vertically aligned without a PI layer when added to a liquid crystal composition. When used in a liquid crystal composition, the spontaneous orientation aid can adsorb to substrates sandwiching a liquid crystal composition (liquid crystal layer) and keep the liquid crystal molecules aligned in a vertical direction. The spontaneous orientation aid makes it possible to align liquid crystal molecules without a PI layer (to induce vertical alignment of liquid crystal molecules under no applied voltage and to achieve horizontal alignment of the liquid crystal molecules under an applied voltage).