The present invention is related to substituted butanol derivatives of the formula: ##STR00001##
wherein R is an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-6 straight chain alkyl, an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.3-6 branched chain alkyl, an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.3-6 straight chain alkenyl, an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.3-6 branched chain alkenyl, an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.3-6 cycloalkyl, an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, nitrile, halo, amino, an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-6 alkylamino, an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-6 dialkylamino, carboxy-C.sub.1-6 alkylamino, carboxy-C.sub.1-6 dialkylamino, an unsubstituted or substituted acetoxy, carboxy, an unsubstituted or substituted carboxyethyl, an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-6 alkylcarbonyl, an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-6 alkylcarboxy, an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-6 alkylthio, an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-6 alkyloxy, carboxamido, an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-6 alkylcarboxamido or an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-6 dialkylcarboxamido. Such compounds are useful in flavor or flavor compositions.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a polycarbonate safely and efficiently even without using a base. The method for producing a carbonate derivative according to the present invention is characterized in comprising the step of irradiating a high energy light to a composition comprising the halogenated methane and the hydroxy group-containing compound in the presence of oxygen, wherein a molar ratio of a total usage amount of the hydroxy group-containing compound to 1 mole of the halogenated methane is 0.05 or more.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a polycarbonate safely and efficiently even without using a base. The method for producing a carbonate derivative according to the present invention is characterized in comprising the step of irradiating a high energy light to a composition comprising the halogenated methane and the hydroxy group-containing compound in the presence of oxygen, wherein a molar ratio of a total usage amount of the hydroxy group-containing compound to 1 mole of the halogenated methane is 0.05 or more.

Provided is a synthesis method comprising a first step of producing a carbonate compound from carbon monoxide and an alcohol-based compound at an anode of a first electrochemical cell comprising a cathode and the anode, and a second step of synthesizing a first product by a dealcoholization reaction of the carbonate compound, wherein an alcohol-based compound eliminated in the second step is recycled in the first step.

Provided is a synthesis method comprising a first step of producing a carbonate compound from carbon monoxide and an alcohol-based compound at an anode of a first electrochemical cell comprising a cathode and the anode, and a second step of synthesizing a first product by a dealcoholization reaction of the carbonate compound, wherein an alcohol-based compound eliminated in the second step is recycled in the first step.

Provided is a synthesis method comprising a first step of producing a carbonate compound from carbon monoxide and an alcohol-based compound at an anode of a first electrochemical cell comprising a cathode and the anode, and a second step of synthesizing a first product by a dealcoholization reaction of the carbonate compound, wherein an alcohol-based compound eliminated in the second step is recycled in the first step.

There is provided a metal or metal-ion battery comprising an aluminum current collector and a low-corrosiveness non-aqueous electrolyte comprising, as a solvent, a carbonate compound of formula (I):

##STR00001##

This battery has an upper voltage limit of about 4.2 V or more and anodic dissolution of aluminum during battery operation at said voltage is suppressed.

Compositions and methods for oxidizing organic contaminants while sequestering inhibitory forms of carbon. An oxidant capable of producing free radicals oxidizes organic contaminants. A metal oxide, metal hydroxide, or metal peroxide generates a soluble hydroxide concentration of about 1×10.sup.−4 M or greater to convert carbonic acid, bicarbonate ion, methane, elemental carbon, and other organic forms of carbon to carbonate ion. A metal having a carbonate with a lower solubility product constant than its hydroxide precipitates the carbonate ion as a metal carbonate, thereby eliminating soluble carbonate as a radical scavenger. Compositions and methods that additionally minimize metal solubilization and sequester solubilized metals are also disclosed.

Compositions and methods for oxidizing organic contaminants while sequestering inhibitory forms of carbon. An oxidant capable of producing free radicals oxidizes organic contaminants. A metal oxide, metal hydroxide, or metal peroxide generates a soluble hydroxide concentration of about 1×10.sup.−4 M or greater to convert carbonic acid, bicarbonate ion, methane, elemental carbon, and other organic forms of carbon to carbonate ion. A metal having a carbonate with a lower solubility product constant than its hydroxide precipitates the carbonate ion as a metal carbonate, thereby eliminating soluble carbonate as a radical scavenger. Compositions and methods that additionally minimize metal solubilization and sequester solubilized metals are also disclosed.

The present application relates to an apparatus and process for producing dimethyl carbonate, in particular a system (apparatus or process) for DMC synthesis without the need of using a dehydrating agent. More particularly, the feed mixture for the process can be selected from the following options: a) carbon monoxide, methanol and flue gas from the process, b) synthesis gas without CO.sub.2 and flue gas from the process, c) synthesis gas with CO.sub.2 and added synthesis gas from purified flue gas from the process. The process uses a catalyst cluster comprising a specific combination of different groups of heterogeneous catalysts wherein each group has a different function. Also the invention relates to an apparatus comprising a specific combination of heterogeneous catalysts for applying different routes to produce dimethyl carbonate from each feed mixture option, on continuous basis.