There is disclosed a cyclic process for producing taurine from monoethanolamine comprising the steps of: (a) recovering monoethanolamine sulfate from an aqueous mother liquor solution; (b) reacting the monoethanolamine sulfate with sulfuric acid to form an aqueous solution comprised of monoethanolamine bisulfate; (c) heating the aqueous solution comprised of the monoethanolamine sulfate and optionally added monoethanolamine sulfate to yield 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester; (d) reacting the ester with ammonium sulfite or an alkali sulfite to yield taurine and ammonium or alkali sulfate; (e) separating taurine and ammonium or alkali sulfate to give an aqueous mother liquor solution; and (f) recovering the monoethanolamine sulfate from the aqueous mother liquor solution and recycling to the monoethanolamine sulfate to step (b).

Provided are a novel water-soluble diacetylene monomer, a composition for photolithography including the novel water-soluble diacetylene monomer and a conductive polymer, and a method of forming micropatterns using the composition. The water-soluble diacetylene monomer may not aggregate even when mixed with a water-soluble conductive polymer. Accordingly, a uniform composition for photolithography can be prepared by mixing a water-soluble conductive polymer with the diacetylene monomer, and micropatterns can be formed using the composition. More particularly, when the composition is formed into a thin film and then is irradiated with light, only light-irradiated portions of the diacetylene monomer are selectively crosslinked due to photopolymerization, thereby resulting in insoluble negative-type micropatterns.

Provided are a novel water-soluble diacetylene monomer, a composition for photolithography including the novel water-soluble diacetylene monomer and a conductive polymer, and a method of forming micropatterns using the composition. The water-soluble diacetylene monomer may not aggregate even when mixed with a water-soluble conductive polymer. Accordingly, a uniform composition for photolithography can be prepared by mixing a water-soluble conductive polymer with the diacetylene monomer, and micropatterns can be formed using the composition. More particularly, when the composition is formed into a thin film and then is irradiated with light, only light-irradiated portions of the diacetylene monomer are selectively crosslinked due to photopolymerization, thereby resulting in insoluble negative-type micropatterns.

A method includes combining first components including at least one of CF.sub.2═CF—CF.sub.2—OSO.sub.2Cl or CF.sub.2═CF—CF.sub.2—OSO.sub.2CF.sub.3, a polyfluorinated compound having at least one ketone or carboxylic acid halide, and fluoride ion to provide a compound comprising at least one perfluorinated allyl ether group. A method includes combining second components including B(OSO.sub.2Cl).sub.3 and hexafluoropropylene to provide CF.sub.2═CF—CF.sub.2—OSO.sub.2Cl. Another method includes combining second components including M(OSO.sub.2CF.sub.3).sub.3 and hexafluoropropylene at a temperature above 0° C. to provide CF.sub.2═CF—CF.sub.2—OSO.sub.2CF.sub.3, wherein M is Al or B. The compound CF.sub.2═CF—CF.sub.2—OSO.sub.2Cl is also provided.

A process for preparing methyl methacrylate (MMA) and/or methacrylic acid (MAS) having improved yield, involves amidation, conversion, and hydrolysis/esterification. Especially high yields are obtained during the amidation and in the subsequent so-called conversion.

A process for preparing methyl methacrylate (MMA) and/or methacrylic acid (MAS) having improved yield, involves amidation, conversion, and hydrolysis/esterification. Especially high yields are obtained during the amidation and in the subsequent so-called conversion.

Surfactants of the general formula (I) in which R.sup.1 is a linear or branched akyl radical having 6 to 20, especially 10 to 16 C atoms, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 independently of one another are H or H.sub.3CO, and M is hydrogen, an alkali metal or a moiety N.sup.+R.sup.4R.sup.5R.sup.6, in which R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 independently of one another are hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 C atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 C atoms, are readily incorporated into laundry detergents or cleaning products, possess outstanding performance qualities and can be prepared on the basis of renewable raw materials. ##STR00001##

Surfactants of the general formula (I) in which R.sup.1 is a linear or branched akyl radical having 6 to 20, especially 10 to 16 C atoms, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 independently of one another are H or H.sub.3CO, and M is hydrogen, an alkali metal or a moiety N.sup.+R.sup.4R.sup.5R.sup.6, in which R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 independently of one another are hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 C atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 C atoms, are readily incorporated into laundry detergents or cleaning products, possess outstanding performance qualities and can be prepared on the basis of renewable raw materials. ##STR00001##

An improved process for synthesizing alkyl methacrylates, in particular methyl methacrylate (MMA), involves reacting acetone cyanohydrin (ACH) and sulfuric acid in a first reaction stage (amidation). The process then involves heating the first reaction mixture in a second reaction stage (conversion) such that methacrylamide (MAA) is obtained; and then esterifying methacrylamide (MAA) with alcohol and water, preferably methanol and water, in a third reaction stage such that alkyl methacrylate is formed. The sulfuric acid used has a concentration of 98.0 wt % to 100.0 wt %. A subsequent working up of the third reaction mixture involves least two distillations in which the byproducts methacrylonitrile (MeAN) and acetone are obtained as an aqueous heteroazeotrope at least in part in the top fraction. At least some of the aqueous heteroazeotrope is removed from the process and at least partially reintroduced into the third reaction stage.

An improved process for synthesizing alkyl methacrylates, in particular methyl methacrylate (MMA), involves reacting acetone cyanohydrin (ACH) and sulfuric acid in a first reaction stage (amidation). The process then involves heating the first reaction mixture in a second reaction stage (conversion) such that methacrylamide (MAA) is obtained; and then esterifying methacrylamide (MAA) with alcohol and water, preferably methanol and water, in a third reaction stage such that alkyl methacrylate is formed. The sulfuric acid used has a concentration of 98.0 wt % to 100.0 wt %. A subsequent working up of the third reaction mixture involves least two distillations in which the byproducts methacrylonitrile (MeAN) and acetone are obtained as an aqueous heteroazeotrope at least in part in the top fraction. At least some of the aqueous heteroazeotrope is removed from the process and at least partially reintroduced into the third reaction stage.