An integrated process is useful for producing 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and/or a derivative thereof from a six-carbon sugar-containing feed. The process includes a) dehydrating a feed containing a six-carbon sugar unit, in the presence of a bromine source and of a solvent, to generate an oxidation feed that contains at least one of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and/or a derivative or derivatives of HMF in the solvent, together with at least one bromine containing species; b) contacting the oxidation feed from step (a) with a metal catalyst and with an oxygen source under oxidation conditions to produce an oxidation product mixture of at least FDCA and/or a derivative thereof, the solvent, and a residual catalyst: c) purifying and separating the mixture obtained in step (b) to obtain FDCA and/or a derivative thereof and the solvent; and d) recycling at least a portion of the solvent obtained in step (c) to step (a).

The present invention relates to novel compounds and compositions having antiviral activity. The invention also relates to methods for the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of viral infections in mammals.

Provided is a process for the production of an aromatic compound comprising at least two amine functions, comprising reacting an aromatic compound having at least one hydroxyl function and at least one aldehyde function with a second reactant having an amine function, in the presence of a reductant agent and a catalyst comprising at least one metal element in elemental form and/or at least one metal oxide.

Disclosed is a process for the extraction of furfural which includes: (a) subjecting a composition comprising furfural, water, at least one acid and an aromatic solvent, with a boiling point higher than that of furfural, to a first separation step providing: (i) an organic phase, and (ii) an aqueous phase; (b) subjecting the aqueous phase of step (a) to a first distillation step to provide: (i) a first in top stream comprising a furfural-water azeotrope; (c) subjecting the first top stream of step (b) to a second separation step to provide: (i) a second top stream comprising a portion of the furfural-water azeotrope; (d) subjecting the second top stream of step (c) to a second distillation step to provide: (i) a third top stream enriched with the furfural-water azeotropic mixture; (e) subjecting the organic phase of step (a) to a third distillation step to provide: a fourth top stream comprising furfural.

Provided is a compound having 4 integrin inhibitory action. The compound is a sulfonamide derivative represented by the following formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: ##STR00001##
where R.sub.1 to R.sub.5, e to h, D, and B represent those as described in the specification.

A process for the extraction of furfural from a composition comprising furfural, water, at least one organic acid and an oxygenate solvent with a boiling point higher than that of furfural. The process includes: (a) subjecting the composition to a first liquid-liquid separation step to provide: (i) an organic phase; (b) subjecting the organic phase of step (a) to a first distillation step to provide: (i) a first top stream; (c) subjecting the first top stream of step (b) to a second liquid-liquid separation step to provide: (i) a second top stream; and (d) subjecting the second top stream of step (c) to a second distillation step to provide: (i) a third top stream comprising a furfural-water azeotrope, and (ii) a third bottom stream comprising furfural.

This invention describes an ICE inhibitor prodrug (I) having good bioavailability.

##STR00001##

Compound I is useful for treating IL-1 mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory peritonitis, septic shock, pancreatitis, traumatic brain injury, organ transplant rejection, osteoarthritis, asthma, psoriasis, Alzheimer's disease, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, Huntington's disease, atherosclerosis, atopic dermatitis, leukemias and related disorders, myelodysplastic syndrome, uveitis or multiple myeloma.

This invention describes an ICE inhibitor prodrug (I) having good bioavailability.

##STR00001##

Compound I is useful for treating IL-1 mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory peritonitis, septic shock, pancreatitis, traumatic brain injury, organ transplant rejection, osteoarthritis, asthma, psoriasis, Alzheimer's disease, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, Huntington's disease, atherosclerosis, atopic dermatitis, leukemias and related disorders, myelodysplastic syndrome, uveitis or multiple myeloma.

Disclosed herein is a very efficient method to make 5-(alkoxycarbonyl)furan-2-carboxylic acids (ACFC) from feedstocks comprised of furoates. When a feedstock comprised of methyl 5-methylfuran-2-carboxylate (MMFC) is used a product comprised of (5-(methoxycarbonyl)furan-2-carboxylic acid (MCFC) is obtained in high yield.

An integrated process is described for producing 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and/or a derivative thereof from a six carbon sugar-containing feed, comprising: a) dehydrating a feed comprising a six-carbon sugar unit, in the presence of a bromine source and of a solvent, to generate an oxidation feed comprised of at least one of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and/or a derivative or derivatives of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in the solvent, together with at least one bromine containing species; b) contacting the oxidation feed from step (a) with a metal catalyst and with an oxygen source under oxidation conditions to produce an oxidation product mixture comprising 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and/or a derivative thereof, the solvent, and a residual catalyst; c) purifying and separating the mixture obtained in step (b) to obtain FDCA and/or a derivative thereof and the solvent; and d) recycling at least a portion of the solvent obtained in step (c) to step (a).