Provided is a production method whereby corresponding carboxylic acid anhydrides and carboxylic acid esters can be obtained at high yield from various carboxylic acids even without a solvent and near room temperature. A method for producing a carboxylic acid anhydride represented by formula (II), the method comprising reacting a compound represented by formula (I) and a carboxylic acid in the presence of a Group II metal compound having an ionic ligand containing an oxygen atom. A method for producing a carboxylic acid ester, the method comprising reacting a carboxylic acid anhydride produced by the aforementioned method and an alcohol. In formula (I), R.sup.1 represents a C.sub.1-20 hydrocarbon group. In formula (II), R.sup.2 represents a C.sub.1-20 hydrocarbon group.

Provided is a production method whereby corresponding carboxylic acid anhydrides and carboxylic acid esters can be obtained at high yield from various carboxylic acids even without a solvent and near room temperature. A method for producing a carboxylic acid anhydride represented by formula (II), the method comprising reacting a compound represented by formula (I) and a carboxylic acid in the presence of a Group II metal compound having an ionic ligand containing an oxygen atom. A method for producing a carboxylic acid ester, the method comprising reacting a carboxylic acid anhydride produced by the aforementioned method and an alcohol. In formula (I), R.sup.1 represents a C.sub.1-20 hydrocarbon group. In formula (II), R.sup.2 represents a C.sub.1-20 hydrocarbon group.

A method of making acrylic acid in liquid phase by contacting a feed stream containing lactic acid, lactide, or mixtures thereof with a molten salt catalyst comprising a protic ionic liquid (PIL), which contains a bromide anion (Br.sup.), is provided.

A method of making acrylic acid in liquid phase by contacting a feed stream containing lactic acid, lactide, or mixtures thereof with a molten salt catalyst comprising a protic ionic liquid (PIL), which contains a bromide anion (Br.sup.), is provided.

Methods of making polyamides from renewable materials, such as natural oils, are generally disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the polyamides are nylon-10. In some such embodiments, nylon-10 is made by polymerizing 10-aminodecanoic acid, or esters thereof. In some further such embodiments, the 10-aminodecanoic acid monomers (or esters thereof) are derived from natural oils via the metathesis of unsaturated fatty acid moieties of the natural oil.

Methods of making polyamides from renewable materials, such as natural oils, are generally disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the polyamides are nylon-10. In some such embodiments, nylon-10 is made by polymerizing 10-aminodecanoic acid, or esters thereof. In some further such embodiments, the 10-aminodecanoic acid monomers (or esters thereof) are derived from natural oils via the metathesis of unsaturated fatty acid moieties of the natural oil.

The present invention provides a scalable synthesis of enantiomerically pure brivaracetam, and related derivatives.

The process for producing amino acids from volatile fatty acid (VFA) molecules, referred to as precursors, produced by anaerobic fermentation from fermentable biomass, comprises at least the following steps: a) extracting the volatile fatty acid (VFA) molecules, without stopping the fermentation, via an extraction means chosen from means that are, at least, insoluble in the fermentation medium, b) collecting, outside the fermentation reactor, the volatile fatty acid (VFA) molecules once they have been extracted, c) synthesizing, by halogenation, using a type of volatile fatty acid (VFA) chosen from the volatile fatty acids collected in step b) and defined according to the desired type of amino acid, a given -halo acid, d) synthesizing from this -halo acid a defined amino acid.

The process for producing amino acids from volatile fatty acid (VFA) molecules, referred to as precursors, produced by anaerobic fermentation from fermentable biomass, comprises at least the following steps: a) extracting the volatile fatty acid (VFA) molecules, without stopping the fermentation, via an extraction means chosen from means that are, at least, insoluble in the fermentation medium, b) collecting, outside the fermentation reactor, the volatile fatty acid (VFA) molecules once they have been extracted, c) synthesizing, by halogenation, using a type of volatile fatty acid (VFA) chosen from the volatile fatty acids collected in step b) and defined according to the desired type of amino acid, a given -halo acid, d) synthesizing from this -halo acid a defined amino acid.

A resist composition which generates acid upon exposure and exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under action of acid, and which includes a base component which exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under action of acid and an acid-generator component including a compound (B0-1) represented by general formula (b0) shown below in which Ra.sup.1 represents an aromatic ring; Ra.sup.01 represents an alkyl group of 5 or more carbon atoms optionally having a substituent; Ra.sup.02 and Ra.sup.03 each independently represents an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms optionally having a substituent; n1 represents an integer of 1 to 5; n2 represents an integer of 0 to 2; n3 represents an integer of 0 to 4; and X.sup. represents a counteranion. ##STR00001##