This invention relates to novel derivatives of 4-hydroxybutyric acid and prodrugs thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the foregoing. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of this invention and the use of such compositions in methods of treating narcolepsy, fibromyalgia, other disorders or conditions that are beneficially treated by improving nocturnal sleep or by administering sodium oxybate.

Disclosed is a mixture containing polymerizable compounds having Formulas (III) and (IV) wherein Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 are divalent aromatic hydrocarbon or heteroaromatic ring group having D1 or D2 as a substituent; D.sup.1 and D.sup.2 are C1-C20 organic group having at least one aromatic ring selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbon ring and heteroaromatic ring; A.sup.11-A.sup.22 and B.sup.11-B.sup.22 are alicyclic or aromatic group which may have a substituent, Y.sup.11-Y.sup.22 and L.sup.11-L.sup.22 are single bond, —O—, —CO—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —NR.sup.21—CO—, —CO—NR.sup.22—, —O—CO—O—, —NR.sup.23—CO—O—, —O—CO—NR.sup.24— or —NR.sup.25—CO—NR.sup.26— where R.sup.21—R.sup.26 are hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl group; R.sup.4—R.sup.9 are hydrogen, methyl group or chlorine; one of f and k is integer of 1 to 3 with the other being integer of 0 to 3; g, j, m and q are integer of 1 to 20; and h, i, n and p are 0 or 1. ##STR00001##

Disclosed is a mixture containing polymerizable compounds having Formulas (III) and (IV) wherein Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 are divalent aromatic hydrocarbon or heteroaromatic ring group having D1 or D2 as a substituent; D.sup.1 and D.sup.2 are C1-C20 organic group having at least one aromatic ring selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbon ring and heteroaromatic ring; A.sup.11-A.sup.22 and B.sup.11-B.sup.22 are alicyclic or aromatic group which may have a substituent, Y.sup.11-Y.sup.22 and L.sup.11-L.sup.22 are single bond, —O—, —CO—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —NR.sup.21—CO—, —CO—NR.sup.22—, —O—CO—O—, —NR.sup.23—CO—O—, —O—CO—NR.sup.24— or —NR.sup.25—CO—NR.sup.26— where R.sup.21—R.sup.26 are hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl group; R.sup.4—R.sup.9 are hydrogen, methyl group or chlorine; one of f and k is integer of 1 to 3 with the other being integer of 0 to 3; g, j, m and q are integer of 1 to 20; and h, i, n and p are 0 or 1. ##STR00001##

The invention provides a novel hydrocarbon-containing carboxylic acid, hydrocarbon-containing sulfonic acid, hydrocarbon-containing sulfuric acid ester, or a salt thereof, and a surfactant. Each of them is a compound represented by the following formula (1):
CR.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.4—CR.sup.3R.sup.5—X-A
wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 are each H or a monovalent substituent; at least one of R.sup.1 or R.sup.3 is a group represented by the formula: —Y—R.sup.6; at least one of R.sup.2 or R.sup.5 is a group represented by the formula: —X-A or a group represented by the formula: —Y—R.sup.6; and As at the respective appearances are the same as or different from each other, and are each —COOM, —SO.sub.3M, or —OSO.sub.3M.

The invention provides a novel hydrocarbon-containing carboxylic acid, hydrocarbon-containing sulfonic acid, hydrocarbon-containing sulfuric acid ester, or a salt thereof, and a surfactant. Each of them is a compound represented by the following formula (1):
CR.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.4—CR.sup.3R.sup.5—X-A
wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 are each H or a monovalent substituent; at least one of R.sup.1 or R.sup.3 is a group represented by the formula: —Y—R.sup.6; at least one of R.sup.2 or R.sup.5 is a group represented by the formula: —X-A or a group represented by the formula: —Y—R.sup.6; and As at the respective appearances are the same as or different from each other, and are each —COOM, —SO.sub.3M, or —OSO.sub.3M.

A branched estolide compound of the formula: ##STR00001##
wherein x and y are equal to 1 or greater;
wherein x+y=14;
wherein n is 0, 1, or greater than 1;
wherein R is H or wherein R=C1 to C18 straight alcohols or C4 to C12 branched alcohols;
wherein R.sub.1 is a residual fragment of octanoic, decanoic, lauric, coconut, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, iso-stearic or iso-oleic acids.

A branched estolide compound of the formula: ##STR00001##
wherein x and y are equal to 1 or greater;
wherein x+y=14;
wherein n is 0, 1, or greater than 1;
wherein R is H or wherein R=C1 to C18 straight alcohols or C4 to C12 branched alcohols;
wherein R.sub.1 is a residual fragment of octanoic, decanoic, lauric, coconut, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, iso-stearic or iso-oleic acids.

The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) that are useful as perfuming ingredients of the fruity type. Formula (I) is ##STR00001##
in the form of any one of its stereoisomers or of a mixture thereof, wherein R.sup.1 represents a C.sub.1-3 alkyl or alkenyl group, R.sup.2 represents a methyl or ethyl group, R.sup.3 represents a C.sub.1-4 alkyl or alkenyl group, and the compound (I) has from 8 to 12 carbon atoms.

The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) that are useful as perfuming ingredients of the fruity type. Formula (I) is ##STR00001##
in the form of any one of its stereoisomers or of a mixture thereof, wherein R.sup.1 represents a C.sub.1-3 alkyl or alkenyl group, R.sup.2 represents a methyl or ethyl group, R.sup.3 represents a C.sub.1-4 alkyl or alkenyl group, and the compound (I) has from 8 to 12 carbon atoms.

Disclosed herein is an acetylated lactide oligomer-based plasticizer and a method of preparing the same having improved thermal stability, enhanced plasticity and excellent compatibility with a resin, the method, including: (a) synthesizing a lactide oligomer through ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of an initiator and lactide; (b) putting acetic anhydride into the lactide oligomer and performing acetylation; and (c) removing acetic acid generated in step (b) and unreacted acetic anhydride.