Disclosed is a method of synthesizing a (1R,2R)-nitroalcohol compound of formula (I), as shown in the following reaction scheme, including: subjecting a compound of formula (II) and a compound of formula (III) to a condensation reaction in an organic solvent in the presence of a copper complex generated in situ from a chiral (1S,2R)-amino alcohol ligand and a cupric salt to produce the (1R,2R)-nitroalcohol compound of formula (I), where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are defined in the same manner as that in the specification. The method involves mild reaction conditions, excellent diastereoselectivity and high chemical yield, and thus it is suitable for industrial applications.

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Disclosed is a method of synthesizing a (1R,2R)-nitroalcohol compound of formula (I), as shown in the following reaction scheme, including: subjecting a compound of formula (II) and a compound of formula (III) to a condensation reaction in an organic solvent in the presence of a copper complex generated in situ from a chiral (1S,2R)-amino alcohol ligand and a cupric salt to produce the (1R,2R)-nitroalcohol compound of formula (I), where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are defined in the same manner as that in the specification. The method involves mild reaction conditions, excellent diastereoselectivity and high chemical yield, and thus it is suitable for industrial applications.

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The present invention discloses processes for producing methyl ethyl sulfide by contacting dimethyl sulfide and diethyl sulfide in the presence of a suitable catalyst. Methyl ethyl sulfide can be used as an odorant in natural gas. Integrated mercaptan and sulfide manufacturing systems and integrated methods for making mercaptans and sulfides also are disclosed.

The present invention discloses processes for producing methyl ethyl sulfide by contacting dimethyl sulfide and diethyl sulfide in the presence of a suitable catalyst. Methyl ethyl sulfide can be used as an odorant in natural gas. Integrated mercaptan and sulfide manufacturing systems and integrated methods for making mercaptans and sulfides also are disclosed.

The present invention discloses processes for producing methyl ethyl sulfide by contacting dimethyl sulfide and diethyl sulfide in the presence of a suitable catalyst. Methyl ethyl sulfide can be used as an odorant in natural gas. Integrated mercaptan and sulfide manufacturing systems and integrated methods for making mercaptans and sulfides also are disclosed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dialkyl sulfide which can effectively form a metal sulfide film on a metal surface even in a low-temperature environment, has excellent storage stability, and is suitable as an extreme-pressure additive. The present invention provides a dialkyl sulfide represented by general formula (1) below (in the formula, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent an alkyl group, and n is an integer), wherein the content of a compound having an n value of 1 in the general formula (1) is 10.0% by mass or less relative to the total amount of compounds represented by the general formula (1) ##STR00001##

An object of the present invention is to provide a dialkyl sulfide which can effectively form a metal sulfide film on a metal surface even in a low-temperature environment, has excellent storage stability, and is suitable as an extreme-pressure additive. The present invention provides a dialkyl sulfide represented by general formula (1) below (in the formula, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent an alkyl group, and n is an integer), wherein the content of a compound having an n value of 1 in the general formula (1) is 10.0% by mass or less relative to the total amount of compounds represented by the general formula (1) ##STR00001##

The present invention includes pharmaceutical composition comprising (2R,2R)-3,3-disulfanediyl bis(2-acetamidopropanamide)(diNACA) or D.sub.3-N-acetyl cysteine amide, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, having a deuterium enrichment above the natural abundance of deuterium, and derivatives or solids thereof, and methods of using diNACA to treat eye diseases and other diseases associated with oxidative damage including, e.g., antivenom, beta-thallassemia, cataract, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, macular degeneration, contrast-induced nephropathy, asthma, lung contusion, methamphetamine-induced oxidative stress, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, platelet apoptosis, Tardive dyskinesia, Alzheimer disease, HIV-1-associated dementia, mitochondrial diseases, myocardial myopathy, neurodegenerative diseases, pulmonary fibrosis, skin pigmentation, skin in need of rejuventation, antimicrobial infection, Friedreich's ataxia.

The present invention includes pharmaceutical composition comprising (2R,2R)-3,3-disulfanediyl bis(2-acetamidopropanamide)(diNACA) or D.sub.3-N-acetyl cysteine amide, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, having a deuterium enrichment above the natural abundance of deuterium, and derivatives or solids thereof, and methods of using diNACA to treat eye diseases and other diseases associated with oxidative damage including, e.g., antivenom, beta-thallassemia, cataract, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, macular degeneration, contrast-induced nephropathy, asthma, lung contusion, methamphetamine-induced oxidative stress, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, platelet apoptosis, Tardive dyskinesia, Alzheimer disease, HIV-1-associated dementia, mitochondrial diseases, myocardial myopathy, neurodegenerative diseases, pulmonary fibrosis, skin pigmentation, skin in need of rejuventation, antimicrobial infection, Friedreich's ataxia.

A production method in which a mercaptophenol compound is obtained using an industrially preferred sulfur atom introduction reaction, and intermediate compounds of the mercaptophenol compound are provided. A method for producing a mercaptophenol compound in which a phenyl carbamate compound is produced using a phenol compound as a raw material, and then a sulfur atom is regioselectively introduced by a reaction with sulfur monochloride, and a phenyl mercaptocarbamate compound is produced as an intermediate.