A glycolic acid salt that can be a raw material (intermediate product) for producing glycolic acid is more efficiently produced by a simple process. A method for producing a glycolic acid salt includes step (1) of reacting at least one compound selected from the group consisting of glycolonitrile and glycolamide with water in the presence of a metal oxide containing 50% by mass or more of at least one element selected from the group consisting of a rare earth element, a group 4 element of the periodic table, and a group 12 element of the periodic table, and a base to obtain a glycolic acid salt.

A glycolic acid salt that can be a raw material (intermediate product) for producing glycolic acid is more efficiently produced by a simple process. A method for producing a glycolic acid salt includes step (1) of reacting at least one compound selected from the group consisting of glycolonitrile and glycolamide with water in the presence of a metal oxide containing 50% by mass or more of at least one element selected from the group consisting of a rare earth element, a group 4 element of the periodic table, and a group 12 element of the periodic table, and a base to obtain a glycolic acid salt.

The present invention relates to new classes of odorous 3-(2- methylenealkoxy)alkanenitrile derivatives of formula (I) which are useful as fragrance or flavor materials in particular in providing dry, woody, dusty, earthy, and/or patchouli notes together with optional coriander, aldehydic, citrus, mandarin, pear, cinnamon, and/ or petal floral-like notes to perfume, aroma or deodorizing/masking compositions.

The present invention relates to new classes of odorous 3-(2- methylenealkoxy)alkanenitrile derivatives of formula (I) which are useful as fragrance or flavor materials in particular in providing dry, woody, dusty, earthy, and/or patchouli notes together with optional coriander, aldehydic, citrus, mandarin, pear, cinnamon, and/ or petal floral-like notes to perfume, aroma or deodorizing/masking compositions.

An electrolyte includes a compound of formula 1:

##STR00001##

R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently selected from H, halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1-10 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.3-10 cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.2-10 alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.2-10 alkynyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1-10 alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.6-10 aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.3-10 heteroaryl group, or any combination thereof. R is selected from a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1-10 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.3-10 cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.2-10 alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.2-10 alkynyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1-10 alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.6-10 aryl group or a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.3-10 heteroaryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.3-10 heterocycloalkyl group, a butyrolactam group,

##STR00002##

or any combination thereof.

An electrolyte includes a compound of formula 1:

##STR00001##

R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently selected from H, halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1-10 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.3-10 cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.2-10 alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.2-10 alkynyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1-10 alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.6-10 aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.3-10 heteroaryl group, or any combination thereof. R is selected from a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1-10 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.3-10 cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.2-10 alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.2-10 alkynyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1-10 alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.6-10 aryl group or a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.3-10 heteroaryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.3-10 heterocycloalkyl group, a butyrolactam group,

##STR00002##

or any combination thereof.

The present invention discloses a process for preparing a functionalized choline chloride ionic liquid as defined in formula (I), and thereof use in an electrochemical energy storage device, as an electrolyte solution or an additive for a lithium ion battery and a supercapacitor. The ionic liquid electrolyte material has better biocompatibility, flame retardance, high ionic conductivity, low viscosity, and wide electrochemical window. ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of: (CH.sub.2═CH—(CH.sub.2).sub.n)—, CN(CH.sub.2).sub.n—, or R.sup.2.sub.3Si—; R.sup.2 is selected from CH.sub.3—(CH.sub.2).sub.m—, n is an integer selected from 1 to 3, m is an integer selected from 0 to 2; or one of R.sup.2 is (CH.sub.3).sub.3Si—O—. Anion A in Formula I is selected from the group consisting of: Cl.sup.−, Br.sup.−, I.sup.−, BF.sub.4.sup.−, NO.sub.3.sup.−, SO.sub.4.sup.2−, CF.sub.3COO.sup.−, CF.sub.3SO.sub.3.sup.−, (CF.sub.3SO.sub.2).sub.2N.sup.−, PF.sub.6.sup.−, BF.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4.sup.−, or B(C.sub.2O.sub.4).sub.2.sup.−.

The present invention discloses a process for preparing a functionalized choline chloride ionic liquid as defined in formula (I), and thereof use in an electrochemical energy storage device, as an electrolyte solution or an additive for a lithium ion battery and a supercapacitor. The ionic liquid electrolyte material has better biocompatibility, flame retardance, high ionic conductivity, low viscosity, and wide electrochemical window. ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of: (CH.sub.2═CH—(CH.sub.2).sub.n)—, CN(CH.sub.2).sub.n—, or R.sup.2.sub.3Si—; R.sup.2 is selected from CH.sub.3—(CH.sub.2).sub.m—, n is an integer selected from 1 to 3, m is an integer selected from 0 to 2; or one of R.sup.2 is (CH.sub.3).sub.3Si—O—. Anion A in Formula I is selected from the group consisting of: Cl.sup.−, Br.sup.−, I.sup.−, BF.sub.4.sup.−, NO.sub.3.sup.−, SO.sub.4.sup.2−, CF.sub.3COO.sup.−, CF.sub.3SO.sub.3.sup.−, (CF.sub.3SO.sub.2).sub.2N.sup.−, PF.sub.6.sup.−, BF.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4.sup.−, or B(C.sub.2O.sub.4).sub.2.sup.−.

The present invention relates to a process for purifying ethylenediamine (EDA) by distillation, wherein the process comprises the steps a) and b). In step a), a mixture (G1) comprising water, EDA and N-methylethylenediamine (N-MeEDA) is fed into a distillation apparatus (D1), and the major part of the water comprised in the mixture (G1) is separated off overhead at a pressure of greater than 4.8 bara. From the bottom of (D1), the water-enriched mixture (G2) is fed into a distillation apparatus (D2) in step b). At the top of (D2), the major part of the N-MeEDA is distilled off. The stream (S3) obtained from the bottom of (D2) comprises EDA, with the components water and N-MeEDA comprised in the mixture (G1) having been largely or completely removed. Further distillation steps can optionally be carried out in order to obtain pure EDA, for example when diethylenetriamine (DETA) is additionally comprised in the mixture (G1). If ammonia is additionally comprised in the mixture (G1), an ammonia removal is preferably additionally carried out before carrying out the step a) in the process of the invention.

The present invention relates to a process for purifying ethylenediamine (EDA) by distillation, wherein the process comprises the steps a) and b). In step a), a mixture (G1) comprising water, EDA and N-methylethylenediamine (N-MeEDA) is fed into a distillation apparatus (D1), and the major part of the water comprised in the mixture (G1) is separated off overhead at a pressure of greater than 4.8 bara. From the bottom of (D1), the water-enriched mixture (G2) is fed into a distillation apparatus (D2) in step b). At the top of (D2), the major part of the N-MeEDA is distilled off. The stream (S3) obtained from the bottom of (D2) comprises EDA, with the components water and N-MeEDA comprised in the mixture (G1) having been largely or completely removed. Further distillation steps can optionally be carried out in order to obtain pure EDA, for example when diethylenetriamine (DETA) is additionally comprised in the mixture (G1). If ammonia is additionally comprised in the mixture (G1), an ammonia removal is preferably additionally carried out before carrying out the step a) in the process of the invention.