The present invention relates to the use of compounds of formula (I) for reducing nitrification and to compositions comprising the compounds of formula (I) and to agricultural mixtures comprising at least one compound of formula (I) and at least one fertilizer. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for reducing nitrification comprising treating a plant growing on soil or soil substituents and/or the locus or soil or soil substituents where the plant is growing or is intended to grow with a compound of formula (I) or a composition comprising a compound of formula (I).

The present invention relates to a process for preparing 4-chlorobenzyl propargylether comprising a step (a) of reacting 4-chlorobenzyl chloride with propargyl alcohol in the presence of a base and a phase transfer catalyst, wherein the reaction mixture comprises at least two phases, wherein one phase is an organic phase and one phase is an aqueous phase.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing 4-chlorobenzyl propargylether comprising a step (a) of reacting 4-chlorobenzyl chloride with propargyl alcohol in the presence of a base and a phase transfer catalyst, wherein the reaction mixture comprises at least two phases, wherein one phase is an organic phase and one phase is an aqueous phase.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing 4-chlorobenzyl propargylether comprising a step (a) of reacting 4-chlorobenzyl chloride with propargyl alcohol in the presence of a base and a phase transfer catalyst, wherein the reaction mixture comprises at least two phases, wherein one phase is an organic phase and one phase is an aqueous phase.

The present invention relates to new malodour-counteracting agents of formula (I) or stereoisomers thereof, particularly useful in blocking the olfactory perception of androstenone, Formula (I), wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7 and X have the same meaning as that defined in the claims. The present invention also relates to consumer products comprising said agents. The present invention also relates to the use of said agents to suppress or attenuate undesirable odour, as well as to methods to suppress or attenuate undesirable odour employing said compounds. ##STR00001##

An object of the present invention is to provide, for example, a novel method for synthesizing a fluorovinyl ether compound from a fluorine-containing vinyl compound. This problem is solved by a method for producing a compound represented by formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein
R.sup.a1 is a hydrogen atom, a halogeno group, an alkyl group, a fluoroalkyl group, or an aromatic group optionally having one or more substituents,
Rf is a fluoro group or a perfluoroalkyl group,
R.sup.a2 is a hydrogen atom, a halogeno group, an alkyl group, a fluoroalkyl group, or an aromatic group optionally having one or more substituents, or
(i) R.sup.a1 and R.sup.a2, (ii) R.sup.a1 and Rf, or (iii) Rf and R.sup.a2 may be linked to each other,
R.sup.b1 is R.sup.S,
R.sup.b2 is a hydrogen atom or R.sup.S,
R.sup.b3 is a hydrogen atom or R.sup.S, or
two or three of R.sup.b1, R.sup.b2, and R.sup.b3, taken together with the adjacent carbon atom, may form a ring optionally having one or more substituents, and
R.sup.S, in each occurrence, is the same or different and represents a hydrocarbon group optionally having one or more substituents, the method comprising
step A of reacting a compound represented by formula (2):

##STR00002##

wherein
R.sup.x is a leaving group, and
other symbols are as defined above,
with a compound represented by formula (3):

##STR00003##

wherein the symbols in the formula are as defined above, in the presence of a transition metal catalyst.

An object of the present invention is to provide, for example, a novel method for synthesizing a fluorovinyl ether compound from a fluorine-containing vinyl compound. This problem is solved by a method for producing a compound represented by formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein
R.sup.a1 is a hydrogen atom, a halogeno group, an alkyl group, a fluoroalkyl group, or an aromatic group optionally having one or more substituents,
Rf is a fluoro group or a perfluoroalkyl group,
R.sup.a2 is a hydrogen atom, a halogeno group, an alkyl group, a fluoroalkyl group, or an aromatic group optionally having one or more substituents, or
(i) R.sup.a1 and R.sup.a2, (ii) R.sup.a1 and Rf, or (iii) Rf and R.sup.a2 may be linked to each other,
R.sup.b1 is R.sup.S,
R.sup.b2 is a hydrogen atom or R.sup.S,
R.sup.b3 is a hydrogen atom or R.sup.S, or
two or three of R.sup.b1, R.sup.b2, and R.sup.b3, taken together with the adjacent carbon atom, may form a ring optionally having one or more substituents, and
R.sup.S, in each occurrence, is the same or different and represents a hydrocarbon group optionally having one or more substituents, the method comprising
step A of reacting a compound represented by formula (2):

##STR00002##

wherein
R.sup.x is a leaving group, and
other symbols are as defined above,
with a compound represented by formula (3):

##STR00003##

wherein the symbols in the formula are as defined above, in the presence of a transition metal catalyst.

An object of the present invention is to provide, for example, a novel method for synthesizing a fluorovinyl ether compound from a fluorine-containing vinyl compound. This problem is solved by a method for producing a compound represented by formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein
R.sup.a1 is a hydrogen atom, a halogeno group, an alkyl group, a fluoroalkyl group, or an aromatic group optionally having one or more substituents,
Rf is a fluoro group or a perfluoroalkyl group,
R.sup.a2 is a hydrogen atom, a halogeno group, an alkyl group, a fluoroalkyl group, or an aromatic group optionally having one or more substituents, or
(i) R.sup.a1 and R.sup.a2, (ii) R.sup.a1 and Rf, or (iii) Rf and R.sup.a2 may be linked to each other,
R.sup.b1 is R.sup.S,
R.sup.b2 is a hydrogen atom or R.sup.S,
R.sup.b3 is a hydrogen atom or R.sup.S, or
two or three of R.sup.b1, R.sup.b2, and R.sup.b3, taken together with the adjacent carbon atom, may form a ring optionally having one or more substituents, and
R.sup.S, in each occurrence, is the same or different and represents a hydrocarbon group optionally having one or more substituents, the method comprising
step A of reacting a compound represented by formula (2):

##STR00002##

wherein
R.sup.x is a leaving group, and
other symbols are as defined above,
with a compound represented by formula (3):

##STR00003##

wherein the symbols in the formula are as defined above, in the presence of a transition metal catalyst.

A polybrominated flame-retardant compound, a process for forming a flame-retardant material, and an article of manufacture are disclosed. The polybrominated flame-retardant compound includes a cyclododecane moiety, at least two bromo groups, and at least one substituent having a reactive functional group. The process includes forming a polybromocyclododecane (PBCD) compound having at least one reactive functional group and incorporating the PBCD compound into a polymer in a process that includes covalent binding of the PBCD compound. The article of manufacture includes a flame-retardant material that comprises a polymer with a covalently-bound PBCD compound.

The present invention relates to the use of compounds of formula (I) for reducing nitrification and to compositions comprising the compounds of formula (I) and to agricultural mixtures comprising at least one compound of formula (I) and at least one fertilizer. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for reducing nitrification comprising treating a plant growing on soil or soil substituents and/or the locus or soil or soil substituents where the plant is growing or is intended to grow with a compound of formula (I) or a composition comprising a compound of formula (I).