The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition comprising: one or more dicarbonyl derivatives corresponding to formula (I) below, and/or derivatives thereof and/or hydrates thereof and/or salts thereof:

##STR00001##

in which formula (I) R=H, COOH, linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl which is optionally substituted with an OH or COOH or Br radical; phenyl or benzyl optionally substituted with an OH or COOH radical; or alternatively an indolyl radical or

##STR00002## one or more silanes corresponding to formula (II) below and/or oligomers thereof:

R.sub.1Si(OR.sub.2).sub.z(R.sub.3).sub.x(OH).sub.y  (II)

in which formula (II): R.sub.1 is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or acyclic C.sub.1-C.sub.6 hydrocarbon-based chain substituted with a group chosen from the following groups: amine NH.sub.2 or NHR (R=C.sub.1-C.sub.20 and especially C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl optionally substituted with a radical comprising a silicon atom, C.sub.3-C.sub.40 cycloalkyl or C.sub.6-C.sub.30 aromatic), or with a hydroxyl group, a thiol group, an aryl or aryloxy group which is unsubstituted or substituted, in particular with an amino group or with a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 aminoalkyl group;  R.sub.1 possibly being interrupted with a heteroatom (O, S or NH) or a carbonyl group (CO), R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, which may be identical or different, represent a linear or branched alkyl group comprising from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, y denotes an integer ranging from 0 to 3, and z denotes an integer ranging from 0 to 3, and x denotes an integer ranging from 0 to 2,
with z+x+y=3.

The invention also relates to a process for straightening keratin fibers, especially the hair, using the compounds of formulae (I) and (II) with a straightening step using a straightening iron at a temperature of at least 150° C., preferably ranging from 150 to 250° C.

The present disclosure provides a method for extracting alpha-ketoglutarate and pyruvate simultaneously from microbial fermentation broth or enzyme transformation solution, which is related to the technical field of biological separation and extraction. The method comprises the following steps: centrifuging the microbial fermentation broth or enzymatic conversion solution containing α-KG and PA to remove the cells and other visible solids; removing the macromolecular impurities by ultrafiltration; evaporating and concentrating under reduced pressure conditions; extracting with the water-insoluble extraction after acidification; separating crude crystals of α-KG and crude liquid of PA by evaporation crystallization method (if concentration of PA is great higher than that of α-KG, crystallization separation should be conducted after distilling partial pure pyruvate); washing the crude crystal of α-KG with water-insoluble organic solvent as ethyl acetate or butyl acetate, drying and crushing to obtain qualified α-KG; distilling to gain qualified PA product applying high vacuum distillation (or molecular distillation).

The present disclosure provides a method for extracting alpha-ketoglutarate and pyruvate simultaneously from microbial fermentation broth or enzyme transformation solution, which is related to the technical field of biological separation and extraction. The method comprises the following steps: centrifuging the microbial fermentation broth or enzymatic conversion solution containing α-KG and PA to remove the cells and other visible solids; removing the macromolecular impurities by ultrafiltration; evaporating and concentrating under reduced pressure conditions; extracting with the water-insoluble extraction after acidification; separating crude crystals of α-KG and crude liquid of PA by evaporation crystallization method (if concentration of PA is great higher than that of α-KG, crystallization separation should be conducted after distilling partial pure pyruvate); washing the crude crystal of α-KG with water-insoluble organic solvent as ethyl acetate or butyl acetate, drying and crushing to obtain qualified α-KG; distilling to gain qualified PA product applying high vacuum distillation (or molecular distillation).

Systems and methods are disclosed for generation of hyperpolarized target compounds. Generation of a hyperpolarized target compound can include application of a sequence of microwave pulses to a solution containing the target compound or a precursor of the target compound; or modulation of a magnetic field applied to the solution. When the precursor is hyperpolarized, the precursor can be cleaved to generate the hyperpolarized target compound. The hyperpolarized target compound can then be induced to precipitate out of the solution. The precipitate can be redissolved in a specified volume of solvent to form a solution having a desired concentration of the hyperpolarized target compound.

Systems and methods are disclosed for generation of hyperpolarized target compounds. Generation of a hyperpolarized target compound can include application of a sequence of microwave pulses to a solution containing the target compound or a precursor of the target compound; or modulation of a magnetic field applied to the solution. When the precursor is hyperpolarized, the precursor can be cleaved to generate the hyperpolarized target compound. The hyperpolarized target compound can then be induced to precipitate out of the solution. The precipitate can be redissolved in a specified volume of solvent to form a solution having a desired concentration of the hyperpolarized target compound.

This electrode catalyst of the present invention contains an electrically conductive material that supports a metal or a metal oxide, wherein electrical conductivity at 30° C. is 1×10.sup.−13 Scm.sup.−1 or greater.

This electrode catalyst of the present invention contains an electrically conductive material that supports a metal or a metal oxide, wherein electrical conductivity at 30° C. is 1×10.sup.−13 Scm.sup.−1 or greater.

The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition comprising: one or more dicarbonyl derivatives corresponding to formula (I) below, and/or derivatives thereof and/or hydrates thereof and/or salts thereof:

##STR00001##

in which formula (I) R═H, COOH, linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl which is optionally substituted with an OH or COOH or Br radical; phenyl or benzyl optionally substituted with an OH or COOH radical; or alternatively an indolyl radical or

##STR00002## one or more silanes corresponding to formula (II) below and/or oligomers thereof:

R.sub.1Si(OR.sub.2).sub.z(R.sub.3).sub.x(OH).sub.y  (II)

in which formula (II): R.sub.1 is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or acyclic C.sub.1-C.sub.6 hydrocarbon-based chain substituted with a group chosen from the following groups: amine NH.sub.2 or NHR (R═C.sub.1-C.sub.20 and especially C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl optionally substituted with a radical comprising a silicon atom, C.sub.3-C.sub.40 cycloalkyl or C.sub.6-C.sub.30 aromatic), or with a hydroxyl group, a thiol group, an aryl or aryloxy group which is unsubstituted or substituted, in particular with an amino group or with a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 aminoalkyl group; R.sub.1 possibly being interrupted with a heteroatom (O, S or NH) or a carbonyl group (CO), R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, which may be identical or different, represent a linear or branched alkyl group comprising from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, y denotes an integer ranging from 0 to 3, and z denotes an integer ranging from 0 to 3, and x denotes an integer ranging from 0 to 2,
with z+x+y=3.

The invention also relates to a process for straightening keratin fibers, especially the hair, using the compounds of formulae (I) and (II) with a straightening step using a straightening iron at a temperature of at least 150° C., preferably ranging from 150 to 250° C.

The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition comprising: one or more dicarbonyl derivatives corresponding to formula (I) below, and/or derivatives thereof and/or hydrates thereof and/or salts thereof:

##STR00001##

in which formula (I) R═H, COOH, linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl which is optionally substituted with an OH or COOH or Br radical; phenyl or benzyl optionally substituted with an OH or COOH radical; or alternatively an indolyl radical or

##STR00002## one or more silanes corresponding to formula (II) below and/or oligomers thereof:

R.sub.1Si(OR.sub.2).sub.z(R.sub.3).sub.x(OH).sub.y  (II)

in which formula (II): R.sub.1 is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or acyclic C.sub.1-C.sub.6 hydrocarbon-based chain substituted with a group chosen from the following groups: amine NH.sub.2 or NHR (R═C.sub.1-C.sub.20 and especially C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl optionally substituted with a radical comprising a silicon atom, C.sub.3-C.sub.40 cycloalkyl or C.sub.6-C.sub.30 aromatic), or with a hydroxyl group, a thiol group, an aryl or aryloxy group which is unsubstituted or substituted, in particular with an amino group or with a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 aminoalkyl group; R.sub.1 possibly being interrupted with a heteroatom (O, S or NH) or a carbonyl group (CO), R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, which may be identical or different, represent a linear or branched alkyl group comprising from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, y denotes an integer ranging from 0 to 3, and z denotes an integer ranging from 0 to 3, and x denotes an integer ranging from 0 to 2,
with z+x+y=3.

The invention also relates to a process for straightening keratin fibers, especially the hair, using the compounds of formulae (I) and (II) with a straightening step using a straightening iron at a temperature of at least 150° C., preferably ranging from 150 to 250° C.

Processes are disclosed for the synthesis of a cracked product or an end product, from a starting compound or substrate having a carbonyl functional group (C═O), with hydroxy-substituted carbon atoms at alpha (α) and beta (β) positions, relative to the carbonyl functional group. According a particular embodiment, an α-, β-dihydroxy carboxylic acid or carboxylate is dehydrated to form a dicarbonyl intermediate by transformation of the α-hydroxy group to a second carbonyl group and removal of the β-hydroxy group. The dicarbonyl intermediate is cracked to form the cracked product, in which the first and second carbonyl groups are preserved. Either or both of (i) the cracked product and (ii) a second cracked product generated from cleavage of a carbon-carbon bond of the dicarbonyl intermediate, may be further converted (e.g., by hydrogenation) to one or more end products, which, like the cracked product(s), also having fewer carbon atoms relative to the dicarbonyl intermediate and substrate.