Disclosed is a method for depolymerization of polyester. The method includes (a) treating said polyester with methanol under conditions sufficient to depolymerize at least some of said polyester and form a reaction product that includes dimethyl terephthalate and at least one diol; and (b) converting the diol to a compound substantially non-reactive with said with dimethyl terephthalate and the polyester. A method for producing a cyclic carbonate is also described.

The present invention relates to an acetal compound of the following general formula (1) and an acetal compound of the following general formula (2). The present invention relates to processes for preparing the acetal compound (2), comprising subjecting the acetal compound (1) to a hydrogenation reaction to form the acetal compound (2). The present invention provides a process for preparing 2,3,4,4-tetramethylcyclopentanecarbaldehyde of the following formula (3), comprising subjecting the acetal compound (2) to a hydrolysis reaction to form 2,3,4,4-tetramethylcyclopentanecarbaldehyde (3).

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to an acetal compound of the following general formula (1) and an acetal compound of the following general formula (2). The present invention relates to processes for preparing the acetal compound (2), comprising subjecting the acetal compound (1) to a hydrogenation reaction to form the acetal compound (2). The present invention provides a process for preparing 2,3,4,4-tetramethylcyclopentanecarbaldehyde of the following formula (3), comprising subjecting the acetal compound (2) to a hydrolysis reaction to form 2,3,4,4-tetramethylcyclopentanecarbaldehyde (3). ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a process for preparing dioxolane by reacting ethylene glycol with an aqueous solution of formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst. The raw product comprising water, dioxolane and methanol is fed to a phase separation unit (20) wherein an organic extracting agent is present. An organic fraction stream from the phase separation unit is transferred to an upper part of a purification column (30) from which dioxolane is withdrawn as a bottom product while the distillate stream of the purification column is recycled to the phase separation unit. An aqueous fraction stream from the phase separation unit is transferred to a waste water column (40), withdrawing a waste water stream from the bottom of the waste water column, withdrawing a side stream (42) from a stage between the feed stage and the reflux stage of the waste water column and recycling this stream (42) to the phase separation unit, and withdrawing a distillate stream (43) containing methanol from the waste water column.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing dioxolane by reacting ethylene glycol with an aqueous solution of formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst. The raw product comprising water, dioxolane and methanol is fed to a phase separation unit (20) wherein an organic extracting agent is present. An organic fraction stream from the phase separation unit is transferred to an upper part of a purification column (30) from which dioxolane is withdrawn as a bottom product while the distillate stream of the purification column is recycled to the phase separation unit. An aqueous fraction stream from the phase separation unit is transferred to a waste water column (40), withdrawing a waste water stream from the bottom of the waste water column, withdrawing a side stream (42) from a stage between the feed stage and the reflux stage of the waste water column and recycling this stream (42) to the phase separation unit, and withdrawing a distillate stream (43) containing methanol from the waste water column.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing dioxolane by reacting ethylene glycol with an aqueous solution of formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst. The raw product comprising water, dioxolane and methanol is fed to a phase separation unit (20) wherein an organic extracting agent is present. An organic fraction stream from the phase separation unit is transferred to an upper part of a purification column (30) from which dioxolane is withdrawn as a bottom product while the distillate stream of the purification column is recycled to the phase separation unit. An aqueous fraction stream from the phase separation unit is transferred to a waste water column (40), withdrawing a waste water stream from the bottom of the waste water column, recycling a distillate stream (42) from the waste water column to the phase separation unit, and withdrawing a side stream (43) containing methanol from a stage below the feed stage of the waste water column.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing dioxolane by reacting ethylene glycol with an aqueous solution of formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst. The raw product comprising water, dioxolane and methanol is fed to a phase separation unit (20) wherein an organic extracting agent is present. An organic fraction stream from the phase separation unit is transferred to an upper part of a purification column (30) from which dioxolane is withdrawn as a bottom product while the distillate stream of the purification column is recycled to the phase separation unit. An aqueous fraction stream from the phase separation unit is transferred to a waste water column (40), withdrawing a waste water stream from the bottom of the waste water column, recycling a distillate stream (42) from the waste water column to the phase separation unit, and withdrawing a side stream (43) containing methanol from a stage below the feed stage of the waste water column.

Provided are a method for producing 3-methylglutaraldehyde in a good yield under a mild condition and a novel acetal compound which is useful for carrying out the foregoing method. The method is a production method of 3-methylglutaraldehyde including a step of hydrolyzing a compound represented by the following general formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or are mutually coupled to represent an alkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

Provided are a method for producing 3-methylglutaraldehyde in a good yield under a mild condition and a novel acetal compound which is useful for carrying out the foregoing method. The method is a production method of 3-methylglutaraldehyde including a step of hydrolyzing a compound represented by the following general formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or are mutually coupled to represent an alkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

Disclosed are compounds for medical uses, for example, compounds of formula Ia, ##STR00001##
wherein A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3, A.sub.4, A.sub.5, A.sub.6, A.sub.7, R.sub.6, R.sub.7 and E are as described herein, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and methods of treating or preventing a disease or condition, for example, cancer.