Patents in chemistry

The generation of generic molecular formulas can be used to evaluate patent libraries. Patents in chemistry are usually based on a generic formula, a Markush formula (cf. [329], Chapters 12-23). In Subsection 5.4.1 we introduced the following example  

The reason is that a basic and difficult problem relating to patents in chemistry is to check the overlap of several patent libraries, i.e. for possible patentviolations. These examples were discussed in [149] to show a simple but informative case. 

It is crucial that any solution of this problem requires the structures in the libraries i = 1,2, to be obtained in canonical form, so that two such libraries can be compared easily with respect to overlap 

Using MOLGEN-COMB and applying the methods described above, we obtain  

Certainly, complete generation of all structures is not the only way to solve the problem. A review of different methods can be found in [13], where in particular the evaluation of molecular descriptors for large libraries specified by generic structural formulas is described. In any case canonization of data and normal forms play a central role. Hence it is time to consider this problem and to describe a canonizer. 

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Grubb, P.W. (1986) Patents in chemistry and Biochemistry, 2nd edn. Oxford Clarendon Press. 

In Figure 9, the number of patents awarded in the United States are plotted by year. Two of the curves show the number of patents in chemistry and the other two trace the number of patents in biotechnology. Of each pair of curves, one corresponds to the total number of patents granted, and the other gives the number granted to United States companies. Hence the total ... 

Figure 9 Annual number of patents in chemistry and biotechnology issued by the United States Patent C Trademark Office. The curves with open symbols correspond to patents owned by companies in the United States. The curves with solid symbols correspond to the total number of patents including those owned by these companies, nonprofit organizations, the government, and individuals in the United States plus patents owned by foreign entities. Data from Ref. 11.

Grubb, P.W. Patents in Chemistry and Biotechnology Clarendon Press Oxford, 1986. 

For alternative procedures for the preparation of 1 see Naumann, R. (1990) Synthetic Pyrethroid Insectides Chemistry and Patents in Chemistry of Plant Protection, Vol. 5 (eds W.S. Bowers, W. Ebing, D. Martin and R. Wegler), Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Ch. 2, pp. 112-115. 

A. Kerber, R. Laue, and M. Meringer. An application of the structure generator MOLGEN to patents in chemistry. MATCH Commun. Math. Comput. Chem., 47 169-172,2003. 

Perspectives and suggestions for further research New approaches to the interpretation and verification of mass spectra, to stereoisomer and conformer generation, normal forms for patents in chemistry and CASE using high resolution mass spectrometry. 

Herm/es/Djnamit JS obe/Process. On a worldwide basis, the Hercules Inc./Dynamit Nobel AG process is the dorninant technology for the production of dimethyl terephthalate the chemistry was patented in the 1950s (67—69). Modifications in commercial practice have occurred over the years, with several variations being practiced commercially (70—72). The reaction to dimethyl terephthalate involves four steps, which alternate between liquid-phase oxidation and liquid-phase esterification. Two reactors are used. Eirst, -xylene is oxidized with air to -toluic acid in the oxidation reactor, and the contents are then sent to the second reactor for esterification with methanol to methyl -toluate. The toluate is isolated by distillation and returned to the first reactor where it is further oxidized to monomethyl terephthalate, which is then esterified in the second reactor to dimethyl terephthalate. 

Poly(dicyclopentadiene). The development of polydicyclopentadiene [25038-78-2] for reaction injection molding is an area which has generated much interest. The polyDCPD is obtained via metathesis polymerization of high purity (usually greater than 98%) DCPD. Excellent reviews (61—62) of the chemistry and properties of polyDCPD have been pubHshed. The patent Hterature of polyDCPD synthesis, catalysts, modifiers, and appHcations is dominated by Hercules (44 patents) and B. F. Goodrich (43 patents) in the U.S. Other participants are Orkem, SheU, Nippon Zeon, and Teijin. 

The initial decision—often called the VICOM decision after the applicant for the patent—was followed by further decisions of the Boards of Appeal that opened the way for the patenting of inventions implemented by means of computers. The reasoning behind these decisions has often been adopted by courts in other countries (not only in Europe, but elsewhere). The German Supreme Court, for example, has explicitly stated that the application of computers in chemistry or biology is acceptable patentable subject matter [14]. 

In February 1936, Du Pont assigned Carothers what was to be his last job for the company, a history of his contributions. Sylvia Moore had ended their relationship, and two days after Carothers completed the history, he surprised friends by marrying a pretty young woman from Du Pont s patent office. Helen Everett Sweetman was not a socialite, like the wives of some of Carothers friends. Her father was a Du Pont administrator, neither a scientist nor a top executive. But Helen had graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in chemistry, she played a good game of tennis, and she adored Carothers. 

Muller must have been disappointed to learn that he was not the discoverer of DDT. Sixty-five years earlier and seventy miles down the Rhine River, an Austrian graduate student at the University of Strasbourg had synthesized the compound as part of his chemistry doctoral thesis. Although Othmar Zeidler described many of DDT s properties and developed the method used to make it commercially, he overlooked the compound s insecticidal powers. And because DDT was not used to make dyestuffs, it was soon forgotten. Thus, when Geigy took out the basic Swiss patent in March 1940, it was for DDT s use as an insecticide. 

Andrew Peacock is a Development Associate with Tredegar Film Products, Richmond, Virginia. Previously he worked as a Senior Research Chemist with Exxon Chemical Company, Baytown, Texas. Publications include the Handbook of Polyethylene - Structures, Properties and Applications , nine patents in the field of polymer science, and numerous journal articles. Dr. Peacock received a B. Sc. in Chemistry from the University of London, England, an M. Sc. in Polymer Science and Technology from Lancaster University, England and a Ph. D. in Chemistry from the University of Southampton, England. 

Compounds given in patents without chemistry or synthesis are not part of this review. 

CHARLES A. MIMS is a Professor of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto. He earned his B.Sc. in chemistry at the university of Texas, Austin, and his Ph.D. in physical chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. He has 15 years of industrial research experience at Exxon, is the author of over 65 research publications, and holds three patents. His research interests focus on catalytic kinetics in various energy and hydrocarbon resource conversion reactions, and the fundamentals of surface reactions. 

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