DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
According to paper filed on July 30, 2026, the applicants have amended claims 1 and 2.
Claims 1-20 are pending in the application.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed July 30, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive regarding obviousness rejection. The applicants have amended claims to overcome indefiniteness rejection and furthermore, have filed terminal disclaimer to overcome all ODP and provisional ODP rejections. Regarding obviousness rejection, the applicants argue on page 8 that the cited reference does not teach recycling and reusing the solvent. The examiner does not agree with this argument. The applicant’s attention is drawn to page 4, paragraph [0053] and page 6, paragraph [0084] where it clearly states that the solvent and catalyst used in the process may be recycled and reused. Therefore, unless applicants provide unexpected results of superior yield etc. of the instant process over the process of the cited reference, it would have been obvious to one skilled in the art to recycle and reuse the solvent in the process of the cited reference with reasonable expectation of success.
Conclusion
The obviousness rejection of claims 1-20 under 35 U.S.C 103(a) over US2019/0389846 A1 is maintained.
NEW GROUNDS OF REJECTION Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
6. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
In independent claim 1, the value of variable R3 is defined twice, first as alkyl having 1-6 carbon atoms and also as alkyl having 1-3 carbon atoms. Therefore, it is not clear what is the actual value of this variable?
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHARANJIT AULAKH whose telephone number is (571)272-0678. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:00-3:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Clinton A Brooks can be reached at 571-270-7682. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHARANJIT AULAKH/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1621
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