Abstract: A secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode active material layer that includes a positive electrode active material, a fluorine-based binder having a melting point from 152° C. to 166° C., a conductive assistant having a specific surface area from 1000 m2/g to 1500 m2/g, and a vinylpyrrolidone-based polymer.

Abstract: 3-isocyanate methyl-1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate which is useful for the production of polyurethane resins such as polyurethane polyisocyanate; a process for producing 3-isocyanate methyl-1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate which process comprises reacting 3-aminomethyl-1,6-hexamethylene diamine with phosgene in the presence of a tertiary amine; and a paint or an adhesive containing the polyurethane resin produced using the above isocyanate compound.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for purifying homocystine comprising treating crude homocystine with a base, a method for purifying homocystine comprising recovering homocystine by neutralizing an alkaline aqueous solution of crude homocystine with an acid, and a homocystine powder containing 1,000 ppm or less of a polysulfide.

Abstract: Homocystine is produced by heating methionine in the presence of sulfuric acid and a hydrogen halide.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition which shows an antiferroelectric smectic phase in a wide temperature range including room temperatures, and allows high speed operation at a low voltage. A liquid crystal composition comprising at least one kind of compound expressed as ##STR1## shows an antiferroelectric smectic liquid crystalline phase at room temperatures. In the above-mentioned formula, both R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are alkyl groups, X.sub.1 is a bonding group, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are independently selected bonding groups, k, m and n are independently selected from 0 or the integer 1, Z is CF.sub.3 or CH.sub.3, A.sub.1 and A.sub.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing an aromatic carbonate by reacting an aromatic hydroxy compound, carbon monoxide and oxygen using as a catalyst a specified catalyst system containing palladium and cerium compounds. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method of producing an aromatic carbonate by reacting an aromatic hydroxy compound, carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst containing the following compounds:(A) at least one selected from palladium and palladium compounds;(B) at least one of trivalent or tetravalent cerium compounds;(C) at least one selected from quaternary ammonium salts and quaternary phosphonium salts;(D) at least one selected from quinones and reduction products thereof, i.e., aromatic diols; or(A) and (B) components of the above; and(E) at least one inorganic halide selected from alkali metal halides and alkali earth metal halides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing an aromatic carbonate by reacting an aromatic hydroxy compound, carbon monoxide and oxygen using a catalyst system for suppressing the production of aryl aromatic o-hydroxycarboxylate as a by-product. The catalyst system consists of the following compounds:(A) at least one selected from palladium and palladium compounds;(B) at least one selected from lead compounds; and(C) at least one halide selected from quaternary ammonium halides and quaternary phosphonium halides; and if required,(D) at least one selected from copper and copper compounds.The method of the present invention can increase the yield of an aromatic carbonate per palladium (the turnover number of palladium).

Abstract: A process for producing 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid by oxidizing 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene by molecular oxygen in the presence of a catalyst including cobalt, manganese and bromine. The oxidation reaction is performed by using a 2,6-dialkylnaphthalene mixture of 2,6-dimethynaphthalene and a small amount of 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene as a raw material. Thus, the desired 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid can be produced at a high yield.

Abstract: A process for purifying a crude naphthalenedicarboxylic acid containing impurities and coloring substances obtained by the oxidation of a di-substituted naphthalene, dispense with the use of a large amount of alkali or acid, and producing a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid having a high purity and good color effectively and in a high recovery is disclosed, which comprises dissolving the crude naphthalenedicarboxylic acid in a mixed solvent comprising an amine compound and an alcohol and conducting crystallization.

Abstract: A process for preparing pyruvate in high yield is disclosed, comprising reacting propylene glycol with molecular oxygen in an aqueous solution in the presence of a platinum catalyst containing a metallic component selected from the group consisting of lead, thallium, and cadmium while controlling the pH of the reaction mixture between 7 and 9. The crude pyruvate can be purified by treating with activated carbon in the presence of water.

Abstract: A process for preparing phenols with high selectivities, comprising reacting a phenol compound and a formaldehyde source with a quaternary ammonium as a counter cation of a phenol anion in the presence of an alcoholic organic solvent.

Abstract: A process for producing a polyhydroperoxy aromatic compound by oxidation of an aromatic hydrocarbon, e.g., 4,4'-diisopropylbiphenyl and 4,4'-diisopropylnaphthalene, with molecular oxygen is disclosed, in which the oxidation is carried out in the presence of a metal ion selected from cobalt, nickel, zinc and lead ions. Even in using a reaction apparatus made of an iron-containing metal generally employed in industry, a high conversion of secondary alkyl groups can be reached, and the desired polyhydroperoxy aromatic compound can be obtained in a high yield.

Abstract: A process for preparing 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid comprising oxidation reaction of 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene or an oxidation product thereof with molecular oxygen in a solvent containing an aliphatic carboxylic acid in the presence of a catalyst comprising cobalt and manganese as heavy metals and a bromine compound is disclosed, in which said oxidation reaction is carried out in the presence of at least one nitrogen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of a pyridine compound, ammonia, a carboxylic acid ammonium salt, urea, a urea derivative, an amine, and a carboxylic acid amide. 2,6-Naphthalenedicarboxylic acid can be obtained at higher purity and in increased yield.

Abstract: A process for preparing .alpha.-ketobutyric acid comprising contacting 1,2-butanediol with molecular oxygen in the presence of a platinum catalyst is disclosed. The process produces .alpha.-ketobutyric acid in high yield at low cost.

Abstract: An optically active compound represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms; A represents ##STR2## or ##STR3## wherein ring ##STR4## represents a nitrogen-containing hetero-aromatic ring; n and m each represents 0 or 1; R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; and C* is an asymmetric carbon atom. The compound of formula (I) exhibits excellent physicochemical stability, a low temperature range for the chiral smectic C phase when used either alone or in combination with other compounds, and a rapid response.

Abstract: A process for preparing 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl comprising oxidizing 4,4'-diisopropylbiphenyl with molecular oxygen and decomposing the resulting oxidation product in the presence of an acid catalyst is disclosed, in which oxidation of 4,4'-diisopropylbiphenyl is carried out in the presence of ammonia or an ammonium salt. The oxidation product has an increased selectivity of 4,4'-diisopropylbiphenyl dihydroperoxide and, therefore, produces the desired product in high yield upon acid decomposition.

Abstract: A process for preparing p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol or a derivative thereof comprising reacting a phenol and a formaldehyde source under a basic condition is disclosed, wherein the reaction is carried out in an alcoholic organic solvent in the presence of a crown ether. The process achieves high selectivity toward the para position without involving high cost.

Abstract: A process for preparing 2-(o-aminophenyl)ethanol comprising reducing 2-(o-nitrophenyl)ethanol with hydrogen in the presence of a Raney nickel catalyst is described, in which said reducing is carried out in the presence of a small amount of an alkali compound. The Raney nickel catalyst exhibits improved activity to achieve an increased reaction rate.

Abstract: A process for preparing 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenylmethane, which comprises reacting phenol with formaldehyde in the presence of an acidic catalyst and separating the aimed 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenylmethane from the crude dihydroxydiphenylmethane thus obtained, is disclosed. According to this process, 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenylmethane can be separated from its isomers and oligomers at a high purity and at a high yield, compared with those achieved by known methods. Thus highly useful 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenylmethane can be advantageously prepared on an industrial scale.

Abstract: A process for preparing p-cumylphenol which comprises reacting phenol and .alpha.-methylstyrene in the presence of an inorganic solid acid catalyst having an acid point of an acid strength Ho of up to -3, for example, activated clay and recovering the aimed p-cumylphenol from the reaction mixture thus obtained by distilling the same while introducing an inert gas such as nitrogen and/or steam into the distillation system is disclosed. The p-cumylphenol thus obtained has a high purity and an improved color compared with those obtained by conventional methods.