Abstract: A process for making (4R, 6R)-4-hydroxy-2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexanone by contacting (6R)-2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexanedione with a microorganism which is selected from microorganisms of the genera Cellulomonas, Corynebacterium, Planococcus and Arthrobacter and which is capable of the selective asymmetric reduction of (6R)-2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexanedione to (4R, 6R)-4-hydroxy-2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexanone, and recovering the resulting (4R, 6R)-4-hydroxy-2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexanone from the reaction mixture. The selective asymmetric reduction can be effected in the presence of a co-factor, such as, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), or said co-factor with glucose and glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), and/or in the presence of a surfactant. The product is useful for the synthesis of carotenoids, such as, zeaxanthin.

Abstract: A process for preparing a hydroxybenzoic acid is herein disclosed which comprises reacting a phenol with an alkali metal compound by the use of an aprotic polar organic solvent as a reaction solvent to form an alkali metal salt of the phenol, and then reacting this alkali metal salt with carbon dioxide to obtain a hydroxybenzoic acid, said process comprising the step of carrying out the reaction under conditions that a molar ratio of the phenol to the total of the alkali metal compound and the aprotic polar organic solvent is larger than 1. Furthermore, the process may contain the steps of precipitating crystals from the reaction solution, separating the solid from the solution to obtain a wet alkali metal salt of the hydroxybenzoic acid, dissolving the wet alkali metal salt in water, and precipitating crystals from the solution by acidification to obtain the hydroxybenzoic acid.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing with good productivity a cross-linked polyaspartic acid resin having biodegradability and high water absorbency. The process features inclusion of one of the following steps: (a) a polysuccinimide, which has been brought into a dispersed state by a dispersant, and a cross-linking agent are reacted to produce the cross-linked polyaspartic acid resin; (b) imide rings of a cross-linked polysuccinimide are subjected to a hydrolysis reaction while controlling a swelling degree of a resulting gel, whereby the cross-linked polyaspartic acid resin is produced; and (c) a gel of a cross-linked polysuccinimide, which has been obtained by reacting a cross-linking agent to a solution of a polysuccinimide in an organic solvent, is disintegrated to subject imide rings of the cross-linked polysuccinimide to a hydrolysis reaction, so that the cross-linked polyaspartic acid resin is produced.

Abstract: An enzyme having carbonyl reduction activity of reducing a carbonyl compound asymmetrically to produce an optically active alcohol, a DNA coding the enzyme, a plasmid having the DNA, a transformant which is a cell transformed with the plasmid, and a production method of an optically active alcohol using the enzyme and/or the transformed cell are provided.

Abstract: An automatic ice maker of the open-cell type including a box-type housing, a plurality of spaced ice making cell casings arranged on a horizontal plane in an upper portion of the housing and opened downward, a cooling pipe mounted on the cell casings to be supplied with refrigerant from a freezing circuit, and a sprinkler mounted within a bottom portion of the housing and placed under the cell casings to spout ice making water into the respective cell casings, wherein a base plate is mounted within the upper portion of the housing to form an ice making chamber, and wherein the ice making cell casings are secured to a bottom surface of the base plate, while the cooling pipe is mounted on the base plate at positions located above the cell casings and welded to an upper surface of the base plate.

Abstract: The invention is a novel developer composition which comprises one or more phenol derivative of sulfonamide structure represented by the formula (1) and one or more constituents selected from a polyvalent metal compound, antioxidant and reducing agent and provides dispersion having excellent preservation stability on atomization in water. The heat sensitive recording material comprising the developer composition has high color density in developed image and is also excellent in whiteness degree before recording.

Abstract: An enzyme having carbonyl reduction activity of reducing a carbonyl compound asymmetrically to produce an optically active alcohol, a DNA coding the enzyme, a plasmid having the DNA, a transformant which is a cell transformed with the plasmid, and a production method of an optically active alcohol using the enzyme and/or the transformed cell are provided.

Abstract: For suppressing generation of leakage current and side-gate effect in a junction field effect transistor, a gate extension is formed on a semi-insulative compound semiconductor substrate in a manner to extend from a gate and to protrude outward beyond a channel transversely thereto, and an insulating layer is formed on the semi-insulative compound semiconductor substrate under the gate extension. A method of producing this transistor comprises the steps of first forming a channel and a source-drain on a substrate, then forming a gate on the channel together with a gate extension which extends from the gate and protrudes outward beyond the channel transversely thereto, and forming an insulating layer adjacently to the channel and the source-drain in such a manner that no gap is existent between the insulating layer and at least the channel.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing with good productivity a cross-linked polyaspartic acid resin having biodegradability and high water absorbency. The process features inclusion of one of the following steps: (a) a polysuccinimide, which has been brought into a dispersed state by a dispersant, and a cross-linking agent are reacted to produce the cross-linked polyaspartic acid resin; (b) imide rings of a cross-linked polysuccinimide are subjected to a hydrolysis reaction while controlling a swelling degree of a resulting gel, whereby the cross-linked polyaspartic acid resin is produced; and (c) a gel of a cross-linked polysuccinimide, which has been obtained by reacting a cross-linking agent to a solution of a polysuccinimide in an organic solvent, is disintegrated to subject imide rings of the cross-linked polysuccinimide to a hydrolysis reaction, so that the cross-linked polyaspartic acid resin is produced.

Abstract: An ohmic electrode for III-V compound semiconductors such as GaAs semiconductors which has practically satisfactory characteristics is disclosed. A non-single crystal InAs layer, Ni film, WSi film and W film are sequentially deposited on an n.sup.+ -type GaAs substrate by sputtering, etc. and subsequently patterned by lift-off, etc. to make a multi-layered structure for fabricating ohmic electrodes. The structure is then annealed first at, e.g. 300.degree. C. for 30 minutes and next at, e.g. 650.degree. C. for one second to fabricate an ohmic electrode.

Abstract: A process for preparing a phthalide compound represented by the formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are individually an alkyl group, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, and R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 can respectively bond to each other to form a heterocyclic ring together with a nitrogen atom, comprising oxidizing a triphenylmethane compound represented by the formula (2) ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are the same as above, is oxidized in the presence of activated carbon in an aqueous solvent by an oxidizing agent.The process can provide a fast reaction that produces a high purity product with high yield.

Abstract: An ohmic electrode for III-V compound semiconductors such as GaAs semiconductors which has practically satisfactory characteristics is disclosed. A non-single crystal InAs layer, Ni film, WSi film and W film are sequentially deposited on an n.sup.+ -type GaAs substrate by sputtering, etc. and subsequently patterned by lift-off, etc. to make a multi-layered structure for fabricating ohmic electrodes. The structure is then annealed first at, e.g. 300.degree. C. for 30 minutes and next at, e.g. 650.degree. C. for one second to fabricate an ohmic electrode.

Abstract: An ohmic electrode for III-V compound semiconductors such as GaAs semiconductors which has practically satisfactory characteristics is disclosed. A non-single crystal InAs layer, Ni film, WSi film and W film are sequentially deposited on an n.sup.+ -type GaAs substrate by sputtering, etc. and subsequently patterned by lift-off, etc. to make a multi-layered structure for fabricating ohmic electrodes. The structure is then annealed first at, e.g. 300.degree. C. for 30 minutes and next at, e.g. 650.degree. C. for one second to fabricate an ohmic electrode.

Abstract: A process for producing an alkoxy-substituted tri-phenylamine comprising reacting an alkoxy-substituted cyclohexanone with a diphenylamine or an aniline, while forming said cyclohexanone in the same system from an alkoxy-substituted phenol by using said phenol as a hydrogen acceptor, in the presence of a hydrogen transfer catalyst and a catalytic amount of the alkoxy-substituted cyclohexanone corresponding to the alkoxy-substituted phenol used for the reaction, or after converting partially the alkoxy-substituted phenol to a catalytic amount of the alkoxy-substituted cyclohexanone under a hydrogen pressure in the presence of a hydrogen transfer catalyst, wherein a surface-supported catalyst is used as the hydrogen transfer catalyst.

Abstract: Provided are a color-developing agent comprising a multivalent metal salt of a salicylic acid derivative and a sulfonated phenol and/or a metal salt thereof and having excellent initial and ultimate color-developing capacities and improved waterproofness; and a color-developing sheet making use of the color-developing agent.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a method for preparing an aromatic secondary amino compound which comprises reacting an N-cyclohexylideneamino compound in the presence of a hydrogen moving catalyst and a hydrogen acceptor by the use of a sulfur-free polar solvent and/or a cocatalyst, and(2) a method for preparing an aromatic secondary amino compound which comprises reacting cyclohexanone or a nucleus-substituted cyclohexanone, an amine and a nitro compound corresponding to the amine in a sulfur-free polar solvent in the presence of a hydrogen moving catalyst, a cocatalyst being added or not added. In a further aspect, a method is provided for the preparation of aminodiphenylamine by reacting phenylenediamine and cyclohexanone in the presence of a hydrogen transfer catalyst in a sulfur-free polar solvent while using nitroaniline as a hydrogen acceptor.

Abstract: A processes for the preparation of diphenylamine or a nucleus-substituted derivative thereof, which comprise, upon feeding into a reaction system a phenol compound and reacting in the reaction system a cyclohexanone compound with an aniline compound in the presence of a hydrogen transfer catalyst and a catalytic amount of the cyclohexanone compound corresponding to the phenol compound while using the phenol compound as a hydrogen acceptor and forming the cyclohexanone compound in the reaction system, (1) conducting reaction while adding dropwise the aniline compound and (2) employing a hydroxide, carbonate or bicarbonate of an alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal when the hydrogen transfer catalyst is one of noble metals of Group VIII of the periodic table, respectively.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 4-methoxy-2,2',6-trimethyldiphenylamine, which comprises heating and reacting 2,6-dimethylcyclohexanone and 2-methyl-4-methoxyaniline in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst while removing the resultant hydrogen and water from the reaction system.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a method for preparing an aromatic secondary amino compound which comprises reacting an N-cyclohexylideneamino compound in the presence of a hydrogen moving catalyst and a hydrogen acceptor by the use of a sulfur-free polar solvent and/or a cocatalyst, and (2) a method for preparing an aromatic secondary amino compound which comprises reacting cyclohexanone or a nucleus-substituted cyclohexanone, an amine and a nitro compound corresponding to the amine in a sulfur-free polar solvent in the presence of a hydrogen moving catalyst, a cocatalyst being added or not added. In a further aspect, a method is provided for the preparation of aminodiphenylamine by reacting phenylenediamine and cyclohexanone in the presence of a hydrogen transfer catalyst in a sulfur-free polar solvent while using nitroaniline as a hydrogen acceptor.

Abstract: A diphenylamine with both the phenyl groups being substituted is prepared by reacting a phenol with ammonia in the presence of a hydrogen transfer catalyst and a cyclohexanone; or by converting a portion of the phenol to the cyclohexanone in the presence of a hydrogen transfer catalyst and under hydrogen pressure and then reacting the remaining portion of the phenol with ammonia in the presence of the cyclohexanone so converted and the hydrogen transfer catalyst. The diphenylamine can be obtained very efficiently.