Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a sugar, whereby any non-sugar component can be removed from a sugar solution with high efficiency and the color value of the sugar solution can be reduced. Specifically disclosed is a process for producing sugar, which is characterized by comprising: adding ethanol to a sugar solution produced by squeezing a plant; removing precipitates produced by the addition of ethanol from the solution; and crystallizing sugar from the sugar solution from which the precipitates have been removed.

Abstract: A metal hydride complex of the invention is a hydride complex of a metal selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, osmium and iridium and has one or more aromatic carboxylic acid residues. According to the invention, there is provided a new metal hydride complex which is dissolved in an organic solvent having a low polarity such as a hydrocarbon solvent at a high concentration and has a high catalytic activity of hydrogenating carbon-carbon double bonds. The metal hydride complex relating to the invention is especially suitable as a catalyst in the hydrogenation reaction of a cycloolefin ring-opening polymer.

Abstract: A novel norbornene derivative represented by a general formula (1m) shown below is provided. By conducting a ring opening polymerization of this norbornene derivative, or by performing a subsequent hydrogenation following the ring opening polymerization, a ring opening polymer or a hydrogenated product thereof with an excellent low birefringence can be obtained. [wherein, at least one of R1 to R4 is a group selected from the group consisting of groups represented by a general formula (1-1) shown below and groups represented by a general formula (1-2) shown below] [wherein, at least one of RA, RB and Z is a group represented by the formula —C(O)O—].

Abstract: A novel norbornene derivative represented by a general formula (1m) shown below is provided. By conducting a ring opening polymerization of this norbornene derivative, or by performing a subsequent hydrogenation following the ring opening polymerization, a ring opening polymer or a hydrogenated product thereof with an excellent low birefringence can be obtained.

Abstract: Solid poly-.alpha.-amino acid particles are obtained by preparing an oil-in-water emulsion from water and an organic solvent having a water solubility of 10 g/100 ml or less, and polymerizing an .alpha.-amino acid-N-carboxy anhydride by emulsion polymerization in the oil-in-water emulsion, or by polymerizing an .alpha.-amino acid-N-carboxy anhydride in water in the presence of an emulsifier and an initiator. Hollow particles can be obtained by adding a poor solvent for the poly-.alpha.-amino acid to the poly-.alpha.-amino acid particles and removing the solvents. These poly-.alpha.-amino acid particles are useful as a novel raw materials for coating on papers, rubbers and fibers, for encapsulating cosmetics, drugs, agricultural chemicals and fertilizers, and as particles for diagnostic reagents.

Abstract: A method for the conversion of an unsaturated compound having a functional group, characterized by contacting [1] at least one compound selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid esters, nitriles, ketones, amides, and ethers and having a carbon-to-carbon double bond and no unsaturation at the position conjugate to said double bond, or a mixture of said compound [1] and [2] at least one compound selected from the group consisting of ethylenically unsaturated compounds having a carbon-to-carbon double bond and neither unsaturation at the position conjugate to said double bond nor a functional group, with a catalyst system consisting essentially of a combination of (A) at least one member selected from the group consisting of tungsten compounds, molybdenum compounds, and rhenium compounds, with (B) at least one organoaluminum compound having at least one carbon-to-aluminum bond.

Abstract: Novel polymers or copolymers of norbornene-carboxylic acid amides can be obtained by contacting, in the presence or absence of an inert solvent, (I) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 5-norbornene-2-carboxylic acid amide, 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid diamide and substituted derivatives thereof, or (II) a mixture of the said compound (I) with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of norbornenes having at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of ester groups, nitrile groups, esterified hydroxyl groups, acid imide groups, halogens and acid anhydride groups and cyclic olefins, with a catalyst composed of (a) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds of W, Mo and Re and (b) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds of elements of Groups IA, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IVA and IVB of the Deming Periodic Table, said compounds having at least one element-carbon bond or element-hydrogen bond.

Abstract: A method for the conversion of an unsaturated compound having a functional group, characterized by contacting [1] at least one compound selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid esters, nitriles, ketones, amides, and ethers and having a carbon-to-carbon double bond and no unsaturation at the position conjugate to said double bond, or a mixture of said compound [1] and [2] at least one compound selected from the group consisting of ethylenically unsaturated compounds having a carbon-to-carbon double bond and neither unsaturation at the position conjugate to said double bond nor a functional group, with a catalyst system consisting essentially of a combination of (A) at least one member selected from the group consisting of tungsten compounds, molybdenum compounds, and rhenium compounds, with (B) at least one organolaluminum compound having at least one carbon-to-aluminum bond.