Abstract: Provision of a porous ceramic material which rapidly induces bone tissue formation and has practical strength. A porous ceramic material 11 having substantially unidirectionally oriented pores 12, a porosity of 40-90%, and an average open area of one pore of 0.05×10?3-50×10?3 mm2 both in a first sectional surface perpendicular to the pore 12 orientation direction and a second sectional surface parallel to the first sectional surface and 5 mm distant from the first sectional surface in the pore 12 orientation direction. Using the material 11, when a cylindrical test piece (diameter 3 mm×height 5 mm, the pore 12 array direction as a height direction) made of the material is dipped in polyethylene glycol up to 1 mm from one end thereof, polyethylene glycol permeates through the whole test piece preferably within 30 seconds.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing a porous ceramics material. The method comprises preparing a slurry by dispersing a ceramics raw material in a medium, filling the slurry in a container, inserting the container in a given direction into a cooling medium having a temperature not higher than the freezing point of the slurry such that the slurry freezes unidirectionally from one end side, drying the frozen slurry to give a green body, and firing the green body.

Abstract: The invention provides an artificial bone with substantially unidirectionally-oriented pores in the inside of an artificial bone material (artificial bone main body) and has, on its surface, a marker showing the orientation direction of the substantially unidirectionally-oriented pores. The marker may be a line symbol, a protrusion, a pit, etc. As a result, the direction of substantially unidirectionally-oriented pores in an artificial bone can be confirmed easily.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing a porous ceramics material. The method comprises preparing a slurry by dispersing a ceramics raw material in a medium, filling the slurry in a container, inserting the container in a given direction into a cooling medium having a temperature not higher than the freezing point of the slurry such that the slurry freezes unidirectionally from one end side, drying the frozen slurry to give a green body, and firing the green body.

Abstract: Provision of a porous ceramic material which rapidly induces bone tissue formation and has practical strength. A porous ceramic material 11 having substantially unidirectionally oriented pores 12, a porosity of 40-90%, and an average open area of one pore of 0.05×10?3-50×10?3 mm2 both in a first sectional surface perpendicular to the pore 12 orientation direction and a second sectional surface parallel to the first sectional surface and 5 mm distant from the first sectional surface in the pore 12 Orientation direction. Using the material 11, when a cylindrical test piece (diameter 3 mm×height 5 mm, the pore 12 array direction as a height direction) made of the material is dipped in polyethylene glycol up to 1 mm from one end thereof, polyethylene glycol permeates through the whole test piece preferably within 30 seconds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing 5-oxy-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]hept-3-ene-3-carboxylic acid ester economically, industrially advantageously and efficiently in a large amount. The present invention is a method of producing 5-oxy-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]hept-3-ene-3-carboxylic acid ester (X), which is shown in the following scheme. wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of industrially advantageously producing 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylic acid derivatives under mild conditions in a high yield. The present invention relates to a production method of a 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylic acid derivative of the formula (III) or the formula (IV), which comprises reacting an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carboxylic acid of the formula (I) with a furan derivative of the formula (II) in the presence of a Lewis acid: wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of industrially advantageously producing 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylic acid derivatives under mild conditions in a high yield. The present invention relates to a production method of a 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.

Abstract: 2-Sulfonylpyridine derivatives can be industrially produced efficiently by reacting a sulfonyl cyanide derivative with an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carbonyl compound and a 2-{[(2-pyridyl)methyl]thio}-1H-benzimidazole skeleton can be formed in one step in a good yield by reacting this type of the 2-sulfonylpyridine derivative with a 2-methylthio-1H-benzimidazole derivative in the presence of an organolithium compound.

Abstract: 2-Sulfonylpyridine derivatives can be industrially produced efficiently by reacting a sulfonyl cyanide derivative with an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carbonyl compound and a 2-{[(2-pyridyl)methyl]thio}-1H-benzimidazole skeleton can be formed in one step in a good yield by reacting this type of the 2-sulfonylpyridine derivative with a 2-methylthio-1H-benzimidazole derivative in the presence of an organolithium compound.

Abstract: 2-Sulfonylpyridine derivatives can be industrially produced efficiently by reacting a sulfonyl cyanide derivative with an &agr;, &bgr;-unsaturated carbonyl compound and a 2-{[(2-pyridyl)methyl]thio}-1H-benzimidazole skeleton can be formed in one step in a good yield by reacting this type of the 2-sulfonylpyridine derivative with a 2-methylthio-1H-benzimidazole derivative in the presence of an organolithium compound.

Abstract: A process for preparing halogenopyridine derivatives represented by the general formula (II) ##STR1## wherein X and Y each independently represent a halogen atom, comprises reacting a halogeno-2-sulfonylpyridine derivative represented by the general formula (I) ##STR2## wherein X is as defined above and R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group etc., with a halogenating agent.The halogenopyridine derivatives can be produced with high purity and in a simple and easy and industrially advantageous manner.