Abstract: Problems of the present invention is to provide a novel compound or a salt thereof capable of activating natural killer T cell, a natural killer T cell activating agent containing such a compound or a salt thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition. The compound of the present invention is a compound represented by the following formula (1) or a salt thereof. It is preferable that total carbon number of the number of carbon atoms in the monovalent hydrocarbon group in R1 in the formula (1) excluding a sustitutent and the number of carbon atoms in the divalent hydrocarbon group in X1 is 5 to 50. The natural killer T cell activating agent contains the aforementioned compound or a salt thereof. The pharmaceutical composition contains the aforementioned compound or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a compound or a salt thereof capable of activating natural killer T cell, a natural killer T cell activating agent containing such a compound or a salt thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition. The compound of the invention is a compound represented by the following formula (1) or a salt thereof. It is preferable that total carbon number of the number of carbon atoms in the monovalent hydrocarbon group in R1 in the formula (1) excluding a substitutent and the number of carbon atoms in the divalent hydrocarbon group in X1 is 5 to 50. The natural killer T cell activating agent contains the aforementioned compound or a salt thereof. The pharmaceutical composition contains the aforementioned compound or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel immunostimulatory molecules which are derived from the intestinal protozoan Entamoeba histolytica. The compounds have been found to be useful for enhancing and/or inducing an immune response in a subject in need thereof. Specifically, the compounds have been found to be useful for the treatment of cancer diseases, such as breast cancer, and parasitic diseases, such as leishmaniasis. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the novel compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to intracellular signaling molecules, in particular the Nod1 protein. The present invention provides methods of identifying modulators of Nod1 signaling. The present invention further provides methods of altering Nod1 signaling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to intracellular signaling molecules, in particular the Nod1 protein. The present invention provides methods of identifying modulators of Nod1 signaling. The present invention further provides methods of altering Nod1 signaling.

Abstract: A ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal mixture comprising at least one compound of the formula (I): wherein R11 and R12 represent, independently each other, a C1-C20 alkyl, alkoxy or alkoxyalkyl group which may be substituted by at least one halogen atom and may have an unsaturated bond; A11, A12 and A13 represent, independently each other, a phenylene group which may be substituted by a fluorine atom, or the like; * indicates an asymmetric carbon atom; Z is a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom; n is an integer of 0 to 10; r, s, t and u are each 0 or 1, provided that when u is 1, the compound (I) is a trans-olefin, and at least one compound of the formula (II): wherein R21 is a saturated or unsaturated C3-C20 alkyl group or a saturated or unsaturated C3-C20 alkoxyalkyl group; A21, A22 and A23 represent, independently each other, a phenylene group which may be substituted by a fluorine atom or the like; X2 is —C≡C— or the like; Z is a hydrogen atom or

Abstract: The present invention relates to trans-olefin compounds represented by the general formula (1) useful as an ingredient of liquid crystal composition, trans-olefin compounds useful as intermediate of pesticides, medical drugs, liquid crystal materials and the like, a process for producing those trans-olefin compounds, a liquid crystal composition containing the trans-olefin compound as an active ingredient, and a liquid crystal element using the liquid crystal composition. ##STR1## (In the general formula (1), R.sup.1, A.sup.1, A.sup.2, A.sup.3, Z and R.sup.2 are same as defined in the specification. Also, m, p, q, n, r, s and t are each an integer as defined in the specification.

Abstract: A fluorine-containing optically active compound represented by the formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a saturated or unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.20 alkyl group or a saturated or unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.20 alkoxyalkyl group; A.sup.1, A.sup.2 and A.sup.3 independently represent one of the following groups: ##STR2## provided that, when A.sup.1 is a condensed ring group, a sum of p and q is 0 or 1 and A.sup.2 and A.sup.3 are both monocyclic groups, or when A.sup.1 is a monocyclic group, a sum of p and q is 1 or 2 with the proviso that when the sum of p and q is 2, A.sup.2 and A.sup.3 are both monocyclic groups; X is --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.dbd.CH-- or --C.tbd.C--; W is a fluorine atom or a hydrogen atom; n is an integer of 1 to 10; m, p and q are each 0 or 1; u and w are each an integer of 0 to 3; and * indicates an asymmetric carbon atom, which is useful as a component of a liquid crystal mixture.

Abstract: A liquid crystal mixture containing (a) at least one compound of a compound of the formula (1): ##STR1## in which R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl group, etc.; X.sub.1, X.sub.2, X.sub.3, X.sub.4, Y.sub.1, Y.sub.2, Y.sub.3 and Y.sub.4 represent, independently each other, CH, CF or N; A is a hydrogen atom, a 4-R.sub.1 -(cycloalkyl) group, etc. in which R.sub. is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl group, etc. and p is 0 or 1; and Z is --C.tbd.C-- or a single bond, and (b) at least one compound of the formula (4): ##STR2## wherein rings C, D, E and F represent, independently each other, 1,4-phenylene, etc. which may be substituted by 1, 2 or 3 fluorine atoms; R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl group, etc.; R.sub.3 is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a fluoromethyl group, etc.; Z.sub.1, Z.sub.2 and Z.sub.3 represent, independently each other, --COO--, --OCO--, --OCH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 O--, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkylene group, a C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkenylene group, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to trans-olefin compounds represented by the general formula (1) useful as an ingredient of liquid crystal composition, trans-olefin compounds useful as intermediate of pesticides, medical drugs, liquid crystal materials and the like, a process for producing those trans-olefin compounds, a liquid crystal composition containing the trans-olefin compound as an active ingredient, and a liquid crystal element using the liquid crystal composition. ##STR1## (In the general formula (1), R.sup.1, A.sup.1, A.sup.2, A.sup.3, Z and R.sup.2 are same as defined in the specification. Also, m, p, q, n, r, s and t are each an integer as defined in the specification.

Abstract: A compound having an unsaturated side chain represented by the formula: ##STR1## in which A and B are the same and different and represent an aromatic or heterocyclic group or either one of A and B represents a single bond; X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are the same or different and represent a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; R.sub.1 represents a saturated or unsaturated alkyl group which may be substituted with a halogen atom or an alkoxyalkyl group which may be substituted with a halogen atom; X represents --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.dbd.CH--, --C.tbd.C-- or a single bond; n is an integer of 0 to 6; q is an integer of 1 to 15; p and s are each 0 or 1; and the asterisk * indicates an asymmetric carbon atom, which is useful as an intermediate of a liquid crystal or a monomer of a liquid crystalline polymer.

Abstract: A diphenylacetylene compound of the formula [1]: ##STR1## wherein R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl group, a C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 alkenyl group or a C.sub.2 -C.sub.16 alkoxyalkyl group; X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3, X.sup.4, Y.sup.1, Y.sup.2, Y.sup.3 and Y.sup.4 are independently from each other a --CH-- group, a --CF-- group or a nitrogen atom;A is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a trifluoromethyl group, a trifluoromethoxy group, a cyano group, a 4-R.sup.1 -(cycloalkyl) group, 4-R.sup.1 -(cycloalkenyl) group or a R.sup.1 --(O).sub.m group in which R.sup.1 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl group, a C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 alkenyl group or a C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 alkynyl group; and m is 0 or 1, which has an excellent anisotropy of refractive index and a low viscosity and is useful as a component of a liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process of producing a 2-cyano-4-oxo-4H-benzopyran compound of the general formula (2): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkoxy, nitro or a group of the RCONH wherein R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, phenyl, phenyl-substituted (C.sub.1 -C.sub.20) alkyl, phenyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.20)alkoxyphenyl or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.20) alkoxyphenyl. This production process is characterized in that a carboxamide of the general formula (1): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each as defined above, is reacted with a dehydrating agent in the presence of a pyridine compound of the general formula (4): ##STR3## wherein A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 are independently hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl.

Abstract: A compound having an unsaturated side chain represented by the formula: ##STR1## in which A and B are the same and different and represent an aromatic or heterocyclic group or either one of A and B represents a single bond; X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are the same or different and represent a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; R.sub.1 represents a saturated or unsaturated alkyl group which may be substituted with a halogen atom or an alkoxyalkyl group which may be substituted with a halogen atom; X represents --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.dbd.CH--, --C.ident.C-- or a single bond; n is an integer of 0 to 6; q is an integer of 1 to 15; p and s are each 0 or 1; and the asterisk * indicates an asymmetric carbon atom, which is useful as an intermediate of a liquid crystal or a monomer of a liquid crystalline polymer.

Abstract: A ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal mixture comprising a compound of the formula (I): ##STR1## and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a compound of the formula (II): ##STR2## and a compound of the formula (III): ##STR3##