Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte containing (I) a crosslinked material obtainable by crosslinking a composition containing (i) a polyether copolymer having a weight-average molecular weight within a range from 105 to 107 and having 5 to 95 mol % of repeating unit derived from a glycidyl compound, and 95 to 5 mol % of repeating unit derived from ethylene oxide, (ii) a crosslinking agent selected from organic peroxides and azo compounds, and (iii) a crosslinking aid which is an organic compound having a carbon-carbon double bond and an imide group, (II) an electrolyte salt compound, and (III) a plasticizer, is excellent in mechanical properties and ionic conductivity.

Abstract: A separation membrane comprising a polyether polymer having a weight-average molecular weight of 104 to 107 and obtained by polymerizing an oxirane compound of the formula (a): wherein R is a hydrogen atom; an alkyl group, an alkyl group having a halogen atom, or —CH2O(CH2CH2O)k—R′ (R′ is a group selected from an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group and an aralkyl group; k is from 0 to 12); or an ethylenically unsaturated group, a reactive silicon-containing group or a methylepoxy-containing group, is excellent in mechanical strength and flexibility.

Abstract: A process for preparation of an optically active 1,2-diol compound of the following formula: wherein R is alkyl group, hydroxy substituted alkyl group, or alkenyl group, which comprises reacting a corresponding racemic 1,2-diol compound with a strain belonging to the genus Alcaligenes which is being cultivated under aeration.

Abstract: A process for preparing a butanetriol derivative of the formula (1) useful as intermediates of medicines wherein R1 is the same defined below, which comprises reacting a compound of the formula (3) wherein R1 and R2 are the different protecting groups, and an ethylene glycol derivative in a basic condition to prepare a compound of the formula (4) or (4a) wherein R1 and R2 are the same defined above, and then subjecting the compound (4) or (4a) to selective deprotection reaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition with improved preservation stability. The present invention is a chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition obtained by blending (a) a zeolite compound, (b) a vulcanizing agent, and (c) an optional organic vulcanization accelerator. The zeolite compound can be natural zeolite, an A-type, X-type, or Y-type synthetic zeolite, a sodatite, natural or synthetic mordenite, ZSM-5, or a metal substitution product thereof. The zeolite compound is preferably an activated zeolite compound. With respect to 100 parts by weight of chlorinated polyethylene, (a) preferably 0.5 to 30 parts by weight, more preferably 5 to 25 parts by weight, of the zeolite compound, (b) preferably 0.1 to 5 parts by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 3 parts by weight, of the vulcanizing agent, and (c) preferably 0.5 to 3 mol, more preferably 0.7 to 1.5 mol, of the vulcanization accelerator with respect to 1 mol of (b) the vulcanizing agent are blended.

Abstract: A curable resin composition containing (A) an aromatic diallyl compound, (B) an acid derivative or an aliphatic group-containing compound having at least 4 (meth)acryl groups in one molecule, (C) divinylbenzene, and (D) a polythiol compound having at least two mercapto groups in one molecule provides an optical material having a desirable refractive index, Abbe number and transparency, and excellent heat resistance.

Abstract: The invention provides an electric double-layer capacitor comprising a bipolar interelectrode formed by bonding a collector to a carbon electrode with no adhesive put therebetween. The electric double-layer capacitor is so designed that a plurality of combinations of an intermediate electroconductive polymer composite electrode and a separator placed in layers between a pair of terminal electroconductive polymer composite electrodes, wherein; the intermediate electroconductive polymer composite electrode is composed of an electroconductive sheet made of a polymer substance to which electroconductivity is imparted and which has an apparent melt viscosity of from 300 to 3,000,000 poises, and a carbon electrode heat-sealed to at least one surface of the sheet, and the carbon electrode and the separator contain an electrolytic bath infiltrated thereinto.

Abstract: Polymerization catalysts of oxirane compounds are catalysts which are suitable to carry out suspension precipitation polymerization of the oxirane compounds in an organic solvent which cannot dissolve the polymers and comprise a reaction product of (A) an alkylaluminum compound, (B) an oxoacid compound of phosphorus having at least one OH group in its molecule and (C) a nitrogen-containing cyclic compound having pKa of 6 to 8. A process for preparing the polymers of the oxirane compounds is a process wherein the monomeric oxirane compounds are subjected to the suspension precipitation polymerization in the organic solvent which cannot dissolve the polymers in the presence of the catalysts to prepare the polymers of the oxirane compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition with improved preservation stability. The present invention is a chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition obtained by blending (a) a zeolite compound, (b) a vulcanizing agent, and (c) an optional organic vulcanization accelerator. The zeolite compound can be natural zeolite, an A-type, X-type, or Y-type synthetic zeolite, a sodalite, natural or synthetic mordenite, ZSM-5, or a metal substitution product thereof. The zeolite compound is preferably an activated zeolite compound. With respect to 100 parts by weight of chlorinated polyethylene, (a) preferably 0.5 to 30 parts by weight, more preferably 5 to 25 parts by weight, of the zeolite compound, (b) preferably 0.1 to 5 parts by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 3 parts by weight, of the vulcanizing agent, and (c) preferably 0.5 to 3 mol, more preferably 0.7 to 1.5 mol, of the vulcanization accelerator with respect to 1 mol of (b) the vulcanizing agent are blended.

Abstract: A curable resin composition comprising (A) at least one aromatic diallyl compound, (B) at least one maleate diester and/or fumarate diester, (C) at least one (meth)allyl carbonate compound and (D) at least one radical chain transfer agent gives a cured material having excellent optical and mechanical properties.

Abstract: A process for preparing an optically active 4-halogeno-1,3-butanediol and (R)-1,2,4-butanetriol or (S)-3-hydroxy-&ggr;-butyrolactone which comprises reacting a racemic 4-halogeno-1,3-butanediol with a specific microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudomonas.

Abstract: A process for preparation of optically active 4-halogeno-3-hydoxybutyronitrile and 4-halogeno-3-alkanoyloxybutyronitrile, which are simply and economically prepared by reacting a racemic 4-halogeno-3-alkanoyloxybutyronitrile with a microorganism such as a strain of the genus Pseudomonas or the genus Enterobacter, which has the activity stereoselectively hydrolyzing the ester portion, its culture broth or an enzyme(s) derived from the microorganism or an enzyme preparation such as a lipase preparation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for reacting &agr;-aminoaldehyde derivatives having a sterically bulky amino group which are commercially available with a metal cyanide in the presence of an acid chloride, an acid anhydride or the like to synthesize 3-amino-2-hydroxybutyronitrile derivatives in high yields and high erythro selectivity. When optically active &agr;-aminoaldehyde derivatives are used, racemization hardly occurs during the reaction, and the desired products are obtained in high optical purity.

Abstract: Polymerization catalysts of oxirane compounds are catalysts which are suitable to carry out suspension precipitation polymerization of the oxirane compounds in an organic solvent which cannot dissolve the polymers and comprise a reaction product of (A) an alkylaluminum compound, (B) an oxoacid compound of phosphorus having at least one OH group in its molecule and (C) a nitrogen-containing cyclic compound having pKa of 6 to 8. A process for preparing the polymers of the oxirane compounds is a process wherein the monomeric oxirane compounds are subjected to the suspension precipitation polymerization in the organic solvent which cannot dissolve the polymers in the presence of the catalysts to prepare the polymers of the oxirane compounds.

Abstract: An industrial and economical method for obtaining a (S)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol, which comprises cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus. Pseudomonas which has an ability to assimilate (R)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol and can grow by assimilating (R)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol as a single carbon source, in a culture medium containing a racemic 3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol as a substrate, and isolating the (S)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol from the culture medium.

Abstract: Powder of agglomerated crosslinked allyl copolymer fine particles of (a) more than 40% by weight to 80% by weight of diallyl phthalate, (b) 0.05% by weight to 2% by weight of an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carboxylic acid and (c) a balance of at least one vinyl monomer selected from the group consisting of an aromatic vinyl compound and an acrylate ester or methacrylate ester of an alcohol having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, is very excellent in collapse dispersibility in an organic matrix.

Abstract: An industrial process for preparing an oxazolidin-2-one derivative represented by the following general formula (3) wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are hydrogen atom, straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group, straight or branched alkyl group substituted by alkoxy, substituted amino or alkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, or substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, and R5 is are hydrogen atom, straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, or substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, which is characterized in reacting a 1,3-dioxolan-2-one derivative and a carbamate derivative or an urea derivative in the presence of a fluoride salt.

Abstract: A process for preparing a 3-hydroxy-&ggr;-butyrolactone derivative represented by the following formula (1): wherein R is C1-C6 alkyl, 3 to 6-membered cycloalkyl, aralkyl, 2-alkenyl, acyl, &agr;-hydroxyalkyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl or alkoxycarbonyl, which is characterized in treating 3-hydroxy-&ggr;-butyrolactone with a metal salt of hexamethyldisilazane and then, reacting it with an electrophilic reagent, optionally in the presence of a reaction promoter.

Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte containing a polyether copolymer having a weight-average molecular weight of 104 to 107 which may optionally be cross-linked and which contains (A) 1 to 99% by mol of a repeating unit derived from a monomer represented by the formula (I):  wherein R1 represents a divalent organic group, (B) 99 to 1% by mol of a repeating unit derived from ethylene oxide, and (C) 0 to 15% by mol of a repeating unit derived from a monomer having one epoxy group and at least one reactive functional group, an electrolyte salt compound, and a plasticizer has an excellent ionic conductivity.

Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte obtained by blending (1) a polyether copolymer having a main chain, which is derived form ethylene oxide, and a side chain having two oligooxyethylene groups, (2) an electrolyte salt compound, and, if necessary, (3) a plasticizer which is any one of an aprotic organic solvent or a derivative or metal salt of a polyalkylene glycol having a number-average molecular weight of 200 to 5,000 or a metal salt of the derivative, is superior in ionic conductivity and also superior in processability, moldability and mechanical strength to a conventional solid electrolyte. A secondary battery is constructed by using the solid polymer electrolyte in combination with a lithium metal negative electrode and a lithium cobaltate positive electrode.