Abstract: A liquid crystal cell which minimizes disordered orientation occurring with temperature changes even across a wide range, to exhibit good contrast and high reliability, as well as a smectic liquid crystal composition for use the liquid crystal cell are provided. In smectic liquid crystal compositions having a layer construction in the liquid crystal molecular arrangement, it was found that antiferroelectric liquid crystal compositions resistant to variation in the layer spacing of the smectic phase due to temperature changes are resistant to disordered orientation. Specifically, if the antiferroelectric liquid crystal composition contains at lest 45 wt % of an antiferroelectric liquid crystal compound with roughly constant layer spacing in a temperature range from the temperature t.sub.1 which gives the minimum value for the layer spacing of the smectic C.sub.A * phase to -20.degree. C., no disordered liquid crystal orientation results even after cold/hot temperature cycles.

Abstract: The novel liquid crystal compounds of the present invention are represented by the following formulas ?I!-?II! and have tristable molecular orientation states and can be used for display devices and electrooptical devices. ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents an alkyl group of 5-18 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 represents an alkyl group of 6-16 carbon atoms; R.sub.3 represents an alkyl group of 8-18 carbon atoms; R.sub.4 represents an alkyl group of 6-14 carbon atoms; Y represents ##STR2## and * indicates an optically active center.

Abstract: A process for producing an optically active halogen-containing alcohol having a high optical purity and represented by the following formula [I] ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a halogen substituted alkyl group, R.sup.2 is a group selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, alkene group, or alkyne group, and a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, and C having an asterisk indicates an asymmetric atom,is disclosed which process comprises subjecting a halogenated alkyl ester of a carboxylic acid represented by the following formula [II] ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same as mentioned above and R.sup.3 is a group selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or alkene group, and a substituted or unsabstituted phenyl group,to asymmetric hydrolysis with an enzyme in an aqueous solution system, and the aqueous solution system may contain buffer solution and/or organic solvent.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a liquid crystal monomeric compound where a liquid crystal phase readily appears, which is excellent in alignment control, film-formability, durability, heat-stability and compatibility, and is able to be applied to electro-optical liquid crystal elements and recording elements; and a side-chain liquid crystal polymer compound modified with such a monomeric compound.The liquid crystal monomeric compound is represented by the following formula:CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--(CH.sub.2).sub.m --R [1]wherein m is an integer of 2 to 20 and R is a group selected from the group consisting of ##STR1## wherein p is 1 or 2, Rf is CF.sub.3 or CF.sub.2 F.sub.5, R.sup.1 is an alkyl group having 3-18 carbon atoms, * means an optically active carbon atom, (A) and (B) each is a group independently selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## which may be substituted with one or more halogen atoms, and X is --O--, --COO--or a direct linkage, and ##STR3## wherein p, Rf, R.sup.

Abstract: A liquid crystal orientation controlling membrane, characterized by the polyimide membrane comprising the repeating unit represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein Ar.sub.1 represents a diamine moiety which is selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## Ar.sub.2 represents tetravalent carboxylic acid moiety which is selected from the group consisting of ##STR3## Another invention is a ferroelectric liquid crystal element or an antiferroelectric liquid crystal element using the polyimide orientation controlling membrane mentioned above. The present liquid crystal element is used to a large picture display with high resolution, a TV picture display with wide viewing angle and a liquid crystal optical shutter.

Abstract: The invention discloses optically active liquid crystal compounds represented by the formulas [I], [II] and [III]: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represents an alkyl group of 4-18 carbon atoms, X represents O, COO or a single bond, and (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E) each represents ##STR2## in which l represents a halogen. The invention further discloses optically active liquid crystal compounds which are able to exhibit tristable states, represented by the formulas [IV], [V] and [VI]: ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1 ' and R.sub.2 ' each represents a straight chain alkyl group of 5-16 carbon atoms, X' represents O or COO and (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E), and l each has the same meaning as above.

Abstract: An antiferroelectric liquid crystal compound of the following formulae: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each is an alkyl group of C.sub.4 - C.sub.18, Rf is CF.sub.3 or C.sub.2 F.sub.5, X is O, COO, or a single bond, and * shows an optically active carbon atom.

Abstract: A liquid crystal compound represented by the following formula; ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represents an alkyl group having 3-20 carbon atoms, and X represents a group ##STR2## or --O--, or a single bond, and a liquid crystal composition exhibiting optically tristable states comprising the liquid crystal compound represented by the above formula and an antiferroelectric liquid crystal compound.

Abstract: An antiferroelectric liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having from 3 to 18 carbon atoms, Rf is a lower alkyl group or a fluorinated lower alkyl group, (A) and (B) are each independently selected from the group consisting of 1,4-phenylene, 4,4'-biphenylene, and 2,6-naphthalene which may be substituted at least with a halogen atom, and * shows an asymmetric carbon atom.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for recovering a volatile organic compound at a recovery of 90 to 96% by volume from a gas generated from gasoline, kerosine, benzene, and alcohol discharged from storage tanks, tank trucks, and tank lorries. In the process comprising absorption stages followed by desorption stages for the volatile organic compound, the pressure at the desorption stages is controlled within the area below, for instance, curves C' and B in FIG. 1 of the drawings according to the concentration of the volatile organic compound in the gas to be fed to a first absorption stage.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel liquid crystal compounds containing a naphthalene ring, having an excellent light leaking ratio at tristable states, and represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a C.sub.6 -C.sub.16 linear alkyl group or C.sub.6 -C.sub.16 linear alkoxy group, R.sub.2 is a C.sub.4 -C.sub.12 linear alkyl group, R.sub.3 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl group or C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 haloalkyl group, and C having an asterisk indicates an asymmetric atom.The liquid crystal compounds are expected to find their applications in electrooptical devices and liquid crystal displays utilizing a S*.sub.(3) liquid crystal phase which shows tristable states.

Abstract: Liquid crystal compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each is a C.sub.1-18 alkyl group or an aralkyl group, R' is haloalkyl group, X is --O--, --CO--, --COO-- or direct bond, Y is --COO--, --OCO-- or --CH.sub.2 O--, (A) and (B) each is ##STR2## and p and l each is zero or one.

Abstract: A novel antiferroelectric liquid crystal compound is disclosed which is represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from C.sub.3 -C.sub.18 alkyl groups, respectively, Rf is a lower fluoroalkyl group, X is a group selected from the group consisting of --O--, --COO--, --OOC--, and --CO--, or a single bond, (A) and (B) each is independently a group selected from the group consisting of phenyl, biphenyl, and naphthalene group which may be substituted with a halogen atom, and C having an asterisk indicates an asymmetric carbon atom.

Abstract: Antiferroelectric liquid crystal compounds are provided which have the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents an alkyl group having 5-18 carbon atoms,R.sub.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing raw materials for a reformer by cracking and desulfurizing petroleum fuels, characterized by cracking and desulfurizing petroleum fuels in a desulfurizer in the fuel cell electricity generation process at a temperature of 300.degree.-600.degree. C., preferably 350.degree.-500.degree. C., a pressure of 1-10 kg/cm.sup.2, an H.sub.2 /oil of 500-2000, preferably 800-1000, and an SV of 0.5-4 hr.sup.-1 using a zeolite catalyst such as Y-type zeolite or a metallosilicate catalyst such as one having an Si/Me atomic ratio of 40-3200 where Me is Al, Ni, Co, Mo, W, Fe, Cr or Ga.

Abstract: (R)- and (S)-enantiomer composition represented by the formula (I) having sufficient high optical purity for exhibiting optically tristable states in S*(3) phase; ##STR1## wherein Ra means a C.sub.5 -C.sub.14 alkyl group or a C.sub.5 -C.sub.14 alkoxy group, preferably a C.sub.5 -C.sub.14 alkyl group, Rb means a C.sub.4 -C.sub.12 normal alkyl group or a C.sub.4 -C.sub.12 branched alkyl group, X means a ##STR2## group or a ##STR3## group, Z means a fluorine containing alkyl group, preferably a trifluoromethyl group and * shows an optically active carbon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel cloth superior in water absorption and oil absorption and besides, in dehydration by using a cloth made of synthetic fibers of low water absorption such as nylon and Tetron as a base and subjecting this base cloth to processing treatment with a composite comprising collagen short fibers chemically modified with oxide of fish oil and polyurethane resin, thereby to impart water absorption property thereto.

Abstract: Linear aromatic copolyamides having good processability, superior thermal stability and excellent mechanical properties are provided. They comprise 55-90 mole % of a repearing unit of ##STR1## and 45-10 mole % of a repeating unit of ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each is a C.sub.4-12 aliphatic alkylene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating 2,7-DMN, characterized in that a mixture containing at least 50% by weight of 2,7-DMN and the other DMN isomers obtained by preliminarily concentrating a fraction in the range of 250.degree.-270.degree. C. of catalytically cracked petroleum oil is preliminarily adjusted to a temperature of 60.degree.-90.degree. C. to form a slurry containing the crystal of 2,7-DMN, which is placed in a tightly sealed pressure vessel, adiabatically pressurized to the range of 500-2,500 kgf/cm.sup.2 and solidified to form a state of co-existing of solid and liquid phases, liquid is then discharged under pressure from the solid-liquid co-existing system, the solid remaining in the vessel is pressed to discharge the liquid remaining between the solid particles, which are integrated to give 2,7-DMN having a purity of 98% by weight or more.

Abstract: Liquid crystal compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each is a C.sub.1-18 alkyl group or an aralkyl group, R' is a haloalkyl group, X is --0--, --CO--, --COO-- or direct bond, Y is --COO--, --OCO-- or --CH.sub.2 O--, (A) and (B) each is ##STR2## and p and l each is zero or one.