Abstract: A cholesteric liquid crystal. The liquid crystal includes a metal acetylide, of which the metal is a square, planar transition metal. The metal acetylide includes first and second acylphosphine ligands and first and second phenyl acetylene ligands. Each of the first and second phenyl acetylene ligands have a meta- or para-substituent, which are selected from the group consisting of H, F, CN, OCH3, C?C—C6H5,(COO—C34H50O2), and COO—C5H10—C))—C34H50O2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a series of platinum acetylide nonlinear optical chromophores which are liquid at room temperature. The viscosity of these liquid chromophores is low enough that they are easily processable into optical cells and can be used for nonlinear optical applications. The compounds remain liquids below room temperature, converting to a glass in the range of from about ?80° C. to ?100° C. Neat liquids have a high chromophore concentration (˜1 Mole/liter) making possible the development of optical devices requiring materials with a high chromophore concentration.

Abstract: Improved electroless gold plating baths, free of cyanide ion, comprise an alkaline aqueous solution of a soluble gold (III) salt and an ether substituted tertiary amine borane. Metallic and non-metallic substrates having catalytically activated surfaces are plated by immersing the substrate in the plating bath.

Abstract: New water soluble ether substituted tertiary amine boranes are prepared by reaction of dimethylsulfide borane and an ether substituted tertiary amine of the formulaRO(C.sub.a H.sub.2a O).sub.x C.sub.b H.sub.2b NR'R"BH.sub.3wherein a is zero or an integer from 1 to 3, x is zero or an integer from 1 to 4, b is an integer from 1 to 5 and R, R' and R" are alkyl groups containing up to 5 carbon atoms.