Abstract: Disclosed are herein optically active aromatic compounds represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein X represents --COO-- or --OCO--; Y represents --COO--, --OCO-- or --O--; R.sub.2 represents an alkyl or alkoxyalkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms unsubstituted or substituted by a halogen atom; R.sub.1 represents an alkyl group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms;Z represents ##STR2## wherein p represents a number of 1 to 5 and * indicates an asymmetric carbon atom; l and k each represents a number of 1 or 2; m and s each represents a number of 0 or 1, which are useful as a liquid crystal.

Abstract: Inorganic fiber such as carbon fiber is modified by a surface treatment with a dinitrodiamine compound represented by the formula of ##STR1## wherein X is a divalent aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic group which may contain halogen or oxygen in the group, R.sup.1 is hydrogen, an aliphatic group, an alicyclic group or an aromatic group, with the proviso that two nitrogen atoms linking through X may further link through R.sup.1 when both X and R.sup.1 are the aliphatic groups, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 independently of one another are each hydrogen or an alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, with the proviso that R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may conjointly form a ring. The inorganic fiber thus modified is useful for reinforcement of resins.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are optically active phenols of formula (V) which are useful as precursors for esters used in liquid crystalline crystalline mixtures: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.2 represents an optically active alkyl or alkoxyalkyl group having 3 to 15 carbon atoms optionally substituted by halogen atoms; k represents a number of 0 or 1; n represents a number of 1 to 6.

Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention are the optically active aromatic compounds having a trifluoromethyl group useful as a component of ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions, a process for preparing the above compounds, liquid crystal compositions having the above compounds as an active ingredient, and liquid crystal elements using the above compositions. The optically active aromatic compounds of the Present invention represented by the formula: ##STR1## have the very excellent properties as a liquid crystal material and are useful for the preparation of liquid crystal compositions and the liquid crystal elements using such compositions.

Abstract: Rubber filled with an inorganic whity filler such as white carbon is improved in its vulcanized rubber properties such as tensile strength, tear strength and heat build-up resistance by incorporating thereto a dinitrodiamine compound represented by the formula of ##STR1## wherein X is a divalent aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic group which may contain halogen or oxygen in the group, R.sup.1 is hydrogen, an aliphatic group, an alicyclic group or an aromatic group, with the proviso that two nitrogen atoms linking through X may further link through R.sup.1 when both X and R.sup.1 are the aliphatic groups, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 independently of one another are each hydrogen or an alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, with the proviso that R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may conjointly form a ring. The dinitrodiamine compound acts as a coupling agent for the rubber and the inorganic whity filler.

Abstract: Di-tert.-butyl dicarbonate having a high purity is prepared by reacting alkali metal tert.-butyl carbonate with methanesulfonyl chloride optionally in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst or an aromatic amine.

Abstract: Disclosed are herein optically active ester derivatives represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## (wherein R.sub.1 represents an alkyl group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 represents an optically active alkyl or alkoxyalkyl group having 3 to 15 carbon atoms optionally substituted by halogen atoms; Y represents --O--, --COO-- or --OCO--; X represents --COO-- or --OCO--; l represents a number of 1 or 2; k and m each represents a number of 0 or 1; n represents a number of 1 to 6), preparation processes therefor, liquid crystal materials containing such ester derivatives as active ingredient, and a light switching element using said liquid crystal materials as liquid crystal element.

Abstract: An ammonium slat represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein X represents aliphatic group or alicyclic group, each of which may contain halogen, oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur in the group;n is an integer of 1 or more; and R and R' each independently represent hydrogen or an alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and may conjointly form a ring;is useful as a modifier for rubber, particularly to improve dynamic properties of rubber. The process for producing the ammonium salt is also disclosed.

Abstract: A rubber composition for producing sponge rubber products which comprises 1 to 20 parts by weight of a blowing agent and 0.1 to 0.8 part by weight of sulfur relative to 100 parts by weight of an ethylene-.alpha.-olefin-non-conjugated dienes tetrapolymer containing as non-conjugated dienes the ethylidene-norbornene component amounting to 15 to 30 in terms of iodine value and the dicyclopentadiene component amounting to 1 to 10 in terms of iodine value and having a branching index of at least 2.