Abstract: A process for preparing a 1-substituted 5-hydroxymethylimidazole of the formula: , wherein R represents alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, allyl, or substituted or unsubstituted arylmethyl or diarylmethyl, comprising the step of reacting a 1-substituted 2-mercapto-5-hydroxymethylimidazole of the formula: , wherein R is as defined above, in the presence of a transition metal catalyst and an oxidizing agent in a solvent.

Abstract: An fan motor assembly for driving a fan of a gas boiler. The motor assembly has a core having a hollow portion at a center thereof, a coil assembly for magnetizing the core by applying an electric current to the core, a rotor rotatably disposed in the hollow portion of the core and having a rotating shaft including a first shaft which extends towards a fan so as to be coupled with the fan and a second shaft which extends opposite to the first shaft, a first cover attached to a front surface of the core and having a first bearing therein for rotatably supporting the first shaft of the rotating shaft, and a second cover attached to a rear surface of the core and formed at an inner portion thereof with a first recess for installing a second bearing for rotatably supporting the second shaft of the rotating shaft and a second recess for installing a printed circuit board on which a sensor for detecting revolutions per minute of the rotor is mounted.