Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of a 4-substituted azetidinone derivative, which comprises reacting an azetidinone derivative and an amide compound in the presence of a magnesium compound such as those represented by the following formulas (II): and (IV): represented by the following formula (III): MgR5R6  (III) wherein R5 represents a C1-12 alkyl group, a C2-5 alkenyl group, a 5- to 8-membered alicyclic group which may be substituted by a lower C1-4 alkyl group, a phenyl group which may be substituted by a lower C1-4 alkyl group, a lower C1-4 alkoxy group or a halogen atom or a benzyl group which may be substituted by a lower C1-4 alkyl group, a lower C1-4 alkoxy group or a halogen atom, and R6 represents a halogen atom, a methanesulfonyloxy group, a benzenesulfonyloxy group, a p-toluenesulfonyloxy group, a trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy group, an acetoxy group which may be substituted by a halogen atom or a cyano group or an OR7 group (R7 representing

Abstract: The invention provides a chain diene compound with desirable regioselectivity, in the presence of a specific ruthenium compound. This chain diene compound is a promising raw material for terpene. It has a structure represented by the general formula (I): wherein R1 represents H, a C1-C6 alkyl group which may be substituted or a C2-C6 alkenyl group which may be substituted, R2 represents a phenyl group which may have a C1-C4 alkyl group or a C1-C12 acyloxy group which may have a phenyl group or a naphthyl group, or a benzyl group or R2 is a hydroxy group which reversibly forms an aldehyde group through shifting of the position of the double bond adjacent to said hydroxy group. The chain diene compound is produced by reacting 2-substituted-1,3-butadienes with terminal olefins in the presence of a ruthenium compound in a hydrophilic solvent.

Abstract: A processing method of a silica glass fiber, which is applicable to a long fiber, to improve its UV resistance by UV irradiation and heat treatment. Initially, a heating furnace 1 is positioned such that the left end of the silica glass fiber is within the heating furnace 1. Then, the heating furnace 1 is moved toward the right, while UV is irradiated with a UV source to the left end surface of the silica glass fiber. Since the silica glass becomes transparent due to removal of structural defects that have been caused by the UV irradiation, the UV travels further forward and causes other structural defects there. When the heating furnace 1 is moved there, the structural defects are removed and the silica glass fiber becomes transparent. By repeating these steps, the fiber is processed throughout length. Thus, mass production becomes possible and an improvement of productivity and lower costs can be achieved.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical fiber using silica glass having properties changed by UV irradiation and heat treatment, which method facilitating efficient mass production of long optical fibers. A base material of silica glass is heated in a fiber spinning heating furnace, and a silica glass fiber is drawn out of the forward end of the heating furnace to be spun up. In a UV irradiation zone, UV is irradiated to the spun silica glass fiber. As a result, multiple structural defects are caused in the silica glass fiber. When the structural defects are removed by heat treatment, the average bond angle of Si—O—Si network in the silica glass increases compared with that before heat treatment, and structural relaxation proceeds to provide a structurally stable glass, in which generation of defects due to further UV irradiation is hindered. Thus, a silica glass fiber having high UV resistance is obtained.

Abstract: A method for image processing to facilitate expression with more reality of sense of distance by blurring is provided. In the method according to the invention, image data having far and near distance information of the image are processed by a digital low-pass filter having a cut-off frequency corresponding to the distance information, so that a blurred image based on the distance information is formed.

Abstract: The invention provides a chain diene compound with desirable regioselectivity, in the presence of a specific ruthenium compound. This chain diene compound is a promising raw material for terpene. It has a structure represented by the general formula (IX): wherein R1 represents H, a C1-C6 alkyl group which may be substituted or a C2-C6 alkenyl group which may be substituted, R2 represents a phenyl group which may have a C1-C4 alkyl group or a C1-C12 acyloxy group which may have a phenyl group or a naphthyl group, or a benzyl group or R2 is a hydroxy group which reversibly forms an aldehyde group through shifting of the position of the double bond adjacent to said hydroxy group. The chain diene compound is produced by reacting 2-substituted-1,3-butadienes with terminal olefins in the presence of a ruthenium compound in a hydrophilic solvent.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing (3S,4R)-4-[(R)-1′-formylethyl]azetidin-2-one derivatives represented by formula (3) wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a protective group, through asymmetric hydroformylation of 4-vinylazetidin-2-one represented by formula (1) wherein R1 has the same meaning as described above; in the presence of a rhodium complex and a (2S,4S)-diphosphine compound represented by formula (2) wherein R2 represents a phenyl group which may be substituted with 1-5 substituent(s) selected from a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group, and a halogen atom. By use of both an inexpensive optically active diphosphine compound and a rhodium complex as catalysts, intermediate compounds important for carbapenem antibiotics can be manufactured with high selectivity and efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a .beta.-lactone derivative by reacting an aldehyde represented by formula (1):RCHO (1)wherein R represents a C1-C15 alkyl group which may be substituted by an aryl group, a C2-C15 alkenyl group, a 5-7-membered alicyclic group, or a phenyl group which may be substituted by a C1-C4 alkyl group; and ketene in the presence of a transition metal-phosphine complex. An industrially valuable .beta.-lactone can be efficiently produced at high yield.

Abstract: The tire for a vehicle comprises a main body of the tire made from a rubber composite material and a rim to form a toroidal space therein, accommodates a toroidal pneumatic tube expandable due to its elasticity in the space for liquid, and the pneumatic tube has a smaller volume than that of a form obtained by depressing the space for liquid to a desired level by a road surface at the point of time when the tube is filled with air at a specified pressure required for supporting a load imposed on the tire, and the space for liquid in the depressed form which is outside of the tube is filled with liquid so that a desired ground contact area of the tire can be obtained under the load.

Abstract: Predetermined condition data are stored in an auxiliary memory. The condition data includes source information used for generating a complete program. A program structure file 4-9 generated in accordance with the condition data. A complete program is generated by using the program structure file. After the complete program has been executed, the program is erased while preserving the program structure file and a batch file.

Abstract: A microwave oven 10 including a main body 1 in which a heating chamber 2 is installed, a microwave supplying unit 3 installed at an inner portion of the main body 1 for heating a food incorporated in the heating chamber 2 by supplying microwave at a predetermined output, an operation panel 4 (input operating unit) for inputting cooking output information and cooking time information of the food, a control unit 6 for comparing the cooking output information inputted by the operation panel 4 with the predetermined output, correcting the inputted cooking time information in accordance with a result of the comparison and instructing to drive the microwave supplying unit 3 based on corrected cooking time obtained by the correction, wherein the control unit 6 includes buzzer 48 (information supplying means) for successively supplying the cooking time information inputted by the operation panel 4 and the corrected cooking time and supplying, after having supplied the cooking time information, information that the co

Abstract: Disclosed is a 2-phenyl-2-(2'-piperidinylidene)acetate derivative suitably used for a raw material of a 2-phenyl-2-(2'-piperidinyl)acetate derivative and a process for manufacturing the same. Also disclosed is a process for manufacturing an optically active 2-phenyl-2-(2'-piperidinyl)acetate derivative which is a major intermediate for an antidepressant. The 2-phenyl-2-(2'-piperidinylidene)acetate derivative is manufactured by cyclizing a 7-(N-substituted amino)-3-oxo-2-heptanoate derivative. The optically active 2-phenyl-2-(2'-piperidinyl)acetate derivative is manufactured by asymmetrically hydrogenating the 2-phenyl-2-(2'-piperidinylidene)acetate derivative in the presence of a complex of a Group VIII transition metal or an acid.

Abstract: A phosphine-phosphinite compound represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which may be the same or different, each represent a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl group, and a process for preparing a 4-?(R)-1'-formylethyl!azetidin-2-one derivative using the compound (I). The compound (I), either in combination, or as a complex, with a transition metal compound, is useful as a catalyst for asymmetric hydroformylation and makes it possible to easily synthesize an important intermediate for carbapenem antibiotics or a precursor thereof at high regioselectivity and diastereo-selectivity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a 7-(N-substituted amino)-3-oxo-2-phenylheptanoate derivative, 7-(N-substituted amino)-3-hydroxy-2-phenylheptanoate derivative, and 7-(N-substituted amino)-3-benzenesulfonyloxy-2-phenylheptanoate derivative, which are quite important major intermediates for an antidepressant. The 7-(N-substituted amino)-3-oxo-2-phenylheptanoate derivative can be manufactured by condensing an enolate of phenylacetates with a 5-(N-substituted amino) pentanoate derivative.

Abstract: A process for producing a benzhydrol compound (II) which comprises hydrogenating a benzophenone compound (I) in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst consisting of a transition metal complex, a base and an optically active diamine compound: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.10 each represents H, OH, C.sub.1-4 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxy, C.sub.1-4 alkanoyl, etc., R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, and R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 may form --CH.dbd.CH--CH.dbd.CH--, or any two of R.sup.1 to R.sup.9 adjacent to each other may be bonded to thereby form --OCH.sub.2 O-- or --(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --. By using this process, optically active benzhydrol compounds which have a high purity and are useful as, for example, intermediates in the synthesis of drugs can be produced by simple procedures.

Abstract: A one-way clutch includes an outer ring 8, an inner ring 9 and a plurality of clutch members 10 interposed between the outer and inner rings 8 and 9. The present invention provides a one-way clutch mounting structure by having the outer ring of one-way clutch mounted in a housing, which may be a part of stator 5 of a torque converter 2. In accordance with the present invention, the housing has an annular section and a side section which together define a pocket in which the outer ring 8 is mounted. The outer ring 8 has an outer peripheral surface formed with a spiral groove 8c and the annular section of the housing partly extends into the spiral groove 8c when casted.

Abstract: A process for producing cyclohexylazetidinone expressed by the formula(IV) comprises condensing the magnesium enolate compound expressed by the formula (II) with acyloxyazetidinone expressed by the formula (III), wherein Me is a methyl group; R.sup.1 is a hydroxyl-protecting group, R.sup.2 is an acyl group, and X is a halogen atom.

Abstract: A process for producing an optically active cyclohexanol derivative represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxyl group, or a protected hydroxyl group, comprising asymmetrically hydrogenating a cyclohexanone derivative in the presence of a catalyst system composed of a transition metal compound (e.g., transition metal complex), a base (e.g., KOH), and a nitrogen compound (e.g., an amine compound).

Abstract: To prepare the compound (1'R,3S)-3-(1'-tri-substituted silyloxyethyl)azetidin-2-one, (2S,3R)-2-aminomethyl-3-hydroxybutyric acid is reacted with an alcohol in the presence of at least one compound chosen from the group consisting of thionyl chloride, hydrogen chloride and p-toluene sulfonic acid, thereby obtaining a salt of the corresponding ester. The salt is reacted with a tri-substituted silane in the presence of a metallic catalyst, thereby protecting the hydroxy group of the ester and then reacted with a base, thereby obtaining an ester of (2S,3R)-2-aminomethyl-3-(tri-substituted silyloxy)butyric acid. Subsequently, the ester is transformed into lactam in the presence of a Grignard reagent or a metal amide, thereby obtaining (1'R,3S)-3-(1'-tri-substituted silyloxyethyl)azetidin-2-one. This compound provides a useful base for preparing .beta.-lactam type antimicrobial agents such as carbapenem type agents.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bushing for a one-way clutch which is to be assembled in a stator of a torque converter. The bushing is useful for centering outer and inner rings of the one-way clutch and for backing up an associated thrust needle bearing. The bushing has a thrust surface to be positioned facing the thrust needle bearing and defines a center hole, an inner periphery and an outer periphery. The bushing is provided with a plurality of grooves formed in the thrust surface of the bushing and extending from the outer periphery to the inner periphery. An inward extension of a longitudinal center line of each of the grooves does not intersect a center of the bushing. The grooves may be arranged, for example, in the form of a whorl.