Abstract: Viruses, and particularly RNA viruses, have high mutation rates. Hence, antiviral agents that have been developed to date targeting protease or reverse transcriptase of viruses have quickly lost their effectiveness and resistant viruses have emerged. Also, in recent years, viral diseases caused by various new viruses such as SARS, avian influenza, and the hepatitis C have become social menaces. Therefore, the development of a novel antiviral agent that can cope with a virus resistant to an existing drug or a new virus and has a wide range of applications has been demanded. The present invention provides a novel anti-RNA viral agent and a method for use thereof. The present invention further provides an anti-RNA viral agent that is also effective against a new virus or a drug-resistant virus, and a method for use thereof.

Abstract: Viruses, and particularly RNA viruses, have high mutation rates. Hence, antiviral agents that have been developed to date targeting protease or reverse transcriptase of viruses have quickly lost their effectiveness and resistant viruses have emerged. Also, in recent years, viral diseases caused by various new viruses such as SARS, avian influenza, and the hepatitis C have become social menaces. Therefore, the development of a novel antiviral agent that can cope with a virus resistant to an existing drug or a new virus and has a wide range of applications has been demanded. The present invention provides a novel anti-RNA viral agent and a method for use thereof. The present invention further provides an anti-RNA viral agent that is also effective against a new virus or a drug-resistant virus, and a method for use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique of selectively producing a desired polymorph of 2-(3-cyano-4-isobutyloxyphenyl)-4-methyl-5-thiazolecarboxylic acid. The present invention also provides a method of producing various polymorphs of 2-(3-cyano-4-isobutyloxyphenyl)-4-methyl-5-thiazolecarboxylic acid, which comprises crystallizing under the conditions defined by a specific temperature and a composition of a mixed solvent of methanol and water, and polymorphs obtained by the method. The present invention further provides a method of producing the other polymorphs or amorphous compounds by drying a specific polymorph under a reduced pressure with heating, and the other polymorphs or amorphous compounds obtained by the method.

Abstract: A plant metabolism regulating agent comprising as an active ingredient an alpha,beta or beta,gamma-un-saturated carboxylic acid or its derivative. It is useful for controlling the metabolism of a plant, facilitating the growth of a beneficial plant such as cereals by inhibiting the growth of undesirable plants or eradicating them, regulating the growth of a plant and dwarfing a plant.

Abstract: A plant growth promoter comprising as an active ingredient for plant growth promotion at least one phenylglycine selected from the group consisting of(1) monomeric phenylglycines,(2) N-phenylglycylphenylglycines, and(3) cyclic dimers of phenylglycines.

Abstract: A novel phenoxycarboxylic acid of formula (I) is disclosed. The compound is effective as herbicide for eradicating broad-leaved weeds. A combination of the phenoxycarboxylic acid and a N-phosphonomethylglycine or a glufosinate which is known as a herbicide is very effective for eradicating both broad-leaved weeds and narrow-leaved weeds.

Abstract: An organo-phosphorus compound represented by the following formula (I) ##STR1## wherein X and Y are identical or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, CF.sub.3 or an alkyl group having not more than 5 carbon atoms; Z represents CH or N; R.sup.1, R.sup.2 l and R.sup.3 l are identical or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; and n is zero or 1. The compound is useful, as a herbicide, for eradicating weeds, especially narrow-leaved weeds.

Abstract: A phenoxyacetic acid represented by the following formula (I) ##STR1## wherein X represents a halogen atom or CF.sub.3, R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 are identical or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having not more than 5 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a phenyl group, a benzyl group, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 SCH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 OH, --CH(CH.sub.3)OH, --CH.sub.2 SH, --CH.sub.2 COOCH.sub.3, ##STR2## or R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 together may form --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- or --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH(OH)--, and n is 0, 1 or 2, or a salt at the carboxyl group of the phenoxyacetic acid of the above formula in which R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom. The compound is useful, as a herbicide, for eradicating weeds, especially narrow-leaved weeds.

Abstract: A plant growth promoter comprising as an active ingredient for plant growth promotion at least one phenylglycine selected from the group consisting of(1) monomeric phenylglycines,(2) N-phenylglycylphenylglycines, and(3) cyclic dimers of phenylglycines.

Abstract: A phenoxyalkanoylaminomethylphosphonic acid represented by the following formula (I) ##STR1## wherein X and Y are identical or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, CF.sub.3 or an alkyl group having not more than 5 carbon atoms, Z represents CH or N, and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are identical or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms. The compound is useful, as a herbicide, for eradicating weeds, especially narrow-leaved weeds.

Abstract: A benzoylaminoalkylphosphonic acid represented by the following formula (I) ##STR1## wherein X and Y are identical or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, CF.sub.3, or an alkyl group having not more than 5 carbon atoms, Z is CH or N, and R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are identical or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms. The compound is useful, as a herbicide, for eradicating weeds, especially broad-leaved weeds.

Abstract: A fluorescent composition consisting essentially of(1) a polymer having a solubility parameter of at least about 9 such as polyethylene terephthalate etc. and(2) one or more organic fluorescent substances, at least one of said fluorescent substances showing difficult solubility such as anthraquinonic pigments, said fluorescent composition being characterized by the fact that when it is formed into a film having a thickness of about 1 mm, the film has a non-transmission index PTi (%), as defined by the following equation, of not more than 10,PTi=PAs-PAbwherein PAs is the percent light absorption at 800 nm of said film of the fluorescent composition, and PAb is the percent light absorption at 800 nm of a film having a thickness of about 1 mm of the polymer in the fluorescent composition.

Abstract: An inclusion complex compound comprising (a) meta-cyclophane and (b) a trans-terpenoid of the formula ##STR1## wherein n is an integer of 1 to 9; A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 each represent (1) a hydrogen atom, (2) a halogen atom, (3) an inorganic group containing an oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atom, (4) an organic group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or (5) an organic group containing an oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atom and 1 to 5 carbon atoms; and C* is the carbon atom of a carbonyl or methylene group,Included by the meta-cyclophane. This inclusion complex compound can be prepared by contacting the meta-cyclophane with a mixture containing the trans-terpenoid. A trans-terpenoid can be separated from a mixture containing it by utilizing an inclusion complex compound of it with meta-cyclophane.