A compound having the following structure: ##STR00001##
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or derivative thereof. The compound may be used in the treatment or prevention of a disorder selected from appetite regulation, obesity, metabolic disorders, cachexia, anorexia, pain, inflammation, neurotoxicity, neurotrauma, stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, Parkinson's disease, levodopa-induced dyskinesia, Huntington's disease, Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome, tardive dyskinesia, dystonia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, insomnia, nausea, emesis, alcohol disorders, drug addictions such as opiates, nicotine, cocaine, alcohol and psychostimulants, hypertension, circulatory shock, myocardial reperfusion injury, atherosclerosis, asthma, glaucoma, retinopathy, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, acute and chronic liver disease such as hepatitis and liver cirrhosis, arthritis and osteoporosis.

According to an embodiment, the pH of a diisocyanate composition and a diamine hydrochloride composition used in the preparation of an optical lens is adjusted to a specific range, whereby it is possible to enhance not only the yield and purity of the diisocyanate composition but also the optical characteristics of the final optical lens by suppressing the striae and cloudiness. Specifically, according to the process of the embodiment, the amount of an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution introduced to the reaction may be adjusted to control the pH of the diisocyanate composition to a desired range, thereby enhancing the yield and purity. Accordingly, the process for preparing a diisocyanate composition according to the embodiment can be applied to the preparation of a plastic optical lens of high quality.

According to an embodiment, the pH of a diisocyanate composition and a diamine hydrochloride composition used in the preparation of an optical lens is adjusted to a specific range, whereby it is possible to enhance not only the yield and purity of the diisocyanate composition but also the optical characteristics of the final optical lens by suppressing the striae and cloudiness. Specifically, according to the process of the embodiment, the amount of an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution introduced to the reaction may be adjusted to control the pH of the diisocyanate composition to a desired range, thereby enhancing the yield and purity. Accordingly, the process for preparing a diisocyanate composition according to the embodiment can be applied to the preparation of a plastic optical lens of high quality.

An ionic liquid as a solvent in the hydration reaction of α-pinene to α-terpineol. The ionic liquid is obtained from the reaction of an amine and an inorganic acid. The use of the ionic liquid as solvent favors the selectivity towards the formation of α-terpineol and once the reaction product has been brought to room temperature, the organic phase can be physically separated from the inorganic one by decantation. The inorganic phase contains the ionic liquid, water and reaction catalyst and can be directly reused for a new reaction batch.

An ionic liquid as a solvent in the hydration reaction of α-pinene to α-terpineol. The ionic liquid is obtained from the reaction of an amine and an inorganic acid. The use of the ionic liquid as solvent favors the selectivity towards the formation of α-terpineol and once the reaction product has been brought to room temperature, the organic phase can be physically separated from the inorganic one by decantation. The inorganic phase contains the ionic liquid, water and reaction catalyst and can be directly reused for a new reaction batch.

Methods and compositions are provided for synthesizing ionic liquids from lignin. Methods and compositions are also provided for treating lignin with ionic liquids.

Methods and compositions are provided for synthesizing ionic liquids from lignin. Methods and compositions are also provided for treating lignin with ionic liquids.

Methods and compositions are provided for synthesizing ionic liquids from lignin. Methods and compositions are also provided for treating lignin with ionic liquids.

Disclosed are catalysts comprised of platinum and gold. The catalysts are generally useful for the selective oxidation of compositions comprised of a primary alcohol group and at least one secondary alcohol group wherein at least the primary alcohol group is converted to a carboxyl group. More particularly, the catalysts are supported catalysts including particles comprising gold and particles comprising platinum, wherein the molar ratio of platinum to gold is in the range of about 100:1 to about 1:4, the platinum is essentially present as Pt(0) and the platinum-containing particles are of a size in the range of about 2 to about 50 nm. Also disclosed are methods for the oxidative chemocatalytic conversion of carbohydrates to carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof. Additionally, methods are disclosed for the selective oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid or derivatives thereof using catalysts comprising platinum and gold. Further, methods are disclosed for the production of such catalysts.

Disclosed are catalysts comprised of platinum and gold. The catalysts are generally useful for the selective oxidation of compositions comprised of a primary alcohol group and at least one secondary alcohol group wherein at least the primary alcohol group is converted to a carboxyl group. More particularly, the catalysts are supported catalysts including particles comprising gold and particles comprising platinum, wherein the molar ratio of platinum to gold is in the range of about 100:1 to about 1:4, the platinum is essentially present as Pt(0) and the platinum-containing particles are of a size in the range of about 2 to about 50 nm. Also disclosed are methods for the oxidative chemocatalytic conversion of carbohydrates to carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof. Additionally, methods are disclosed for the selective oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid or derivatives thereof using catalysts comprising platinum and gold. Further, methods are disclosed for the production of such catalysts.