The present invention relates to binaphthyl compounds of the formula (I), which are suitable as monomers for preparing polycarbonate resins having beneficial optical properties and which can be used for producing optical lenses: Formula (I) where X is C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkandiyl or C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkandiyl-C(O)—, where C(O) is bound to the oxygen atom of the hydroxyl group and where C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkandiyl or C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkandiyl, respectively, are unsubstituted or carry a phenyl ring; R and R′ are identical or different and selected from mono or polycyclic aryl having from 6 to 36 carbon atoms and mono- or polycyclic hetaryl having a total of 5 to 36 atoms, which are ring members, where 1, 2, 3 or 4 of these atoms are selected from nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen, while the remainder of these atoms are carbon atoms, where mono- or polycyclic aryl and mono- or polycyclic hetaryl are unsubstituted or carry 1 or 2 radicals R.sup.a, which are selected from the group consisting of CN, CH.sub.3, OCH.sub.3, O-phenyl, O-naphthyl, S-phenyl, S-naphthyl, CI or F; and, if X is C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkandiyl-C(O)—, the esters thereof, in particular the C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkylesters thereof. ##STR00001##

A gas permeable, liquid impermeable membrane for use with gas sensors consists of a film forming polymer which incorporates nanoparticles selected to improve one or more of the following: permeability to gases, to selectively regulate permeability of selected gases through the membrane, to inhibit microbial growth on the membrane. A capsule shaped container consists of wall material biocompatible with a mammal GI tract and adapted to protect the electronic and sensor devices in the capsule, which contains gas composition sensors, pressure and temperature sensors, a microcontroller, a power source and a wireless transmission device. The microprocessor receives data signals from the sensors and converts the signals into gas composition and concentration data and temperature and pressure data for transmission to an external computing device. The capsule wall incorporates gas permeable nano-composite membranes with embedded catalytic and nano void producing nanoparticles, enhancing the operation, selectivity and sensitivity of the gas sensors.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermoplastic resin that has a high refractive index and enables low birefringence and balanced heat resistance and moldability. This thermosetting resin includes repeating units represented by formula (1). (In the formula, the rings Z are the same or different and represent an aromatic hydrocarbon ring, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently represent a C1-C12 hydrocarbon group optionally including a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, and an aromatic group, Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 represent a C6-C10 aromatic group optionally having a substituent, L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 independently represent a divalent linking group, j and k independently represent an integer of 0 or more, m and n independently represent 0 or 1, and W is at least one selected from the groups represented by formulae (2) and (3).) (In the formula, X represents a divalent linking group.)

A polyether carbonate polyol with a nominal functionality of 3 or more includes an equivalent molecular weight between 20,000 and 500,000 Da, and content of between 0.5 wt % and 35 wt % of CO.sub.2 based on the total weight of the polyether carbonate polyol. The polyether carbonate polyol has adhesive and impact modifying properties.

A liquid crystal laminate includes a substrate including a first diffraction surface and a second base material surface and having optical transparency, a metal layer located on a part of the first diffraction layer, an adhesion layer located on a part of the second base material layer and made of a photocured resin, and liquid crystal layer located on a surface of the adhesion layer at a side opposite to the contact surface of the substrate.

A multilayer body includes at least one layer (A) made of a polycarbonate resin (A) whose main repeating units include a unit (a-1) composed of an ether diol residue represented by the following formula (1) and a unit (a-2) composed of a diol residue represented by the following formula (2), and at least one layer (B) containing an aromatic polycarbonate resin (B), wherein the molar ratio of the unit (a-1) is 50 to 96 mol % and the molar ratio of the unit (a-2) is 4 to 50 mol %, with respect to 100 mol % of the total repeating units of the polycarbonate resin (A) and the proportion of the aromatic polycarbonate resin (B) in the layer (B) containing an aromatic polycarbonate resin (B) is 30% by weight or more, and the multilayer body is excellent in heat resistance, impact resistance, surface hardness, adhesion, and chemical resistance.

##STR00001##

In the formula (2), R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent at least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloalkoxy group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an aralkyloxy group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, a nitro group, an aldehyde group, a cyano group, and a carboxyl group, and when a plurality of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are present, they may be the same or different; a and b each represent an integer of 1 to 4; and W represents at least one bonding group selected from the group consisting of a single bond and a bonding group represented by the following formula (3).

##STR00002##

In the formula (3), R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.1, R.sup.9, and R.sup.10 each independently represent at least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, and an aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, and when a plurality of R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, and R.sup.10 are present, they may be the same or different; R.sup.11, R.sup.12, R.sup.13, and R.sup.14 each independently represent at least one group selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a cycloalkenyl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 10 atoms, and an aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, and when a plurality of R.sup.11,

Techniques regarding the synthesis of one or more polymers through one or more ring-opening polymerizations conducted within a flow reactor and facilitated by one or more anionic catalysts are provided. For example, one or more embodiments can comprise a method, which can comprise functionalizing, via a post-polymerization reaction within a flow reactor, a chemical compound by covalently bonding a trimethylsilyl protected thiol to a pendent functional group of the chemical compound in a presence of a catalyst. The pendent functional group can comprise a perfluoroaryl group and a methylene group.

A process for producing polycarbonate comprising: a) contacting a dialkyl carbonate with a dihydroxy compound in an oligomerization zone in the presence of an oligomerization catalyst under oligomerization conditions to form a first intermediate; and b) contacting the first intermediate with a diaryl carbonate in a polymerization zone in the presence of a polymerization catalyst under polymerization conditions to produce the polycarbonate wherein the molar ratio of dihydroxy compound to dialkyl carbonate in the oligomerization zone is at least 2:1.

Provided are compositions comprising partially crystalline polycarbonate particulate having an average cross-sectional dimension of from about 1 .Math. to about 200 .Math..Math., having from about 10% crystallinity to about 50% crystallinity, and having a weight-average molecular weight, per polystyrene standards, of from about 17,000 to about 40,000 Daltons. The composition exhibits a zero-shear viscosity of less than about 104 Pa s at the melting temperature of the partially crystalline polycarbonate. Related systems and methods for utilizing these compositions in additive manufacturing applications, including selective laser sintering (SLS) applications, are also disclosed. Also provided are additively-manufactured articles made with the disclosed compositions and according to the disclosed methods.

The present invention relates to the field of polymerisation catalysts, and systems comprising said catalysts for polymerising carbon dioxide and an epoxide, a lactide and/or lactone, and/or an epoxide and an anhydride. The catalyst is of formula (I): ##STR00001## Wherein M.sub.1 and M.sub.2 are independently selected from Zn(II), Cr(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Mg(II), Fe(II), Ti(II), V(II), Cr(III)-X, Co(III)-X, Ni(III)-X, Mn(III)-X, Fe(III)-X, Ca(II), Ge(II), Al(III)-X, Ti(III)-X, V(III)-X, Ge(IV)-(X).sub.2 or Ti(IV)-(X).sub.2. R.sub.3A is different from R.sub.3B; and/or at least one occurrence of E.sub.3, E.sub.4, E.sub.5 and E.sub.6 is different to a remaining occurrence of E.sub.3, E.sub.4, E.sub.5 and E.sub.6. A ligand, a process of asymmetric N-substitution of a symmetrical ligand and a process for the reaction of: (i) carbon dioxide with an epoxide; (ii) an epoxide and an anhydride; and/or (iii) a lactide and/or a lactone, in the presence of a catalyst is also described.