The invention provides a liquid crystal compound satisfying at least one of physical properties such as a high stability to heat or light, a high clearing point (or a high maximum temperature), a low minimum temperature of a liquid crystal phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a small dielectric anisotropy, a suitable elastic constant and a good compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds, a liquid crystal composition including this compound, and a liquid crystal display device containing this composition. The invention provdes a compound represented by formula (1):

##STR00001##

where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons or the like; one of L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 is both hydrogens, and the other is both fluorines; Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are independently a single bond, —COO—, —OCO—, —OCH.sub.2—, —CH.sub.2O—, —CF.sub.2O—, —OCF.sub.2—, —CH.sub.2CH.sub.2—, —CH═CH—, —C≡C— or the like.

Object: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing, with a high yield, a fluorinated organic compound, the fluorinated organic compound having not been produced with a sufficient yield by a conventional method for producing a fluorinated organic compound using a fluorinating agent containing IF.sub.5-pyridine-HF alone. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluorinating reagent. Means for achieving the object: A method for producing a fluorinated organic compound comprising step A of fluorinating an organic compound by bringing the organic compound into contact with (1) IF.sub.5-pyridine-HF and (2) at least one additive selected from the group consisting of amine hydrogen fluorides, X.sup.aF (wherein X.sup.a represents hydrogen, potassium, sodium, or lithium), oxidizers, and reducing agents.

Object: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing, with a high yield, a fluorinated organic compound, the fluorinated organic compound having not been produced with a sufficient yield by a conventional method for producing a fluorinated organic compound using a fluorinating agent containing IF.sub.5-pyridine-HF alone. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluorinating reagent. Means for achieving the object: A method for producing a fluorinated organic compound comprising step A of fluorinating an organic compound by bringing the organic compound into contact with (1) IF.sub.5-pyridine-HF and (2) at least one additive selected from the group consisting of amine hydrogen fluorides, X.sup.aF (wherein X.sup.a represents hydrogen, potassium, sodium, or lithium), oxidizers, and reducing agents.

The present invention relates to a novel method for producing fluorinated cycloaliphatic compounds from the analogous aromatic compounds by hydrogenation with an Rh-carbene catalyst system.

The present invention relates to a novel method for producing fluorinated cycloaliphatic compounds from the analogous aromatic compounds by hydrogenation with an Rh-carbene catalyst system.

Provided is a novel production method for a fluorinated organic compound (1), the method comprising step A of fluorinating a hydrogen atom-containing organic compound (2) using IF.sub.5 in a liquid composition comprising an organic solvent, the amount of the hydrogen atom-containing organic compound (2) being 1.8 mol or more per liter of the organic solvent.

Provided is a novel production method for a fluorinated organic compound (1), the method comprising step A of fluorinating a hydrogen atom-containing organic compound (2) using IF.sub.5 in a liquid composition comprising an organic solvent, the amount of the hydrogen atom-containing organic compound (2) being 1.8 mol or more per liter of the organic solvent.

One aspect of the present invention relates to compounds, compositions and methods for diagnosis and/or treatment of a subject suffering from an amyloidosis-associated pathological condition. In certain embodiments, the imaging and/or therapeutic agents of the instant invention may be administered to a subject for identification and/or treatment of amyloid deposits. A specific imaging method detects amyloid deposits by administering the imaging agent to the subject and detecting the spatial distribution of the agent. Differential accumulation of the agent is indicative of AD or an amyloidosis-associated pathological condition and can be monitored by using a PET or SPECT camera.

One aspect of the present invention relates to compounds, compositions and methods for diagnosis and/or treatment of a subject suffering from an amyloidosis-associated pathological condition. In certain embodiments, the imaging and/or therapeutic agents of the instant invention may be administered to a subject for identification and/or treatment of amyloid deposits. A specific imaging method detects amyloid deposits by administering the imaging agent to the subject and detecting the spatial distribution of the agent. Differential accumulation of the agent is indicative of AD or an amyloidosis-associated pathological condition and can be monitored by using a PET or SPECT camera.

A composition including a compound having structural formula (I): R.sub.f is a linear or branched perfluoroalkyl group having 1-3 atoms; n is 0-2; x is 1-3; and R.sub.f′ and R.sub.f″ are (i) independently, a linear or branched perfluoroalkyl group having 1-8 carbon atoms; or (ii) are bonded together to form a ring structure having 4-8 carbon atoms. The composition further includes a hydrocarbon contaminant.