A method includes: providing a mixture including at least one alkyl tosylate and a Grignard reagent; and reacting the at least one alkyl tosylate with the Grignard reagent in a C—C coupling reaction mechanism to form a branched aliphatic alcohol.

Compounds having the formula (F-I) below are provided herein: ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 at each occurrence are independently a C.sub.1-C.sub.5000 alkyl group; R.sup.3 at each occurrence is independently hydrogen or a C.sub.1-C.sub.5000 alkyl group; R.sup.4 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.50 alkyl group or an unsubstituted or substituted phenyl group; R.sup.5 at each occurrence is independently hydrogen or a C.sub.1-C.sub.30 alkyl group; n is 1, 2, 3, or 4; and m+n is 5. Processes for preparing compounds of formula (F-I) as well as base stock and lubricant compositions containing compounds of formula (F-I) are also provided.

Compounds having the formula (F-I) below are provided herein: ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 at each occurrence are independently a C.sub.1-C.sub.5000 alkyl group; R.sup.3 at each occurrence is independently hydrogen or a C.sub.1-C.sub.5000 alkyl group; R.sup.4 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.50 alkyl group or an unsubstituted or substituted phenyl group; R.sup.5 at each occurrence is independently hydrogen or a C.sub.1-C.sub.30 alkyl group; n is 1, 2, 3, or 4; and m+n is 5. Processes for preparing compounds of formula (F-I) as well as base stock and lubricant compositions containing compounds of formula (F-I) are also provided.

Provided is a fluorine-containing ether compound that can be suitably used as a material for a lubricant for a magnetic recording medium, capable of forming a lubricant layer having excellent chemical substance resistance and wear resistance even when the thickness is small. A fluorine-containing ether compound represented by the following formula (1):

R.sup.1—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—R.sup.4—R.sup.5  (1)

In the formula (1), R.sup.3 is a perfluoropolyether chain. R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 are divalent linkage groups having a polar group, and may be the same or different. R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 are terminal groups bonded to R.sup.2 or R.sup.4, which may be the same or different, and at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 is an organic group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms wherein one or more hydrogen atoms of the organic group is substituted with a cyano group.

Provided are a difluoromethoxy-bridge liquid crystal compound containing methyl-substituted 2,3-difluorophenyl, a liquid crystal composition containing the compound, and a liquid crystal display element and a liquid crystal display, wherein said liquid crystal composition is represented by the following formula I: ##STR00001##
wherein the difluoromethoxy-bridge liquid crystal compound containing methyl-substituted 2,3-difluorophenyl not only has a high clearing point (CP) and a prominent low-temperature miscibility with other liquid crystals, but also has a good stability to ultraviolet light, stability to high temperatures, and particularly also a high vertical dielectric constant (ε.sub.⊥), and may be applied to the formulation of various types of liquid crystal compositions, and it is particularly prominent that the compound has the advantages of both a good low-temperature miscibility and a high vertical dielectric constant (ε.sub.⊥).

Provided are a difluoromethoxy-bridge liquid crystal compound containing methyl-substituted 2,3-difluorophenyl, a liquid crystal composition containing the compound, and a liquid crystal display element and a liquid crystal display, wherein said liquid crystal composition is represented by the following formula I: ##STR00001##
wherein the difluoromethoxy-bridge liquid crystal compound containing methyl-substituted 2,3-difluorophenyl not only has a high clearing point (CP) and a prominent low-temperature miscibility with other liquid crystals, but also has a good stability to ultraviolet light, stability to high temperatures, and particularly also a high vertical dielectric constant (ε.sub.⊥), and may be applied to the formulation of various types of liquid crystal compositions, and it is particularly prominent that the compound has the advantages of both a good low-temperature miscibility and a high vertical dielectric constant (ε.sub.⊥).

Provided is a method for producing (alkyl)arene compounds represented by Formulae 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3 by the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of alkyl halide compounds and arene compounds using organic phosphine compounds as a catalyst.

##STR00001##

Provided is a method for producing (alkyl)arene compounds represented by Formulae 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3 by the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of alkyl halide compounds and arene compounds using organic phosphine compounds as a catalyst.

##STR00001##

Device and methods for use in a biosensor comprising a multisite array of test sites, the device and methods being useful for modulating the binding interactions between a (biomolecular) probe or detection agent and an analyte of interest by modulating the pH or ionic gradient near the electrodes in such biosensor. An electrochemically active agent that is suitable for use in biological buffers for changing the pH of the biological buffers. Method for changing the pH of biological buffers using the electrochemically active agents. The methods of modulating the binding interactions provided in a biosensor, analytic methods for more accurately controlling and measuring the pH or ionic gradient near the electrodes in such biosensor, and analytic methods for more accurately measuring an analyte of interest in a biological sample.

The present disclosure discloses a novel compound, 3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl 3-hydroxybutanoate, a method for preparing the same and use of the same, and in particular, a compound of formula I, use of the compound of formula I, optically pure isomers of the compound, a mixture of enantiomers in any ratio, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof in preparing health food and drug for relieving brain fatigue, improving learning and memory abilities, and ameliorating mania mood related to brain fatigue.

##STR00001##