The present invention provides a tetracarboxylic acid diester compound shown by the following general formula (1),

##STR00001##

wherein X.sub.1 represents a tetravalent organic group; and R.sub.1 represents a group shown by the following general formula (2),

##STR00002##

wherein the dotted line represents a bond; Y.sub.1 represents an organic group with a valency of k+1; “k” represents 1 or 2; and “n” represents 0 or 1. There can be provided a tetracarboxylic acid diester compound that can give a polyimide precursor polymer soluble in a safe organic solvent widely used as a solvent of a composition and usable as a base resin of a photosensitive resin composition.

The present invention relates to novel Ruthenium complexes of formulae A1-A4 and their use, inter alia, for (1) dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols to esters; (2) hydrogenation of esters to alcohols (including hydrogenation of cyclic esters (lactones) or cyclic di-esters (di-lactones), or polyesters); (3) preparing amides from alcohols and amines—(including the preparation of polyamides (e.g., polypeptides) by reacting dialcohols and diamines and/or polymerization of amino alcohols and/or forming cyclic dipeptides from p-aminoalcohols; (4) hydrogenation of amides (including cyclic dipeptides, polypeptides and polyamides) to alcohols and amines; (5) hydrogenation of organic carbonates (including polycarbonates) to alcohols or hydrogenation of carbamates (including polycarbamates) or urea derivatives to alcohols and amines; (6) dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols to ketones; (7) amidation of esters (i.e., synthesis of amides from esters and amines); (8) acylation of alcohols using esters; (9) coupling of alcohols with water and a base to form carboxylic acids; and (10) preparation of amino acids or their salts by coupling of amino alcohols with water and a base. The present, invention further relates to the use of certain known Ruthenium complexes for the preparation of amino acids or their salts from amino alcohols.

The present invention relates to novel Ruthenium complexes of formulae A1-A4 and their use, inter alia, for (1) dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols to esters; (2) hydrogenation of esters to alcohols (including hydrogenation of cyclic esters (lactones) or cyclic di-esters (di-lactones), or polyesters); (3) preparing amides from alcohols and amines—(including the preparation of polyamides (e.g., polypeptides) by reacting dialcohols and diamines and/or polymerization of amino alcohols and/or forming cyclic dipeptides from p-aminoalcohols; (4) hydrogenation of amides (including cyclic dipeptides, polypeptides and polyamides) to alcohols and amines; (5) hydrogenation of organic carbonates (including polycarbonates) to alcohols or hydrogenation of carbamates (including polycarbamates) or urea derivatives to alcohols and amines; (6) dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols to ketones; (7) amidation of esters (i.e., synthesis of amides from esters and amines); (8) acylation of alcohols using esters; (9) coupling of alcohols with water and a base to form carboxylic acids; and (10) preparation of amino acids or their salts by coupling of amino alcohols with water and a base. The present, invention further relates to the use of certain known Ruthenium complexes for the preparation of amino acids or their salts from amino alcohols.

Disclosed herein are 1,4-naphthoquinone analogs, pharmaceutical compositions that include one or more of such 1,4-naphthoquinone analogs, and methods of treating and/or ameliorating diseases and/or conditions associated with a cancer, such as prostate cancer with such 1,4-naphthoquinone analogs. Also included are combination therapies wherein a 1,4-naphthoquinone analog disclosed herein, and a hormone therapy agent are provided to a subject suffering from a condition such as cancer.

Disclosed herein are 1,4-naphthoquinone analogs, pharmaceutical compositions that include one or more of such 1,4-naphthoquinone analogs, and methods of treating and/or ameliorating diseases and/or conditions associated with a cancer, such as prostate cancer with such 1,4-naphthoquinone analogs. Also included are combination therapies wherein a 1,4-naphthoquinone analog disclosed herein, and a hormone therapy agent are provided to a subject suffering from a condition such as cancer.

The invention relates to a method for (I) producing a carboxylic ester of formula (I). Said method comprises the steps of: a) bringing an organosilane/borane of formula Si or B into contact with CO.sub.2, in the presence of a catalyst and an electrophilic compound of formula (III), the groups R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, Y, and M′ being as defined in claim 1; and optionally b) recovering the compound of formula (I) produced.

##STR00001##

The invention relates to a method for (I) producing a carboxylic ester of formula (I). Said method comprises the steps of: a) bringing an organosilane/borane of formula Si or B into contact with CO.sub.2, in the presence of a catalyst and an electrophilic compound of formula (III), the groups R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, Y, and M′ being as defined in claim 1; and optionally b) recovering the compound of formula (I) produced.

##STR00001##

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.

Precipitation promoters, which are an organic compound having one or more linear aliphatic hydrocarbon groups having not less than 10 carbon atoms, wherein the aliphatic hydrocarbon group has not less than 20 carbon atoms in total are useful for precipitating an organic compound protected by an organic group having one or more aliphatic hydrocarbon groups having not less than 10 carbon atoms from a solvent.

An object of the present invention is to develop a therapeutic agent for an inflammatory disease such as an inflammatory bowel disease or NASH, which therapeutic agent shows less side effects and high effectiveness. The present invention provides a compound represented by Formula (I) or a salt thereof; and a Pin1 inhibitor, a pharmaceutical composition, a therapeutic agent or a prophylactic agent for an inflammatory disease, and a therapeutic agent or a prophylactic agent for colon cancer, containing the compound. ##STR00001##