The invention provides: imidazole and imidazolium compounds of formulas (I) and (II):

##STR00001##

polymers containing a plurality of imidazolium-containing repeating units of formula (III′):

##STR00002##

and membranes and devices comprising the polymers. Also provided are methods of making the inventive compounds and polymers.

The invention provides: imidazole and imidazolium compounds of formulas (I) and (II):

##STR00001##

polymers containing a plurality of imidazolium-containing repeating units of formula (III′):

##STR00002##

and membranes and devices comprising the polymers. Also provided are methods of making the inventive compounds and polymers.

A cooling system utilizes an organic ionic salt composition for dehumidification of an airflow. The organic ionic salt composition absorbs moisture from an inlet airflow to produce an outlet airflow with a reduce moisture from that of the inlet airflow. The organic ionic salt composition may be regenerated, wherein the absorbed moisture is expelled by heating with a heating device. The heating device may be an electrochemical heating device, such as a fuel cell, an electrochemical metal hydride heating device, an electrochemical heat pump or compressor, or a condenser of a refrigerant cycle, which may utilize an electrochemical pump or compressor. The efficiency of the cooling system may be increased by utilization of the waste heat the cooling system. The organic ionic salt composition may circulate back and forth or in a loop between a conditioner, where it absorbs moisture, to a regenerator, where moisture is desorbed by heating.

A cooling system utilizes an organic ionic salt composition for dehumidification of an airflow. The organic ionic salt composition absorbs moisture from an inlet airflow to produce an outlet airflow with a reduce moisture from that of the inlet airflow. The organic ionic salt composition may be regenerated, wherein the absorbed moisture is expelled by heating with a heating device. The heating device may be an electrochemical heating device, such as a fuel cell, an electrochemical metal hydride heating device, an electrochemical heat pump or compressor, or a condenser of a refrigerant cycle, which may utilize an electrochemical pump or compressor. The efficiency of the cooling system may be increased by utilization of the waste heat the cooling system. The organic ionic salt composition may circulate back and forth or in a loop between a conditioner, where it absorbs moisture, to a regenerator, where moisture is desorbed by heating.

A novel compound suitable as an epoxy curing catalyst; an epoxy curing catalyst using the compound; and a method for producing the compound. A compound represented by formula (1) in which X.sup.m+ represents an m valent counter cation, R.sup.1 represents an aromatic group which may have a substituent; R.sup.2 represents an alkylene group which may have a substituent; R.sup.3 represents a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a mercapto group, a sulfide group, a silyl group, a silanol group, a nitro group, a nitroso group, a sulfonic acid ester group, a phosphino group, a phosphinyl group, a phosphonic acid ester group or an organic group; m represents an integer of 1 or more; n represents an integer of 0-3; and R.sup.2 may bond with R.sup.1 to form a cyclic structure.

A novel compound suitable as an epoxy curing catalyst; an epoxy curing catalyst using the compound; and a method for producing the compound. A compound represented by formula (1) in which X.sup.m+ represents an m valent counter cation, R.sup.1 represents an aromatic group which may have a substituent; R.sup.2 represents an alkylene group which may have a substituent; R.sup.3 represents a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a mercapto group, a sulfide group, a silyl group, a silanol group, a nitro group, a nitroso group, a sulfonic acid ester group, a phosphino group, a phosphinyl group, a phosphonic acid ester group or an organic group; m represents an integer of 1 or more; n represents an integer of 0-3; and R.sup.2 may bond with R.sup.1 to form a cyclic structure.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing dexmedetomidine having the following formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt and/or solvate thereof, comprising the following successive steps: a) asymmetric hydrogenation of a methylene derivative of the following formula (II): in order to obtain dexmedetomidine, and b) optionally salifying and/or solvating dexmedetomidine in order to obtain a pharmaceutically acceptable salt and/or solvate of dexmedetomidine, wherein the methylene derivative of formula (II) is prepared from a halide of the following formula (V), in which Hal.sub.2 represents a halogen atom such as Br, and a cyanoimidazole of the following formula (VI). The present invention relates also to methods for preparing synthesis intermediates of dexmedetomidine from the halide of formula (V) and the cyanoimidazole of formula (VI), these synthesis intermediates being the methylene derivative of formula (II), an alcohol of the following formula (III), and a ketone of the following formula (IV). ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a method for preparing dexmedetomidine having the following formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt and/or solvate thereof, comprising the following successive steps: a) asymmetric hydrogenation of a methylene derivative of the following formula (II): in order to obtain dexmedetomidine, and b) optionally salifying and/or solvating dexmedetomidine in order to obtain a pharmaceutically acceptable salt and/or solvate of dexmedetomidine, wherein the methylene derivative of formula (II) is prepared from a halide of the following formula (V), in which Hal.sub.2 represents a halogen atom such as Br, and a cyanoimidazole of the following formula (VI). The present invention relates also to methods for preparing synthesis intermediates of dexmedetomidine from the halide of formula (V) and the cyanoimidazole of formula (VI), these synthesis intermediates being the methylene derivative of formula (II), an alcohol of the following formula (III), and a ketone of the following formula (IV). ##STR00001##

Disclosed are novel compounds—benzenesulfonamides of general formulas (I) and (II) ##STR00001## The compounds can be used in biomedicine as active ingredients in pharmaceutical formulations, because they inhibit enzymes which participate in disease progression. Also disclosed are method of treatment using such compounds.

Disclosed are novel compounds—benzenesulfonamides of general formulas (I) and (II) ##STR00001## The compounds can be used in biomedicine as active ingredients in pharmaceutical formulations, because they inhibit enzymes which participate in disease progression. Also disclosed are method of treatment using such compounds.