Compounds of the formulae (I) or (II)

##STR00001##

wherein X is

##STR00002## A is O, S, NR.sub.5 or CR.sub.16R.sub.17; R.sub.1 is for example hydrogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl R.sub.2 is for example hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl or C.sub.6-C.sub.20aryl R.sub.5 for example is C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl; R.sub.7, R.sub.8, R.sub.9, R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 for example independently of each other are hydrogen. C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl, halogen, CN or NO.sub.2; Ar.sub.1 is for example unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.6-C.sub.20aryl, C.sub.3-C.sub.20heteroaryl, C.sub.6-C.sub.20aroyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.20heteroarylcarbonyl or

##STR00003## or Ar.sub.1 is

##STR00004## Ar.sub.2 is for example phenylene,

##STR00005##

all of which are unsubstituted or substituted M is for example unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkylene Y is a direct bond, O, S, NR.sub.5 or CO; Z.sub.1 is for example O or S; Z.sub.2 is a direct bond, O, S or NR.sub.5; and Q is CO or a direct bond.

Compounds of the formulae (I) or (II)

##STR00001##

wherein X is

##STR00002## A is O, S, NR.sub.5 or CR.sub.16R.sub.17; R.sub.1 is for example hydrogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl R.sub.2 is for example hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl or C.sub.6-C.sub.20aryl R.sub.5 for example is C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl; R.sub.7, R.sub.8, R.sub.9, R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 for example independently of each other are hydrogen. C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl, halogen, CN or NO.sub.2; Ar.sub.1 is for example unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.6-C.sub.20aryl, C.sub.3-C.sub.20heteroaryl, C.sub.6-C.sub.20aroyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.20heteroarylcarbonyl or

##STR00003## or Ar.sub.1 is

##STR00004## Ar.sub.2 is for example phenylene,

##STR00005##

all of which are unsubstituted or substituted M is for example unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkylene Y is a direct bond, O, S, NR.sub.5 or CO; Z.sub.1 is for example O or S; Z.sub.2 is a direct bond, O, S or NR.sub.5; and Q is CO or a direct bond.

The invention provides surfactant compounds of formulas I-IX, which can be used in methods for aiding the solubilization, digestion, preparation, analysis, and/or characterization of biological material, for example, proteins or cell membranes. The compounds can also aid in the recovery of peptides generated during protein digestion, particularly for in-gel digestion protocol. Additionally, the compounds can improve enzymatic protein deglycosylation without interfering with downstream sample preparation steps and mass spectrometric analysis. The compounds can be specifically useful as digestion aids that can be decomposed by an acid, by heat, or a combination thereof. Decomposition of the surfactants allows for facile separation from isolated samples, and/or allows for analysis of the sample without interfering with the sensitivity of various analytical techniques.

The invention provides surfactant compounds of formulas I-IX, which can be used in methods for aiding the solubilization, digestion, preparation, analysis, and/or characterization of biological material, for example, proteins or cell membranes. The compounds can also aid in the recovery of peptides generated during protein digestion, particularly for in-gel digestion protocol. Additionally, the compounds can improve enzymatic protein deglycosylation without interfering with downstream sample preparation steps and mass spectrometric analysis. The compounds can be specifically useful as digestion aids that can be decomposed by an acid, by heat, or a combination thereof. Decomposition of the surfactants allows for facile separation from isolated samples, and/or allows for analysis of the sample without interfering with the sensitivity of various analytical techniques.

Disclosed are oxime ester compounds which have specific benzo (unsaturated 5-membered ring)-carbonyl group and their use as photoinitiators in photopolymerizable compositions, in particular in photoresist formulations for display applications, e.g. liquid crystal display (LCD), organic light emitting diode (OLED) and touch panel.

Disclosed are oxime ester compounds which have specific benzo (unsaturated 5-membered ring)-carbonyl group and their use as photoinitiators in photopolymerizable compositions, in particular in photoresist formulations for display applications, e.g. liquid crystal display (LCD), organic light emitting diode (OLED) and touch panel.

Primarily, the present invention relates to compounds of the formula (I) defined below and to their use as herbicides, in particular for controlling broad-leaved weeds and/or weed grasses in crops of useful plants and/or as plant growth regulators for influencing the growth of crops of useful plants. The present invention also relates to herbicidal or plant growth-regulating compositions comprising one or more compounds of the formula (I). Moreover, the present invention relates to processes for preparing the compounds of the formula (I).

Primarily, the present invention relates to compounds of the formula (I) defined below and to their use as herbicides, in particular for controlling broad-leaved weeds and/or weed grasses in crops of useful plants and/or as plant growth regulators for influencing the growth of crops of useful plants. The present invention also relates to herbicidal or plant growth-regulating compositions comprising one or more compounds of the formula (I). Moreover, the present invention relates to processes for preparing the compounds of the formula (I).

The present invention provides a method of preparing a furan derivative comprising the steps of (a) converting a monosaccharide to provide a keto-intermediate product; and (b) dehydrating the keto-intermediate product to provide a furan derivative; wherein the keto-intermediate product is pre-disposed to forming keto-furanose tautomers in solution. The method may further comprising a step of oxidizing the furan derivative to provide a furandicarboxylic acid or a furandicarboxylic acid derivative.

The present invention provides a method of preparing a furan derivative comprising the steps of (a) converting a monosaccharide to provide a keto-intermediate product; and (b) dehydrating the keto-intermediate product to provide a furan derivative; wherein the keto-intermediate product is pre-disposed to forming keto-furanose tautomers in solution. The method may further comprising a step of oxidizing the furan derivative to provide a furandicarboxylic acid or a furandicarboxylic acid derivative.