The invention relates to bimesogenic compounds of formula I

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to the use of bimesogenic compounds of formula I in liquid crystal media and particular to flexoelectric liquid crystal devices comprising a liquid crystal medium according to the present invention.

A method of performing a chemical reaction includes reacting a compound selected from the group consisting of an organohalide and an organo-pseudohalide, and a protected organoboronic acid represented by formula (I) in a reaction mixture:
R.sup.1—B-T  (I);
where R.sup.1 represents an organic group, T represents a conformationally rigid protecting group, and B represents boron having sp.sup.3 hybridization. When unprotected, the corresponding organoboronic acid is unstable by the boronic acid neat stability test. The reaction mixture further includes a base having a pK.sub.B of at least 1 and a palladium catalyst. The method further includes forming a cross-coupled product in the reaction mixture.

A method of performing a chemical reaction includes reacting a compound selected from the group consisting of an organohalide and an organo-pseudohalide, and a protected organoboronic acid represented by formula (I) in a reaction mixture:
R.sup.1—B-T  (I);
where R.sup.1 represents an organic group, T represents a conformationally rigid protecting group, and B represents boron having sp.sup.3 hybridization. When unprotected, the corresponding organoboronic acid is unstable by the boronic acid neat stability test. The reaction mixture further includes a base having a pK.sub.B of at least 1 and a palladium catalyst. The method further includes forming a cross-coupled product in the reaction mixture.

A series of new macrocycles and cage-like molecules are obtained in a high yield from a bis-(2,4-dialkoxyphenyl)arene (naphthalene, anthracene, pyrene, porphyrin, etc.) or a tris-(2,4-dialkoxyphenyl)arene (benzene, sym-tribenzobenzene) and paraformaldehyde under the catalysis of a Lewis acid. In addition, perhydroxybiphenylarenes (tetrabiphenyl trimer, naphthalene dimer, etc.) can be obtained by means of demethylation, and a variety of water-soluble derivatives can be obtained by further modification, with same exhibiting a good bond ability for guest molecules (purpurine, etc.). Moreover, the functional group introduced into the backbone enables the macrocycle to have excellent adsorption and separation capabilities and a photophysical property. The macrocyclic and cage-like molecules have commercially available raw materials, are simple to synthesize, have a high yield, and are convenient to modify, such that same have wide application prospects in gas adsorption and separation, facilitate performance improvement of luminescent materials, perform adsorption of water-soluble toxic substances, etc.

In one embodiment, the present application discloses a catalyst composition comprising: a) a reaction solvent or a reaction medium; b) organometallic nanoparticles comprising: i) a nanoparticle (NP) catalyst, prepared by a reduction of an iron salt in an organic solvent, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one other metal selected from the group consisting of Pd, Pt, Au, Ni, Co, Cu, Mn, Rh, Ir, Ru and Os or mixtures thereof; c) a ligand; and d) a surfactant; wherein the metal or mixtures thereof is present in less than or equal to 50,000 ppm relative to the iron salt.

In one embodiment, the present application discloses a catalyst composition comprising: a) a reaction solvent or a reaction medium; b) organometallic nanoparticles comprising: i) a nanoparticle (NP) catalyst, prepared by a reduction of an iron salt in an organic solvent, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one other metal selected from the group consisting of Pd, Pt, Au, Ni, Co, Cu, Mn, Rh, Ir, Ru and Os or mixtures thereof; c) a ligand; and d) a surfactant; wherein the metal or mixtures thereof is present in less than or equal to 50,000 ppm relative to the iron salt.

A method of reducing a C—O bond to the corresponding C—H bond in a substrate, which could be a benzylic alcohol, allylic alcohol, ester or an ether bond beta to a hydroxyl group or alpha to a carbonyl group using a recyclable metal catalyst system. The recyclable catalyst system is also applicable to reducing a C═O bond to the corresponding C—OH bond and then C—H bond. These methodologies can be linked in one-pot to selective oxidation and depolymerizations of aromatic polyols such as lignin.

A method of reducing a C—O bond to the corresponding C—H bond in a substrate, which could be a benzylic alcohol, allylic alcohol, ester or an ether bond beta to a hydroxyl group or alpha to a carbonyl group using a recyclable metal catalyst system. The recyclable catalyst system is also applicable to reducing a C═O bond to the corresponding C—OH bond and then C—H bond. These methodologies can be linked in one-pot to selective oxidation and depolymerizations of aromatic polyols such as lignin.

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.

Compounds of general formula IA, IB and IC outlined below, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates and hydrates thereof. Such compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them may be used in medical conditions involving Ran GTPase.

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