The present invention relates to a process for preparing a partially hydrogenated polyacene, and a novel intermediate used in such process; also the present invention relates to a process for preparing the corresponding conjugated polyacenes.

The present invention relates to novel compounds, particularly to compounds comprising a photoactive unit, said novel compounds being particularly suitable for compositions and ophthalmic devices as well as to compositions and ophthalmic devices comprising such compounds.

A liquid crystal compound is represented by formula (1): ##STR00001## In formula (1), R.sup.1 is alkyl or the like; ring A.sup.1 and ring A.sup.2 are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene or the like; Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2 and Z.sup.3 are independently a single bond, CF.sub.2O or the like; X.sup.1 is fluorine, chlorine, CF.sub.3 or the like; L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 are independently hydrogen, fluorine or the like; a and b are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3; and W is a group represented by formula (1a) or formula (1b); ##STR00002## In formula (1a) and formula (1b), L.sup.3 to L.sup.8 are independently hydrogen, fluorine or the like.

The present invention provides a compound of Formula I, II or III or a salt or prodrug or derivative thereof that is useful for skin-whitening by inhibiting melanin formation and removing existing melanin and the inhibition of melanoma growth and/or the removal of existing melanoma cells.

The present invention provides a compound of Formula I, II or III or a salt or prodrug or derivative thereof that is useful for skin-whitening by inhibiting melanin formation and removing existing melanin and the inhibition of melanoma growth and/or the removal of existing melanoma cells.

The present invention relates to novel compounds, particularly to compounds comprising a photoactive unit, said novel compounds being particularly suitable for compositions and ophthalmic devices as well as to compositions and ophthalmic devices comprising such compounds.

The present invention relates to novel compounds, particularly to compounds comprising a photoactive unit, said novel compounds being particularly suitable for compositions and ophthalmic devices as well as to compositions and ophthalmic devices comprising such compounds.

The present invention relates to one or more SGLT2 inhibitors or pharmaceutically acceptable forms thereof for use in the treatment and/or prevention of a metabolic disorder in a feline animal, preferably wherein the metabolic disorder is one or more selected from the group consisting of: ketoacidosis, pre-diabetes, diabetes mellitus type 1 or type 2, insulin resistance, obesity, hyperglycemia, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, dysadipokinemia, subclinical inflammation, systemic inflammation, low grade systemic inflammation, hepatic lipidosis, atherosclerosis, inflammation of the pancreas, neuropathy and/or Syndrome X (metabolic syndrome) and/or loss of pancreatic beta cell function and/or wherein the remission of the metabolic disorder, preferably diabetic remission, is achieved and/or maintained.

The present invention relates to one or more SGLT2 inhibitors or pharmaceutically acceptable forms thereof for use in the treatment and/or prevention of a metabolic disorder in a feline animal, preferably wherein the metabolic disorder is one or more selected from the group consisting of: ketoacidosis, pre-diabetes, diabetes mellitus type 1 or type 2, insulin resistance, obesity, hyperglycemia, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, dysadipokinemia, subclinical inflammation, systemic inflammation, low grade systemic inflammation, hepatic lipidosis, atherosclerosis, inflammation of the pancreas, neuropathy and/or Syndrome X (metabolic syndrome) and/or loss of pancreatic beta cell function and/or wherein the remission of the metabolic disorder, preferably diabetic remission, is achieved and/or maintained.

The present invention provides a method for controlling a soybean rust fungus having an amino acid substitution of F129L on mitochondrial cytochrome b protein, by applying a compound represented by formula (I) [wherein Q represents a group represented by the following Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 or Q5 (in the formulae, represents a binding site to benzene ring); X represents an oxygen atom or NH; L represents CH.sub.2, an oxygen atom or NCH.sub.3; E represents a C6-C10 aryl group, etc.; R.sup.1 represents a C1-C3 chain hydrocarbon group or a cyclopropyl group, etc.; R.sup.2 represents a C1-C3 chain hydrocarbon group or a cyclopropyl group, etc.; R.sup.3 represents a C1-C3 alkoxy group or a C1-C3 chain hydrocarbon group, etc.; and n is 0, 1, 2, or 3] or its N oxide or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof.

##STR00001##