A compound of formula (I)

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or an organic radical of 1 to 100 carbon atoms, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 are independently hydrogen or an organic radical of 1 to 100 carbons, Z is a single bond or a divalent organic group of 1 to 100 carbons, A is an (n+m)-valent organic group of 1 to 1 000 000 carbons, X is a single bond or a divalent organic group of 1 to 40 carbons, n is an integer from 1 to 1000, m is 0, 1, or 2, the sum of n+m being an integer from 2 to 1002. Such compounds are obtainable from specific 4-oxy-but-2-yn-1-ol derivatives, or used as intermediate(s), crosslinker(s), or monomer(s) in polymerization or oligomerization reactions, or for two-component compositions having such compound(s) and multifunctional hardener(s). Such compound(s) may be used to prepare polyunsaturated compounds, by reaction with an (oligo/poly)-functional nucleophile, or polymers.

The present invention provides a compound represented by formula (i), a liquid crystal composition using the compound, and a liquid crystal display device using the liquid crystal composition. The compound represented by formula (i) has a partial structure K.sup.i1 represented by any of general formulas (K-1) to (K-17) and further has ring B having at least two P-Sp- groups. Therefore, when used for a liquid crystal composition, the compound adsorbs to substrates sandwiching the liquid crystal composition (liquid crystal layer) and allows liquid crystal molecules to be held such that they are aligned in a vertical direction without a PI layer, and improved alignment stability and low-temperature storage stability can be achieved.

Novel compounds of formula (II) are disclosed. Compounds of formula (II) comprise ornithine derivatives or compounds that can metabolize under physiological conditions to ornithine. The pH and plasma stability of compounds of formula (II) is also described. Also disclosed are methods for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease using compounds of formula (II).

Novel compounds of formula (II) are disclosed. Compounds of formula (II) comprise ornithine derivatives or compounds that can metabolize under physiological conditions to ornithine. The pH and plasma stability of compounds of formula (II) is also described. Also disclosed are methods for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease using compounds of formula (II).

Process to continuously prepare a cyclic carbonate product by reacting an epoxide compound with carbon dioxide in the presence of a supported dimeric aluminium salen complex which complex is activated by a halide compound comprising the following steps, (a) contacting carbon dioxide with the epoxide compound in a suspension of liquid cyclic carbonate and the supported dimeric aluminium salen complex which complex is activated by a halide compound, (b) separating part of the cyclic carbonate product from the supported dimeric aluminium salen complex, (c) separating the halide compound from the cyclic carbonate product to obtain purified cyclic carbonate product, (d) use all or part of the halide compound as obtained in step (c) to activate deactivated supported dimeric salen complex.

Process to continuously prepare a cyclic carbonate product by reacting an epoxide compound with carbon dioxide in the presence of a supported dimeric aluminium salen complex which complex is activated by a halide compound comprising the following steps, (a) contacting carbon dioxide with the epoxide compound in a suspension of liquid cyclic carbonate and the supported dimeric aluminium salen complex which complex is activated by a halide compound, (b) separating part of the cyclic carbonate product from the supported dimeric aluminium salen complex, (c) separating the halide compound from the cyclic carbonate product to obtain purified cyclic carbonate product, (d) use all or part of the halide compound as obtained in step (c) to activate deactivated supported dimeric salen complex.

Process to continuously prepare a cyclic carbonate product by reacting an epoxide compound with carbon dioxide in the presence of a supported dimeric aluminium salen complex which complex is activated by a halide compound comprising the following steps, (a) contacting carbon dioxide with the epoxide compound in a suspension of liquid cyclic carbonate and the supported dimeric aluminium salen complex which complex is activated by a halide compound, (b) separating part of the cyclic carbonate product from the supported dimeric aluminium salen complex, (c) separating the halide compound from the cyclic carbonate product to obtain purified cyclic carbonate product, (d) use all or part of the halide compound as obtained in step (c) to activate deactivated supported dimeric salen complex.

Process to continuously prepare a cyclic carbonate product by reacting an epoxide compound with carbon dioxide in the presence of a supported dimeric aluminium salen complex which complex is activated by a halide compound comprising the following steps, (a) contacting carbon dioxide with the epoxide compound in a suspension of liquid cyclic carbonate and the supported dimeric aluminium salen complex which complex is activated by a halide compound, (b) separating part of the cyclic carbonate product from the supported dimeric aluminium salen complex, (c) separating the halide compound from the cyclic carbonate product to obtain purified cyclic carbonate product, (d) use all or part of the halide compound as obtained in step (c) to activate deactivated supported dimeric salen complex.

The invention relates to a process for producing ethylene glycol and/or ethylene carbonate, said process comprising contacting at least a portion of a recycle gas stream comprising an alkyl iodide impurity with a guard bed system positioned upstream of an ethylene oxide reactor to produce a treated recycle gas stream, wherein the guard bed system comprises silver on alumina; contacting a feed gas stream comprising ethylene, oxygen and at least a portion of the treated recycle gas stream with an epoxidation catalyst in the ethylene oxide reactor to produce an epoxidation reaction product comprising ethylene oxide; and contacting at least a portion of the epoxidation reaction product comprising ethylene oxide with an aqueous absorbent in the presence of an iodide-containing catalyst in an absorber to produce an aqueous product stream comprising ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol and the recycle gas stream comprising the alkyl iodide impurity.

The invention relates to a process for producing ethylene glycol and/or ethylene carbonate, said process comprising contacting at least a portion of a recycle gas stream comprising an alkyl iodide impurity with a guard bed system positioned upstream of an ethylene oxide reactor to produce a treated recycle gas stream, wherein the guard bed system comprises silver on alumina; contacting a feed gas stream comprising ethylene, oxygen and at least a portion of the treated recycle gas stream with an epoxidation catalyst in the ethylene oxide reactor to produce an epoxidation reaction product comprising ethylene oxide; and contacting at least a portion of the epoxidation reaction product comprising ethylene oxide with an aqueous absorbent in the presence of an iodide-containing catalyst in an absorber to produce an aqueous product stream comprising ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol and the recycle gas stream comprising the alkyl iodide impurity.