The invention relates to bimesogenic compounds of formula I

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.11, R.sup.12, MG.sup.11, MG.sup.12 and CG.sup.1 have the meaning given in claim 1, 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.

The present invention disclosed a bio-based polymer additive, its preparation process and a biodegradable polymer composition comprising the said bio-based polymer additive for use in manufacturing of biodegradable plastic. The said additive is prepared from the biomass of broken microorganism cell such as microalgae, yeast or other microorganisms. In particular, the bio-based polymer additive is for enhancing rheological properties and/or biodegradability of a polymer. In particular, the additive is for use as a pigment.

The present invention disclosed a bio-based polymer additive, its preparation process and a biodegradable polymer composition comprising the said bio-based polymer additive for use in manufacturing of biodegradable plastic. The said additive is prepared from the biomass of broken microorganism cell such as microalgae, yeast or other microorganisms. In particular, the bio-based polymer additive is for enhancing rheological properties and/or biodegradability of a polymer. In particular, the additive is for use as a pigment.

The present invention relates to a transition metal compound for an olefin polymerization catalyst, the transition metal compound being represented by chemical formula 1. The description of chemical formula 1 is as defined in the specification.

The present invention relates to a transition metal compound for an olefin polymerization catalyst, the transition metal compound being represented by chemical formula 1. The description of chemical formula 1 is as defined in the specification.

The invention provides a liquid crystal compound satisfying at least one of physical properties such as a high stability to heat or light, a high clearing point (or a high maximum temperature), a low minimum temperature of a liquid crystal phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a small dielectric anisotropy, a suitable elastic constant and a good compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds, a liquid crystal composition including this compound, and a liquid crystal display device containing this composition. The invention provdes a compound represented by formula (1):

##STR00001##

where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons or the like; one of L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 is both hydrogens, and the other is both fluorines; Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are independently a single bond, —COO—, —OCO—, —OCH.sub.2—, —CH.sub.2O—, —CF.sub.2O—, —OCF.sub.2—, —CH.sub.2CH.sub.2—, —CH═CH—, —C≡C— or the like.

This invention relates to process for producing biphenyl esters, the process comprising: (a) contacting a feed comprising toluene, xylene or mixtures thereof with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst to produce a hydroalkylation reaction product comprising (methylcyclohexyl)toluene, wherein the hydroalkylation catalyst comprises: 1) binder present at 40 wt % or less (based upon weight of final catalyst composition), 2) a hydrogenation component present at 0.2 wt % or less (based upon weight of final catalyst composition), and 3) an acidic component comprising a molecular sieve having a twelve membered (or larger) ring pore opening, channel or pocket and a largest pore dimension of 6.0 angstroms or more present at 60 wt % or more, (based upon weight of final catalyst composition); (b) dehydrogenating the hydroalkylation reaction product using a dehydrogenation catalyst to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising a mixture of methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds; (c) contacting at the dehydrogenation reaction product with an oxidizing gas to convert the methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds to biphenyl carboxylic acids; and (d) reacting the biphenyl carboxylic acids with one or more C.sub.1 to C.sub.14 alcohols to produce biphenyl esters.

This invention relates to process for producing biphenyl esters, the process comprising: (a) contacting a feed comprising toluene, xylene or mixtures thereof with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst to produce a hydroalkylation reaction product comprising (methylcyclohexyl)toluene, wherein the hydroalkylation catalyst comprises: 1) binder present at 40 wt % or less (based upon weight of final catalyst composition), 2) a hydrogenation component present at 0.2 wt % or less (based upon weight of final catalyst composition), and 3) an acidic component comprising a molecular sieve having a twelve membered (or larger) ring pore opening, channel or pocket and a largest pore dimension of 6.0 angstroms or more present at 60 wt % or more, (based upon weight of final catalyst composition); (b) dehydrogenating the hydroalkylation reaction product using a dehydrogenation catalyst to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising a mixture of methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds; (c) contacting at the dehydrogenation reaction product with an oxidizing gas to convert the methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds to biphenyl carboxylic acids; and (d) reacting the biphenyl carboxylic acids with one or more C.sub.1 to C.sub.14 alcohols to produce biphenyl esters.