The present invention relates to liquid-crystalline media (LC media) having negative or positive dielectric anisotropy comprising self-alignment additives (SAMs) with an at least one bifunctional or polyfunctional anchor group, which effects the homeotropic (vertical) alignment of the LC media at a surface or the cell walls of a liquid-crystal display (LC display). The invention therefore also encompasses LC displays having homeotropic alignment of the liquid-crystalline medium (LC medium) without conventional imide alignment layers. The LC media may be supplemented by a polymerizable or polymerized component, which serves for stabilization of the alignment, for adjustment of the tilt angle and/or as passivation layer.

The present invention relates to liquid-crystalline media (LC media) having negative or positive dielectric anisotropy comprising self-alignment additives (SAMs) with an at least one bifunctional or polyfunctional anchor group, which effects the homeotropic (vertical) alignment of the LC media at a surface or the cell walls of a liquid-crystal display (LC display). The invention therefore also encompasses LC displays having homeotropic alignment of the liquid-crystalline medium (LC medium) without conventional imide alignment layers. The LC media may be supplemented by a polymerizable or polymerized component, which serves for stabilization of the alignment, for adjustment of the tilt angle and/or as passivation layer.

Disclosed are a monomer for a hardmask composition represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, a hardmask composition including the monomer, and a method of forming a pattern using the same. ##STR00001##
In Chemical Formula 1, A, A′, L and n are the same as in the detailed description.

Novel compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, and methods for their pharmaceutical use are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the compounds are agonists and/or ligands of cannabinoid receptors and may be useful, inter alia, for treating and/or preventing pain, gastrointestinal disorders, genitourinary disorders, inflammation, glaucoma, auto-immune diseases, ischemic conditions, immune-related disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases, for providing cardioprotection against ischemic and reperfusion effects, for inducing apoptosis in malignant cells, and as an appetite stimulant.

Novel compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, and methods for their pharmaceutical use are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the compounds are agonists and/or ligands of cannabinoid receptors and may be useful, inter alia, for treating and/or preventing pain, gastrointestinal disorders, genitourinary disorders, inflammation, glaucoma, auto-immune diseases, ischemic conditions, immune-related disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases, for providing cardioprotection against ischemic and reperfusion effects, for inducing apoptosis in malignant cells, and as an appetite stimulant.

The present invention relates to novel hydroxyl compounds, compositions comprising hydroxyl compounds, and methods useful for treating and preventing a variety of diseases and conditions such as, but not limited to aging, Alzheimer's Disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, a disorder of glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia, hypertension, impotence, inflammation, insulin resistance, lipid elimination in bile, obesity, oxysterol elimination in bile, pancreatitis, pancreatitius, Parkinson's disease, a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-associated disorder, phospholipid elimination in bile, renal disease, septicemia, metabolic syndrome disorders (e.g., Syndrome X), thrombotic disorder. Compounds and methods of the invention can also be used to modulate C reactive protein or enhance bile production in a patient. In certain embodiments, the compounds, compositions, and methods of the invention are useful in combination therapy with other therapeutics, such as hypocholesterolemic and hypoglycemic agents.

The present invention relates to novel hydroxyl compounds, compositions comprising hydroxyl compounds, and methods useful for treating and preventing a variety of diseases and conditions such as, but not limited to aging, Alzheimer's Disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, a disorder of glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia, hypertension, impotence, inflammation, insulin resistance, lipid elimination in bile, obesity, oxysterol elimination in bile, pancreatitis, pancreatitius, Parkinson's disease, a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-associated disorder, phospholipid elimination in bile, renal disease, septicemia, metabolic syndrome disorders (e.g., Syndrome X), thrombotic disorder. Compounds and methods of the invention can also be used to modulate C reactive protein or enhance bile production in a patient. In certain embodiments, the compounds, compositions, and methods of the invention are useful in combination therapy with other therapeutics, such as hypocholesterolemic and hypoglycemic agents.

The invention relates to monocarbonyl complexes of ruthenium and osmium with bi- and tridentate nitrogen and phosphine ligands. The invention relates to methods for preparing these complexes and the use of these complexes, isolated or prepared in situ, as catalysts for reduction reactions of ketones and aldehydes both via transfer hydrogenation or hydrogenation with hydrogen.

The invention relates to monocarbonyl complexes of ruthenium and osmium with bi- and tridentate nitrogen and phosphine ligands. The invention relates to methods for preparing these complexes and the use of these complexes, isolated or prepared in situ, as catalysts for reduction reactions of ketones and aldehydes both via transfer hydrogenation or hydrogenation with hydrogen.

The present invention relates to methods of controlling hydroformylation processes for producing normal (N) and iso (I) aldehydes at a N:I ratio. In one aspect, a method of controlling a hydroformylation process comprises contacting an olefin with carbon monoxide, hydrogen and a catalyst, the catalyst comprising (A) a transition metal, (B) a monophosphine, and (C) a tetraphosphine having the structure described herein, the contacting conducted in one or more reaction zones and at hydroformylation conditions to produce a blend of normal (N) and iso (I) aldehydes at a N:I ratio, the method comprising at least one of increasing the N:I ratio by adding additional tetraphosphine to a reaction zone; decreasing the N:I ratio by adding additional monophosphine to a reaction zone; or increasing the N:I ratio by volatilization of the free monophosphine.