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 the use of a transition metal catalyst TMC1, which comprises a transition metal M selected from metals of groups 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the periodic table of elements according to IUPAC and a tetradentate ligand of formula I wherein R.sup.1 are identical or different and are each an organic radical having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms, and R.sup.2 are identical or different and are each an organic radical having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms, as catalyst in processes for formation of compounds comprising at least one carboxylic acid ester functional group —O—C(═O)— starting from at least one primary alcohol and/or hydrogenation of compounds comprising at least one carboxylic acid ester functional group —O—C(═O)—. The present invention further relates to a process for hydrogenation of a compound comprising at least one carboxylic acid ester functional group —O—C(═O)—, to a process for the formation of a compound comprising at least one carboxylic acid ester functional group —O—C(═O)— by dehydrogenase coupling of at least one primary alcohol with a second alcoholic OH-group, to a transition metal complex comprising the tetradentate ligand of formula I and to a process for preparing said transition metal complex. ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to the use of a transition metal catalyst TMC1, which comprises a transition metal M selected from metals of groups 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the periodic table of elements according to IUPAC and a tetradentate ligand of formula I wherein R.sup.1 are identical or different and are each an organic radical having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms, and R.sup.2 are identical or different and are each an organic radical having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms, as catalyst in processes for formation of compounds comprising at least one carboxylic acid ester functional group —O—C(═O)— starting from at least one primary alcohol and/or hydrogenation of compounds comprising at least one carboxylic acid ester functional group —O—C(═O)—. The present invention further relates to a process for hydrogenation of a compound comprising at least one carboxylic acid ester functional group —O—C(═O)—, to a process for the formation of a compound comprising at least one carboxylic acid ester functional group —O—C(═O)— by dehydrogenase coupling of at least one primary alcohol with a second alcoholic OH-group, to a transition metal complex comprising the tetradentate ligand of formula I and to a process for preparing said transition metal complex. ##STR00001##

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 provides a compound as represented by formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester, a prodrug, an optical isomer, a stereoisomer, or a solvate thereof. The compound provided by the present invention can be used for preparing drugs for preventing or treating hypertension, or hypertension-related diseases, or pulmonary hypertension, or pulmonary hypertension-related diseases. The compound provided by the present invention has a different mechanism from existing drugs for treating hypertension and pulmonary hypertension, thereby laying a new material foundation for the development of drugs for treating hypertension and pulmonary hypertension.

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The present invention provides a compound as represented by formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester, a prodrug, an optical isomer, a stereoisomer, or a solvate thereof. The compound provided by the present invention can be used for preparing drugs for preventing or treating hypertension, or hypertension-related diseases, or pulmonary hypertension, or pulmonary hypertension-related diseases. The compound provided by the present invention has a different mechanism from existing drugs for treating hypertension and pulmonary hypertension, thereby laying a new material foundation for the development of drugs for treating hypertension and pulmonary hypertension.

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A three step synthesis of the 8,12-dihydro-4H-dibenzo[cd,mn]pyren-3a.sup.2-ylium cation (triangulenium cation) is effected by cascade cyclization of a tetra-benzyl alcohol precursor in triflic acid solution. This cation is easily observed by NMR and optical spectroscopy. Quenching of the cation into basic solutions or by hydride transfer from triethylsilane provides access to stable dihydro and tetrahydro[3]triangulenes. This route makes several [3]triangulene precursors more readily available for development of new applications in the field of molecular electronics.

A three step synthesis of the 8,12-dihydro-4H-dibenzo[cd,mn]pyren-3a.sup.2-ylium cation (triangulenium cation) is effected by cascade cyclization of a tetra-benzyl alcohol precursor in triflic acid solution. This cation is easily observed by NMR and optical spectroscopy. Quenching of the cation into basic solutions or by hydride transfer from triethylsilane provides access to stable dihydro and tetrahydro[3]triangulenes. This route makes several [3]triangulene precursors more readily available for development of new applications in the field of molecular electronics.

The present invention relates to a method for depolymerising oxygenated polymer materials, in particular by nucleophilic catalysis and to the use of said method in the recycling of plastic materials and the preparation of aromatic and aliphatic compounds that can be used as fuel, synthesis intermediates, raw materials in the construction sector, and in the petrochemical, electrical, electronic, textile, aeronautical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and agrochemical industry. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing fuels, electronic components, plastic polymers, rubber, medicines, vitamins, cosmetics, perfumes, food products, synthetic yarns and fibres, synthetic leathers, glues, pesticides, fertilisers comprising (i) a step of depolymerisation of oxygenated polymer materials according to the method of the invention and optionally (ii) a step of hydrolysis, and optionally (iii) a step of functionalisation and/or defunctionalisation.