The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of α-methyl-[4-(nitro)-2-(trifluoromethyl)]-benzyl nitrate and to the α-methyl-[4-(nitro)-2-(trifluoromethyl)]-benzyl nitrate.

An electrochromic element is provided including: a first substrate; a first electrode overlying the first substrate; a second substrate disposed at a distance from the first electrode; a second electrode overlying the second substrate; a first electrochemical reaction layer in contact with the first electrode; a second electrochemical reaction layer in contact with the second electrode; and an electrolyte layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. One of the first electrochemical reaction layer and the second electrochemical reaction layer is in a reversibly oxidizable state and the other is in a reversibly reducible state, at least one of the first electrochemical reaction layer and the second electrochemical reaction layer is an electrochromic layer, and E1≥−0.8 V (vs. FC/FC.sup.+) and E2≥−0.8 V (vs. FC/FC.sup.+) are satisfied, where E1 and E2 represent oxidation-reduction potentials of the first electrochemical reaction layer and the second electrochemical reaction layer, respectively.

An electrochromic element is provided including: a first substrate; a first electrode overlying the first substrate; a second substrate disposed at a distance from the first electrode; a second electrode overlying the second substrate; a first electrochemical reaction layer in contact with the first electrode; a second electrochemical reaction layer in contact with the second electrode; and an electrolyte layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. One of the first electrochemical reaction layer and the second electrochemical reaction layer is in a reversibly oxidizable state and the other is in a reversibly reducible state, at least one of the first electrochemical reaction layer and the second electrochemical reaction layer is an electrochromic layer, and E1≥−0.8 V (vs. FC/FC.sup.+) and E2≥−0.8 V (vs. FC/FC.sup.+) are satisfied, where E1 and E2 represent oxidation-reduction potentials of the first electrochemical reaction layer and the second electrochemical reaction layer, respectively.

An electrochromic element is provided including: a first substrate; a first electrode overlying the first substrate; a second substrate disposed at a distance from the first electrode; a second electrode overlying the second substrate; a first electrochemical reaction layer in contact with the first electrode; a second electrochemical reaction layer in contact with the second electrode; and an electrolyte layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. One of the first electrochemical reaction layer and the second electrochemical reaction layer is in a reversibly oxidizable state and the other is in a reversibly reducible state, at least one of the first electrochemical reaction layer and the second electrochemical reaction layer is an electrochromic layer, and E10.8 V (vs. FC/FC.sup.+) and E20.8 V (vs. FC/FC.sup.+) are satisfied, where E1 and E2 represent oxidation-reduction potentials of the first electrochemical reaction layer and the second electrochemical reaction layer, respectively.