A process for synthesizing an azo compound by oxidation of a hydrogen compound in the presence of a catalyst and a compound of formula (I) is described in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3

(R.sub.1)(R.sub.2)C(PO.sub.3(R.sub.3).sub.2).sub.2(I)

are as defined. The use of a compound of formula (I) as complexing agent for a catalyst is also described.

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of organic bromides, by a radical bromodecarboxylation of carboxylic acids with a bromoisocyanurate.

The invention concerns ionic compounds in which the anionic load has been delocalized. A compound disclosed by the invention is comprised of an amide or one of its salts, including an anionic portion combined with at least one cationic portion M.sup.+m in sufficient numbers to ensure overall electronic neutrality; the compound is further comprised of M as a hydroxonium, a nitrosonium NO.sup.+, an ammonium NH.sub.4.sup.+, a metallic cation with the valence m, an organic cation with the valence m, or an organometallic cation with the valence m. The anionic portion matches the formula R.sub.FSO.sub.xN.sup.?Z, where R.sub.F is a perflourinated group, x is 1 or 3, and Z is an electroattractive substituent. The compounds can be used notably for ionic conducting materials, electronic conducting materials, colorants and the catalysis of various chemical reactions.

The invention concerns ionic compounds in which the anionic load has been delocalized. A compound disclosed by the invention is comprised of an amide or one of its salts, including an anionic portion combined with at least one cationic portion M.sup.+m in sufficient numbers to ensure overall electronic neutrality; the compound is further comprised of M as a hydroxonium, a nitrosonium NO.sup.+, an ammonium NH.sub.4.sup.+, a metallic cation with the valence m, an organic cation with the valence m, or an organometallic cation with the valence m. The anionic portion matches the formula R.sub.FSO.sub.xN.sup.?Z, where R.sub.F is a perflourinated group, x is 1 or 3, and Z is an electroattractive substituent. The compounds can be used notably for ionic conducting materials, electronic conducting materials, colorants and the catalysis of various chemical reactions.

Described herein are novel azo-benzene type chromophores. The chromophores are useful in photochromic compositions comprising a polymer matrix and a chromophore, wherein the chromophore is a novel azo-benzene type structure. The photochromic composition is photoresponsive upon irradiation by at least one wavelength of laser light across the visible light spectrum. Photochromic devices which comprise the novel azo-benzene type chromophore compound show significantly higher photoinduced birefringence, higher diffraction efficiency, and brighter images than devices that comprise well known azo-benzene chromophores. The photochromic composition may include a liquid crystal.

Described herein are novel azo-benzene type chromophores. The chromophores are useful in photochromic compositions comprising a polymer matrix and a chromophore, wherein the chromophore is a novel azo-benzene type structure. The photochromic composition is photoresponsive upon irradiation by at least one wavelength of laser light across the visible light spectrum. Photochromic devices which comprise the novel azo-benzene type chromophore compound show significantly higher photoinduced birefringence, higher diffraction efficiency, and brighter images than devices that comprise well known azo-benzene chromophores. The photochromic composition may include a liquid crystal.

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of organic bromides, by a radical bromodecarboxylation of carboxylic acids with a bromoisocyanurate.

Described herein are novel azo-benzene type chromophores. The chromophores are useful in photochromic compositions comprising a polymer matrix and a chromophore, wherein the chromophore is a novel azo-benzene type structure. The photochromic composition is photoresponsive upon irradiation by at least one wavelength of laser light across the visible light spectrum. Photochromic devices which comprise the novel azo-benzene type chromophore compound show significantly higher photoinduced birefringence, higher diffraction efficiency, and brighter images than devices that comprise well known azo-benzene chromophores. The photochromic composition may include a liquid crystal.

Described herein are novel azo-benzene type chromophores. The chromophores are useful in photochromic compositions comprising a polymer matrix and a chromophore, wherein the chromophore is a novel azo-benzene type structure. The photochromic composition is photoresponsive upon irradiation by at least one wavelength of laser light across the visible light spectrum. Photochromic devices which comprise the novel azo-benzene type chromophore compound show significantly higher photoinduced birefringence, higher diffraction efficiency, and brighter images than devices that comprise well known azo-benzene chromophores. The photochromic composition may include a liquid crystal.

The present invention relates to novel copolymers containing cross-linkable and graft-able moieties, novel compositions comprised of these novel copolymers and a solvent, and methods for using these novel compositions to form neutral layer films which are both cross-linked and grafted on the substrate which are used in processes for aligning microdomains of block copolymers (BCP) on this neutral layer coated substrate such as self-assembly and directed self-assembly. The novel compositions are comprised of at least one novel random copolymer comprised of least one unit of structure (1), at least one unit of structure (2) at least one unit of structure (3) one H end group and one end group having structure (1); ##STR00001##
where R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of a C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.8 fluoroalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.8 partially fluorinated alkyl moiety, C.sub.4-C.sub.8 cycloalkyl, C.sub.4-C.sub.8 cyclofluoroalkyl, C.sub.4-C.sub.8 partially fluorinated cycloalkyl, and a C.sub.2-C.sub.8 hydroxyalkyl; R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.5 are independently selected from a group consisting of H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl, CF.sub.3 and F; R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of H, C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.8 partially fluorinated alkyl moiety and C.sub.1-C.sub.8 fluoroalkyl, n ranges from 1 to 5, R.sub.6 is selected from the group consisting of H, F, C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alkyl and a C.sub.1-C.sub.8 fluoroalkyl and m ranges from 1 to 3, and n ranges from 1 to 5, and n ranges from 1 to 5, n ranges from 1 to 5, R.sub.7 is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkyl and X is CN, or an alkyloxycarbonyl moiety R.sub.8O(CO) where R.sub.8 is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkyl and represent the attachment point of the end group to the polymer. The novel polymers, compositions and processes are useful for fabrication of electronic devices.