A process for aromatizing hydrocarbons comprises: converting at least a portion of highly branched hydrocarbons in a feed stream into selectively convertible components, and aromatizing the selectively convertible components to produce an aromatization reactor effluent. The aromatization reactor effluent comprises an aromatic product. Converting at least the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons into the selectively convertible components may include contacting the feed stream with an isomerization catalyst in an isomerization reaction system under isomerization reaction conditions; and isomerizing the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons in the feed stream into the selectively convertible components.

A process for aromatizing hydrocarbons comprises: converting at least a portion of highly branched hydrocarbons in a feed stream into selectively convertible components, and aromatizing the selectively convertible components to produce an aromatization reactor effluent. The aromatization reactor effluent comprises an aromatic product. Converting at least the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons into the selectively convertible components may include contacting the feed stream with an isomerization catalyst in an isomerization reaction system under isomerization reaction conditions; and isomerizing the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons in the feed stream into the selectively convertible components.

Provided is a mononuclear ruthenium complex that comprises a ruthenium-silicon bond that is represented by formula (1) and that exhibits excellent catalyst activity in each of a hydrosilylation reaction, a hydrogenation reaction, and reduction of a carbonyl compound. ##STR00001## In formula (1), R.sup.1-R.sup.6 either independently represent an alkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group or the like that may be substituted with a hydrogen atom or X, or represent a crosslinking substituent in which at least one pair comprising one of R.sup.1-R.sup.3 and one of R.sup.4-R.sup.6 is combined. X represents a halogen atom, an organoxy group, or the like. L represents a two-electron ligand other than CO and phosphine. When a plurality of L are present, the plurality of L may be the same as or different from each other. When two L are present, the two L may be bonded to each other. n and m independently represent an integer of 1 to 3 with the stipulation that n+m equals 3 or 4.

Provided is a mononuclear ruthenium complex that comprises a ruthenium-silicon bond that is represented by formula (1) and that exhibits excellent catalyst activity in each of a hydrosilylation reaction, a hydrogenation reaction, and reduction of a carbonyl compound. ##STR00001## In formula (1), R.sup.1-R.sup.6 either independently represent an alkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group or the like that may be substituted with a hydrogen atom or X, or represent a crosslinking substituent in which at least one pair comprising one of R.sup.1-R.sup.3 and one of R.sup.4-R.sup.6 is combined. X represents a halogen atom, an organoxy group, or the like. L represents a two-electron ligand other than CO and phosphine. When a plurality of L are present, the plurality of L may be the same as or different from each other. When two L are present, the two L may be bonded to each other. n and m independently represent an integer of 1 to 3 with the stipulation that n+m equals 3 or 4.

Provided is a mononuclear ruthenium complex that comprises a ruthenium-silicon bond that is represented by formula (1) and that exhibits excellent catalyst activity in each of a hydrosilylation reaction, a hydrogenation reaction, and reduction of a carbonyl compound. ##STR00001## In formula (1), R.sup.1-R.sup.6 either independently represent an alkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group or the like that may be substituted with a hydrogen atom or X, or represent a crosslinking substituent in which at least one pair comprising one of R.sup.1-R.sup.3 and one of R.sup.4-R.sup.6 is combined. X represents a halogen atom, an organoxy group, or the like. L represents a two-electron ligand other than CO and phosphine. When a plurality of L are present, the plurality of L may be the same as or different from each other. When two L are present, the two L may be bonded to each other. n and m independently represent an integer of 1 to 3 with the stipulation that n+m equals 3 or 4.

The invention relates to polyoxometalates represented by the formula (A.sub.n).sup.m+[M′M.sub.12X.sub.8O.sub.yR.sub.zH.sub.q].sup.m− or solvates thereof, corresponding supported polyoxometalates, and processes for their preparation, as well as corresponding metal clusters, optionally in the form of a dispersion in a liquid carrier medium or immobilized on a solid support, and processes for their preparation, as well as their use in reductive conversion of organic substrate.

The invention relates to polyoxometalates represented by the formula (A.sub.n).sup.m+[M′M.sub.12X.sub.8O.sub.yR.sub.zH.sub.q].sup.m− or solvates thereof, corresponding supported polyoxometalates, and processes for their preparation, as well as corresponding metal clusters, optionally in the form of a dispersion in a liquid carrier medium or immobilized on a solid support, and processes for their preparation, as well as their use in reductive conversion of organic substrate.

The invention relates to polyoxometalates represented by the formula (A.sub.n).sup.m+[M′M.sub.12O.sub.y(RCOO).sub.zH.sub.q].sup.m− or solvates thereof, corresponding supported polyoxometalates, and processes for their preparation, as well as corresponding metal clusters, optionally in the form of a dispersion in a liquid carrier medium or immobilized on a solid support, and processes for their preparation, as well as their use in reductive conversion of organic substrate.

The invention relates to polyoxometalates represented by the formula (A.sub.n).sup.m+[M′M.sub.12O.sub.y(RCOO).sub.zH.sub.q].sup.m− or solvates thereof, corresponding supported polyoxometalates, and processes for their preparation, as well as corresponding metal clusters, optionally in the form of a dispersion in a liquid carrier medium or immobilized on a solid support, and processes for their preparation, as well as their use in reductive conversion of organic substrate.

Synthesizing an alkane includes heating a mixture including an alkene and water at or above the water vapor saturation pressure in the presence of a catalyst and one or both of hydrogen and a reductant, thereby hydrogenating the alkene to yield an alkane and water, and separating the alkane from the water to yield the alkane. The reductant includes a first metal and the catalyst includes a second metal.