Process for alkoxycarbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds using benzene-based diphosphine ligands and aluminium triflate.

Disclosed herein are methods, processes and compositions for preparing a compound of formula 8: (8), and formula 18: (18). The methods and processes comprise performing a first allylic oxidation, a protection reaction, a second allylic oxidation, a reduction reaction, performing an acid-catalyzed coupling reaction, a methylation reaction and a deprotection reaction. Disclosed herein are methods, processes and compositions for enantioselectively preparing compounds of formulae 8 and 18. Also disclosed herein are compositions comprising compounds of formulae 8, 18 and/or intermediates and/or starting material thereof.

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Disclosed herein are methods, processes and compositions for preparing a compound of formula 8: (8), and formula 18: (18). The methods and processes comprise performing a first allylic oxidation, a protection reaction, a second allylic oxidation, a reduction reaction, performing an acid-catalyzed coupling reaction, a methylation reaction and a deprotection reaction. Disclosed herein are methods, processes and compositions for enantioselectively preparing compounds of formulae 8 and 18. Also disclosed herein are compositions comprising compounds of formulae 8, 18 and/or intermediates and/or starting material thereof.

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Provided are an environmentally-friendly high-efficiency method of manufacturing an ester compound based on an esterification reaction using a salt ion-exchange method and an ester compound manufactured thereby. In the conventional esterification reaction, an ester was produced in low yields due to the hydrolysis (i.e., reverse reaction) caused by water, or it was required to continuously supply hydrochloric acid gas or use thionyl chloride, which is a hazardous material, and thus there were limitations in terms of environmental friendliness or cost. On the other hand, in the present invention, hydrochloric acid gas is continuously supplied using the salt ion-exchange method, and since magnesium sulfate acts as a dehydrating agent, the water generated in the esterification reaction is removed, and thus the occurrence of hydrolysis (i.e., reverse reaction) is suppressed and a conversion rate to the desired ester compound is increased. In addition, since the reactants are inexpensive and the product is less hazardous and easy to handle, a more efficient reaction is possible.

Provided are an environmentally-friendly high-efficiency method of manufacturing an ester compound based on an esterification reaction using a salt ion-exchange method and an ester compound manufactured thereby. In the conventional esterification reaction, an ester was produced in low yields due to the hydrolysis (i.e., reverse reaction) caused by water, or it was required to continuously supply hydrochloric acid gas or use thionyl chloride, which is a hazardous material, and thus there were limitations in terms of environmental friendliness or cost. On the other hand, in the present invention, hydrochloric acid gas is continuously supplied using the salt ion-exchange method, and since magnesium sulfate acts as a dehydrating agent, the water generated in the esterification reaction is removed, and thus the occurrence of hydrolysis (i.e., reverse reaction) is suppressed and a conversion rate to the desired ester compound is increased. In addition, since the reactants are inexpensive and the product is less hazardous and easy to handle, a more efficient reaction is possible.

The present invention relates to novel manganese complexes and their use, inter alia, for homogeneous catalysis in (1) the preparation of imine by dehydrogenative coupling of an alcohol and amine; (2) C—C coupling in Michael addition reaction using nitriles as Michael donors; (3) dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols to give esters and hydrogen gas (4) hydrogenation of esters to form alcohols (including hydrogenation of cyclic esters (lactones) or cyclic di-esters (di-lactones), or polyesters); (5) hydrogenation of amides (including cyclic dipeptides, lactams, diamide, polypeptides and polyamides) to alcohols and amines (or diamine); (6) hydrogenation of organic carbonates (including polycarbonates) to alcohols or hydrogenation of carbamates (including polycarbamates) or urea derivatives to alcohols and amines; (7) dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols to ketones; (8) amidation of esters (i.e., synthesis of amides from esters and amines); (9) acylation of alcohols using esters; (10) coupling of alcohols with water and a base to form carboxylic acids; and (11) preparation of amino acids or their salts by coupling of amino alcohols with water and a hydrogenative coupling of alcohols and amines; (13) preparation of imides from diols. ##STR00001## ##STR00002##

The present invention relates to novel manganese complexes and their use, inter alia, for homogeneous catalysis in (1) the preparation of imine by dehydrogenative coupling of an alcohol and amine; (2) C—C coupling in Michael addition reaction using nitriles as Michael donors; (3) dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols to give esters and hydrogen gas (4) hydrogenation of esters to form alcohols (including hydrogenation of cyclic esters (lactones) or cyclic di-esters (di-lactones), or polyesters); (5) hydrogenation of amides (including cyclic dipeptides, lactams, diamide, polypeptides and polyamides) to alcohols and amines (or diamine); (6) hydrogenation of organic carbonates (including polycarbonates) to alcohols or hydrogenation of carbamates (including polycarbamates) or urea derivatives to alcohols and amines; (7) dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols to ketones; (8) amidation of esters (i.e., synthesis of amides from esters and amines); (9) acylation of alcohols using esters; (10) coupling of alcohols with water and a base to form carboxylic acids; and (11) preparation of amino acids or their salts by coupling of amino alcohols with water and a hydrogenative coupling of alcohols and amines; (13) preparation of imides from diols. ##STR00001## ##STR00002##

A novel process can be used for purifying methyl methacrylate (MMA) contaminated with low-boiling components by distillation, where the process involves producing MMA by oxidative esterification, and a crude product containing methyl propionate (MP), methyl isobutyrate (MIB), and methacrolein (MAL) as low-boiling components. The process is compatible with MMA produced from C.sub.2-based methacrolein containing the low-boiling components specified.

A novel process can be used for purifying methyl methacrylate (MMA) contaminated with low-boiling components by distillation, where the process involves producing MMA by oxidative esterification, and a crude product containing methyl propionate (MP), methyl isobutyrate (MIB), and methacrolein (MAL) as low-boiling components. The process is compatible with MMA produced from C.sub.2-based methacrolein containing the low-boiling components specified.

An improved biodiesel production process includes the steps of processing a feedstock to produce biodiesel, cooling the biodiesel so as to form sediment, and filtering the biodiesel to remove the sediment. The resulting biodiesel from the cold filtration process avoids problems of sediment formation during storage and transportation.