There is provided a process for the reduction of one or more amide moieties in a compound comprising contacting the compound with hydrogen gas and a transition metal catalyst in the presence or absence of a base under conditions for the reduction an amide bond. The presently described processes can be performed at low catalyst loading using relatively mild temperature and pressures, and optionally, in the presence or absence of a base or high catalyst loadings using low temperatures and pressures and high loadings of base to effect dynamic kinetic resolution of achiral amides.

There is provided a process for the reduction of one or more amide moieties in a compound comprising contacting the compound with hydrogen gas and a transition metal catalyst in the presence or absence of a base under conditions for the reduction an amide bond. The presently described processes can be performed at low catalyst loading using relatively mild temperature and pressures, and optionally, in the presence or absence of a base or high catalyst loadings using low temperatures and pressures and high loadings of base to effect dynamic kinetic resolution of achiral amides.

There is provided a process for the reduction of one or more amide moieties in a compound comprising contacting the compound with hydrogen gas and a transition metal catalyst in the presence or absence of a base under conditions for the reduction an amide bond. The presently described processes can be performed at low catalyst loading using relatively mild temperature and pressures, and optionally, in the presence or absence of a base or high catalyst loadings using low temperatures and pressures and high loadings of base to effect dynamic kinetic resolution of achiral amides.

Improved catalytic methods are disclosed. The methods include both hydrogenation and disproportionation catalysis. While the reaction conditions for hydrogenation and disproportionation differ, the catalysts disclosed herein can be used for either process. In certain aspects, the methods utilize a catalyst: CpM(N—N)L.sub.n; wherein Cp is a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl ligand; wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Ir and Rh; wherein N—N is a substituted or unsubstituted bidentate ligand selected from the group consisting of a bipyridine ligand and a phenanthroline ligand; wherein n is 0 or 1; and wherein when n is 1 L is selected from the group consisting of an anion and a molecule of a solvent.

Improved catalytic methods are disclosed. The methods include both hydrogenation and disproportionation catalysis. While the reaction conditions for hydrogenation and disproportionation differ, the catalysts disclosed herein can be used for either process. In certain aspects, the methods utilize a catalyst: CpM(N—N)L.sub.n; wherein Cp is a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl ligand; wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Ir and Rh; wherein N—N is a substituted or unsubstituted bidentate ligand selected from the group consisting of a bipyridine ligand and a phenanthroline ligand; wherein n is 0 or 1; and wherein when n is 1 L is selected from the group consisting of an anion and a molecule of a solvent.

A method and a device system for producing dimethyl oxalate through high-pressure carbonylation of industrial synthesis gases and producing ethylene glycol through dimethyl oxalate hydrogenation. The method comprises the following steps: adopting industrial NO, O.sub.2 and methanol as raw materials to perform an esterification reaction to produce methyl nitrite, then adopting industrial CO and methyl nitrite to perform a carbonylation reaction in a plate reactor to produce carbonylation products which mainly include dimethyl oxalate and dimethyl carbonate, separating the carbonylation products to obtain dimethyl carbonate products, and subsequently performing hydrogenation to dimethyl oxalate in the plate reactor to produce ethylene glycol products; and performing coupling recovery treatment to waste acid in the esterification reaction and purge gas in the carbonylation reaction for recycling. The system comprises an esterification reaction system, a carbonylation reaction system, a purge gases and waste acid coupling recovery system and a hydrogenation reaction system.

A method and a device system for producing dimethyl oxalate through high-pressure carbonylation of industrial synthesis gases and producing ethylene glycol through dimethyl oxalate hydrogenation. The method comprises the following steps: adopting industrial NO, O.sub.2 and methanol as raw materials to perform an esterification reaction to produce methyl nitrite, then adopting industrial CO and methyl nitrite to perform a carbonylation reaction in a plate reactor to produce carbonylation products which mainly include dimethyl oxalate and dimethyl carbonate, separating the carbonylation products to obtain dimethyl carbonate products, and subsequently performing hydrogenation to dimethyl oxalate in the plate reactor to produce ethylene glycol products; and performing coupling recovery treatment to waste acid in the esterification reaction and purge gas in the carbonylation reaction for recycling. The system comprises an esterification reaction system, a carbonylation reaction system, a purge gases and waste acid coupling recovery system and a hydrogenation reaction system.

The invention relates to Cu—Al—Mn shaped catalyst bodies in extruded form, and to a process for their preparation. The shaped catalyst body is suitable for the hydrogenation of organic compounds containing a carbonyl function, in particular for the hydrogenation of aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids and/or their esters. In particular, the shaped catalyst body is suitable for the hydrogenation of fatty acids or their esters, such as fatty acid methyl esters, to form the corresponding alcohols and dicarboxylic acid anhydrides, such as maleic anhydride, or esters of di-acids and di-alcohols, such as butane diol.

The invention relates to Cu—Al—Mn shaped catalyst bodies in extruded form, and to a process for their preparation. The shaped catalyst body is suitable for the hydrogenation of organic compounds containing a carbonyl function, in particular for the hydrogenation of aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids and/or their esters. In particular, the shaped catalyst body is suitable for the hydrogenation of fatty acids or their esters, such as fatty acid methyl esters, to form the corresponding alcohols and dicarboxylic acid anhydrides, such as maleic anhydride, or esters of di-acids and di-alcohols, such as butane diol.

It is provided a method of converting a carbonaceous material into syngas at a carbon conversion rate of at least 78% comprising gasifying the carbonaceous material in a fluidized bed reactor producing a crude syngas, classifying the crude syngas by particle size and density into a cut sizing device, introducing the classified particle crude syngas into a thermal reformer and reforming the classified crude syngas at a temperature above mineral melting point, producing the syngas.