Disclosed are methods for conversion of ?-hydroxy carbonyl species and preparation of amino alcohol precursor using bifunctional catalysts derived from layer double hydroxides. By the bifunctional catalyst, the abundant basic sites on HTO allow retro-aldol condensation to outpace direct hydrogenation, thus achieving an exceptional selectivity towards a desired product produced through retro-aldol condensation and then hydrogenation. Accordingly, this method exhibits particular utility in the renewable production of N-acetylethanolamine from biomass-derived N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) without using homogeneous base as a co-catalyst.

Disclosed are methods for conversion of ?-hydroxy carbonyl species and preparation of amino alcohol precursor using bifunctional catalysts derived from layer double hydroxides. By the bifunctional catalyst, the abundant basic sites on HTO allow retro-aldol condensation to outpace direct hydrogenation, thus achieving an exceptional selectivity towards a desired product produced through retro-aldol condensation and then hydrogenation. Accordingly, this method exhibits particular utility in the renewable production of N-acetylethanolamine from biomass-derived N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) without using homogeneous base as a co-catalyst.

Processes for upgrading a hydrocarbon. The process can include introducing, contacting, and halting introduction of a hydrocarbon-containing feed into a reaction zone. The feed can be contacted with a catalyst within the reaction zone to effect dehydrogenation, dehydroaromatization, and/or dehydrocyclization of the feed to produce a coked catalyst and an effluent. The process can include introducing, contacting, and halting introduction of an oxidant into the reaction zone. The oxidant can be contacted with the coked catalyst to effect combustion of the coke to produce a regenerated catalyst. The process can include introducing, contacting, and halting introduction of a reducing gas into the reaction zone. The reduction gas can be contacted with the regenerated catalyst to produce a regenerated and reduced catalyst. The process can include introducing and contacting an additional quantity of the feed with the regenerated and reduced catalyst to produce a re-coked catalyst and additional first effluent.

Processes for upgrading a hydrocarbon. The process can include introducing, contacting, and halting introduction of a hydrocarbon-containing feed into a reaction zone. The feed can be contacted with a catalyst within the reaction zone to effect dehydrogenation, dehydroaromatization, and/or dehydrocyclization of the feed to produce a coked catalyst and an effluent. The process can include introducing, contacting, and halting introduction of an oxidant into the reaction zone. The oxidant can be contacted with the coked catalyst to effect combustion of the coke to produce a regenerated catalyst. The process can include introducing, contacting, and halting introduction of a reducing gas into the reaction zone. The reduction gas can be contacted with the regenerated catalyst to produce a regenerated and reduced catalyst. The process can include introducing and contacting an additional quantity of the feed with the regenerated and reduced catalyst to produce a re-coked catalyst and additional first effluent.

Provided is a production method whereby corresponding carboxylic acid esters can be obtained from a variety of carboxylic acids at a high yield, even under conditions using a simple reaction operation and little catalyst and even if the amount of substrate used is theoretical. A production method for carboxylic acid ester, whereby a prescribed diester dicarbonate, carboxylic acid, and alcohol are reacted in the presence of at least one type of magnesium compound and at least one type of alkali metal compound.

Embodiments are directed to adamantane-intercalated layered double-hydroxide (LDH) particles and the methods of producing adamantane-intercalated LDH particles. The method comprises adding to an aqueous solution a first precursor and a second precursor to form an initial mixture, where the first precursor is Al(OH).sub.3 or Al.sub.2O.sub.3, the second precursor is a hydroxide M(OH).sub.2 or an oxide MO, where M is a metal of oxidation state +2; and the initial mixture has a M/Al molar ratio of from 1 to 5. The method also comprises adding to the initial mixture an amount of adamantane to form a reaction mixture having an Al/adamantane molar ratio of from 0.5 to 2; and heating the reaction mixture to produce adamantane-intercalated LDH particles, where the adamantane-intercalated LDH particles have aspect ratios greater than 100.

Embodiments are directed to adamantane-intercalated layered double-hydroxide (LDH) particles and the methods of producing adamantane-intercalated LDH particles. The method comprises adding to an aqueous solution a first precursor and a second precursor to form an initial mixture, where the first precursor is Al(OH).sub.3 or Al.sub.2O.sub.3, the second precursor is a hydroxide M(OH).sub.2 or an oxide MO, where M is a metal of oxidation state +2; and the initial mixture has a M/Al molar ratio of from 1 to 5. The method also comprises adding to the initial mixture an amount of adamantane to form a reaction mixture having an Al/adamantane molar ratio of from 0.5 to 2; and heating the reaction mixture to produce adamantane-intercalated LDH particles, where the adamantane-intercalated LDH particles have aspect ratios greater than 100.

A method of producing methacrylic acid using a hydrotalcite catalyst and subcritical water is described.

A method of producing methacrylic acid using a hydrotalcite catalyst and subcritical water is described.

A multicomponent photocatalyst includes a reactive component optically, electronically, or thermally coupled to a plasmonic material. A method of performing a catalytic reaction includes loading a multicomponent photocatalyst including a reactive component optically, electronically, or thermally coupled to a plasmonic material into a reaction chamber, introducing molecular reactants into the reaction chamber, and illuminating the reaction chamber with a light source.