The present invention concerns a catalyst system in particular a catalyst system comprising Palladium (Pd), a zwitterion and/or an acid-functionalized ionic liquid, and one or more phosphine ligands, wherein the Pd catalyst can be provided by a complex precursor, such as Pd(CH.sub.3COO).sub.2, PdCl.sub.2, Pd(CH.sub.3COCHCOCH.sub.3), Pd(CF.sub.3COO).sub.2, Pd(PPh.sub.3).sub.4 or Pd.sub.2(dibenzylideneacetone).sub.3. Such catalyst systems can be used for e.g. alkoxycarbonylation reactions, carboxylation reactions, and/or in a co-polymerization reaction, e.g. in the production of methyl propionate and/or propanoic acid, optionally in processes forming methyl methacrylate and/or methacrylic acid. Catalyst systems according to the invention are suitable for reactions forming separable product and catalyst phases and supported ionic liquid phase SILP applications.

Processes for the direct alkylation of ethylene with isobutane or isopentane using a highly active ionic liquid alkylation catalyst are described. Ethylene is sent to a high-temperature alkylation reactor loop, and C.sub.3, C.sub.4, and C.sub.5 olefins are routed to a low temperature alkylation reactor loop. In each reactor, the olefins are contacted with an excess of isobutane or isopentane in the presence of a highly active ionic liquid catalyst. Portions of the reactor effluent streams are fed to a common downstream catalyst separation and product fractionation sections. The remainder of the reactor effluent is recycled back to the respective alkylation reactor.

Provided are methods for hydrolyzing and condensing organooxysilanes using aprotic catalysts comprising silanes containing one or more groups that are the anions derived from strong acids, and/or aprotic catalysts comprising aprotic derivatives of strong acids such as acid esters, acid chlorides, or acid anhydrides. The methods are applicable, e.g., to restoration of dielectric properties of electrical cables by injecting a dielectric enhancement fluid composition containing one or more of the disclosed aprotic catalysts into the interior of an electrical cable having a central stranded conductor encased in a polymeric insulation jacket and having an interstitial void volume in the region of the conductor. Relative to use of protic strong acid catalysts, the disclosed aprotic catalyst methods have utility to reduce or eliminate corrosion of the conductor during treatment with the dielectric enhancement fluid.

In one embodiment, the present application discloses a catalyst composition comprising: a) a reaction solvent or a reaction medium; b) organometallic nanoparticles comprising: i) a nanoparticle (NP) catalyst, prepared by a reduction of an iron salt in an organic solvent, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one other metal selected from the group consisting of Pd, Pt, Au, Ni, Co, Cu, Mn, Rh, Ir, Ru and Os or mixtures thereof; c) a ligand; and d) a surfactant; wherein the metal or mixtures thereof is present in less than or equal to 50,000 ppm relative to the iron salt.

An object of a first aspect of the present invention is to provide a radical generating catalyst that can generate (produce) radicals under mild conditions. In order to achieve the above object, a first radical generating catalyst according to the first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it includes ammonium and/or a salt thereof. A second radical generating catalyst according to the first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it includes an organic compound having Lewis acidic properties and/or Brønsted acidic properties.

Surface hydroxyl groups on porous and nonporous metal oxides, such as silica gel and alumina, were metalated with catalyst precursors, such as complexes of earth abundant metals (e.g., Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mn and Mg). The metalated metal oxide catalysts provide a versatile family of recyclable and reusable single-site solid catalysts for catalyzing a variety of organic transformations. The catalysts can also be integrated into a flow reactor or a supercritical fluid reactor.

The present invention relates to a catalyst system containing a metathesis catalyst containing at least one N-heterocyclic carbene ligand and at least one phenolic compound and to a process for performing the metathesis on nitrile rubbers for reducing their molecular weight using a metathesis catalyst containing at least one N-heterocyclic carbene ligand (NHC ligand) and at least one phenolic compound.

The present invention provides a polyaspartic composition comprising a reaction product of a polyamine and a Michael addition receptor reacted in the presence of a catalyst comprising a phenolic compound, with the proviso that the phenolic compound is not a phenol which is substituted with tert-butyl groups in both ortho positions to the oxygen. Suitable phenolic compounds include phenols, phenolic aldehydes, alkylphenols, benzenediols, cashew nut oil, and combinations thereof. Coatings, adhesives, sealants, composites, castings, and films comprising a polyurea composition may be made by reacting a polyisocyanate with the inventive polyaspartic composition. In particular, floor coatings made with the inventive polyaspartic composition have an elongated work time and a short walk-on time compared to current floor coatings.

A method of making solid acid catalysts includes the step of sulfonating waste tire pieces in a first sulfonation step. The sulfonated waste tire pieces are pyrolyzed to produce carbon composite pieces having a pore size less than 10 nm. The carbon composite pieces are then ground to produce carbon composite powders having a size less than 50 μm. The carbon composite particles are sulfonated in a second sulfonation step to produce sulfonated solid acid catalysts. A method of making biofuels and solid acid catalysts are also disclosed.

A reaction system and method for removing heteroatoms from oxidized-heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon streams and products derived therefrom are disclosed. An oxidized-heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed is reacted in a reaction system thereby forming non-ionic hydrocarbon products. The products derived therefrom are useful as transportation fuels, lubricants, refinery intermediates, or refinery feeds.