A method may include introducing a substituted olefin epoxide stream comprising a substituted olefin epoxide and a carbon monoxide stream comprising carbon monoxide into a carbonylation reactor; and carbonylating at least a portion of the substituted olefin epoxide with the carbon monoxide to generate a product stream comprising a substituted lactone, wherein the step of carbonylating is catalyzed by a catalyst comprising a cationic Lewis acid bound to a support.

The present disclosure provides a quantum-dot ligand, a quantum-dot catalyst and a quantum-dot device. The quantum-dot ligand includes: a first ligand having a first group and a second group and a second ligand having an inorganic ion, in which a coordination bond is formed between the first group and a surface of a quantum dot, a hydrogen bond is formed between the second group and a hydroxyl group; and a coordination bond is formed between the inorganic ion and the surface of the quantum dot. The quantum-dot catalyst of the present disclosure can enhance a catalytic activity of the quantum dots and improve the catalytic performance.

The present disclosure provides a quantum-dot ligand, a quantum-dot catalyst and a quantum-dot device. The quantum-dot ligand includes: a first ligand having a first group and a second group and a second ligand having an inorganic ion, in which a coordination bond is formed between the first group and a surface of a quantum dot, a hydrogen bond is formed between the second group and a hydroxyl group; and a coordination bond is formed between the inorganic ion and the surface of the quantum dot. The quantum-dot catalyst of the present disclosure can enhance a catalytic activity of the quantum dots and improve the catalytic performance.

The present invention relates to catalyst composition for cyclic carbonate production from CO.sub.2 and epoxides under mild conditions, which can effectively catalyze the cyclic carbonate synthesis and provides good selectivity to cyclic carbonate, wherein said catalyst composition comprising: a) the metal complex as shown in structure (I):

##STR00001## wherein, M represents transition metal atom; R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 represent independent group selected from hydrogen atom, halogen atom, alkyl group, alkenyl group, alkynyl group, alkoxy group, amine group, phenyl group, benzyl group, cyclic hydrocarbon group comprising hetero atom, perfluoroalkyl group, or nitro group; R.sub.4 represents group selected from alkylene group, cycloalkylene group, or phenylene group; X represents group selected from hydrogen atom, acetate group, or triflate group; and b) the organic compound as the co-catalyst selected from compound containing nitrogen, compound of quaternary ammonium salts, or compound of iminium salts.

Disclosed is catalyst composition, a process for preparing the catalyst composition, and a use of the catalyst composition. The catalyst composition comprises 1 wt % to 4 wt % of free azacarbene, 1 wt % to 2 wt % of azacarbene iron, 15 wt % to 30 wt % of a phase transfer catalyst, 1 wt % to 5 wt % of a hydrogen donor, 5 wt % to 10 wt % of phosphoric acid, 0.5 wt % to 1 wt % of emulsifier, with the rest being solvent. This disclosure also provides a process for preparing the catalyst composition, comprising: mixing the free azacarbene and the azacarbene iron with the solvent according to a ratio, then adding and mixing the phase transfer catalyst and the hydrogen donor, then adding and mixing the phosphoric acid and the emulsifier to obtain the catalyst composition. The beneficial effect of this disclosure is: only less azacarbene iron and free azacarbene are needed to achieve rapid and efficient viscosity reduction of heavy oil.

[Mn.sub.3SrO.sub.4] cluster compounds are synthesized in a single step from raw materials consisting of simple and inexpensive Mn.sup.2+, Sr.sup.2+ inorganic compounds and carboxylic acids by using permanganate anion as oxidant. This step can be followed by the synthesis of asymmetric biomimetic water splitting catalyst [Mn.sub.4SrO.sub.4] cluster compounds in the presence of water. The [Mn.sub.4SrO.sub.4] cluster compound can catalyze the splitting of water in the presence of an oxidant to release oxygen gas. The neutral [Mn.sub.3SrO.sub.4](R.sub.1CO.sub.2)6(R.sub.1CO.sub.2H).sub.3 cluster compound can serve as precursors for the synthesis of biomimetic water splitting catalysts, and can be utilized in the synthesis of different types of biomimetic water splitting catalysts. [Mn.sub.4SrO.sub.4](R.sub.1CO.sub.2).sub.8(L.sub.1)(L.sub.2)(L.sub.3)(L.sub.4) cluster compounds can serve as artificial water splitting catalysts, can be utilized on the surface of an electrode or in the catalyzed splitting of water driven by an anoxidant.

[Mn.sub.3SrO.sub.4] cluster compounds are synthesized in a single step from raw materials consisting of simple and inexpensive Mn.sup.2+, Sr.sup.2+ inorganic compounds and carboxylic acids by using permanganate anion as oxidant. This step can be followed by the synthesis of asymmetric biomimetic water splitting catalyst [Mn.sub.4SrO.sub.4] cluster compounds in the presence of water. The [Mn.sub.4SrO.sub.4] cluster compound can catalyze the splitting of water in the presence of an oxidant to release oxygen gas. The neutral [Mn.sub.3SrO.sub.4](R.sub.1CO.sub.2)6(R.sub.1CO.sub.2H).sub.3 cluster compound can serve as precursors for the synthesis of biomimetic water splitting catalysts, and can be utilized in the synthesis of different types of biomimetic water splitting catalysts. [Mn.sub.4SrO.sub.4](R.sub.1CO.sub.2).sub.8(L.sub.1)(L.sub.2)(L.sub.3)(L.sub.4) cluster compounds can serve as artificial water splitting catalysts, can be utilized on the surface of an electrode or in the catalyzed splitting of water driven by an anoxidant.

Provided herein are methods of producing polymers from furan and optionally diol compounds, using an organocatalyst. A polymer composition comprising a polymer prepared by the method is contemplated. Provided herein are also polymer compositions, such as poly(alkylene-2,5-furandicarboxylate). In some embodiments, polymer compositions have any one of the characteristics discussed herein, or any combinations thereof.

A diastereoselective method of preparing benzofuran-based 4,5-spirocycles via metal catalyzed alkenylation is described. The method can be used to provide compounds containing the benzofuranone-4,5-spirocyclic motif of the phainanoids, a class a natural products having immunosuppressive activity. Synthetic analogs of phainanoids, e.g., compounds that mimic the structure of the “western” part of the structure of the phainanoids and that contain the benzofuranone-4,5-spirocycle are described, as well as their synthetic intermediates, and their methods of synthesis.

In one aspect, phosphine compounds comprising three adamantyl moieties (PAd.sub.3) and associated synthetic routes are described herein. Each adamantyl moiety may be the same or different. For example, each adamantyl moiety (Ad) attached to the phosphorus atom can be independently selected from the group consisting of adamantane, diamantane, triamantane and derivatives thereof. Transition metal complexes comprising PAd.sub.3 ligands are also provided for catalytic synthesis including catalytic cross-coupling reactions.