Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and method of using the MOFs to catalyze reactions involving epoxide ring-opening mechanisms are provided. The structure of the MOFs can be represented by the formula: M.sub.6(.sub.3-ligand).sub.8(OH.sub.x).sub.8(TBAPy).sub.2, where M is Zr or Hf, the ligands are selected from hydroxo-, oxo- and aquo-ligands, and x is independently selected from 1 or 2.

Lewis acidic metal-organic framework (MOF) materials comprising triflate-coordinated metal nodes are described. The materials can be used as heterogenous catalysts in a wide range of organic group transformations, including Diels-Alder reactions, epoxide-ring opening reactions, Friedel-Crafts acylation reactions and alkene hydroalkoxylation reactions. The MOFs can also be prepared with metallated organic bridging ligands to provide heterogenous catalysts for tandem reactions and/or prepared as composites with support particles for use in columns of continuous flow reactor systems. Methods of preparing and using the MOF materials and their composites are also described.

The present invention is directed to processes for catalyzing two or more chemical reactions with a multifunctional catalyst in a reaction vessel. The processes include steps for introducing one or more reagents to a reaction vessel containing a multifunctional catalyst; contacting the one or more reagents with a first portion of the multifunctional catalyst to produce an intermediate; contacting the intermediate with a second portion of the multifunctional catalyst to produce a product; and removing the product from the reaction vessel. In certain embodiments, the multifunctional catalyst may have a first portion with carbonylation functionality for catalyzing the production of a beta-lactone intermediate from an epoxide reagent and a carbon monoxide reagent. In certain embodiments, the multifunctional catalyst may have a second portion with a functionality suitable for polymerization, co-polymerization, and/or modification of a beta-lactone intermediate. In preferred embodiments, the first portion and second portion are bonded to a heterogenous support.

The present invention relates to the technical field of chemical engineering and catalysis. Provided are an application of an ionic liquid in propylene glycol ether synthesis and a method for synthesizing a propylene glycol ether. The ionic liquid is a methyl carbonate ionic liquid, and is used as a catalyst for catalyzing propylene glycol ether synthesis. The method for synthesizing the propylene glycol ether comprises the following steps: placing propylene oxide and an alcohol within a reactor to contact a catalyst, and heating the mixture in an enclosed environment to 50-200 C. to obtain the propylene glycol ether, wherein the catalyst is a methyl carbonate ionic liquid. The method for synthesizing propylene glycol ether provided in the present invention is a green synthesis technique, and does not require special production equipment. The method has simple and easily controllable processes, and can be used in industrial production and applications.

The present invention relates to a new process for the production of D-sorbitol.

The discovery of distinct modes of asymmetric catalysis has the potential to rapidly advance chemists' ability to build enantioenriched molecules. As an example, the use of chiral cation salts as phase-transfer catalysts for anionic reagents has enabled a vast set of enantioselective transformations. A largely overlooked analogous mechanism wherein a chiral anionic catalyst brings a cationic species into solution is itself a powerful method. The concept is broadly applicable to a number of different reaction pathways, including to the enantioselective fluorocyclization of olefins, and dearomatization of aromatic systems with a cationic electrophile-transferring (e.g., fluorinating) agent and a chiral phosphate catalyst. The reactions proceed in high yield and stereoselectivity. The compounds and methods of the invention are of particular value, especially considering the scarcity of alternative approaches.

A titanium-oxo-chelate catalyst formulation, comprising: (i) at least one compound of the formula (I), wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7, R.sub.8, R.sub.9, R.sub.10, R.sub.11 and R.sub.12 independently of each other are for example hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.14aryl which is unsubstituted or substituted; or R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 and/or R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 and/or R.sub.7, R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 and/or R.sub.10, R.sub.11 and R.sub.12 together with the C-atom to which they are attached each form a C.sub.6-C.sub.14aryl group which is unsubstituted or substituted; or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 and/or R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 and/or R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 and/or R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 together with the C-atom to which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered carbocyclic ring; at least one chelate ligand compound of the formula (IIa), (IIb) or (IIc), wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are defined as above for formula (I), is suitable as a photolatent catalyst formulation for polymerizing compounds, which are capable to crosslink in the presence of a Lewis acid.

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The present invention relates to a new method to produce 2,5-dimethylphenol (2,5-DMP).

The present disclosure describes a process for making a hyperporous material for capture and conversion of carbon dioxide. The process comprises the steps a first self-polymerisation of benzyl halides via Friedel-Crafts reaction. In the second step the obtained hypercrosslinked polymer is further coupled with an amine or heterocyclic compound having at least one nitrogen ring atom. The invention also relates to the material obtained to the process and its use in catalytic reactions, for instance the conversion of epoxides to carbonates. Salt-modified porous hypercrosslinked polymers obtained according to the invention show a high BET surface (BET surface area up to 926 m.sup.2/g) combined with strong CO.sub.2 capture capacities (14.5 wt %). The nitrogen compound functionalized hypercrosslinked polymer catalyst shows improved conversion rates compared to known functionalized polystyrene materials and an excellent recyclability. A new type of imidazolium salt modified polymers shows especially high capture and conversion abilities. Carbonates can be produced in high yields according to the inventive used of the obtained polymers.

A nanocage-confined catalyst has the formula: NC-m[M(Salen1)X]-n[M(Salen2)]. NC is a material having a nanocage structure, and M(Salen1)X and M (Salen2) are active centers, respectively; each occurrence of M is independently selected from the group consisting of Co ion, Fe ion, Ga ion, Al ion, Cr ion, and a mixture thereof. Each occurrence of M is independently selected from Cu ion, Ni ion and a mixture thereof, m is 0 to 100; n is 0 to 100, with the proviso that at least one of m and n is not 0; each occurrence of Salen1 and Salen2 is independently a derivative of Shiff bases; X is an axial anion selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted acetate, substituted or unsubstituted benzene sulfonate, substituted or unsubstituted benzoate, F, Cl, Br, I, SbF6-, PF6-, BF4-, and a mixture thereof.