A catalytic membrane composite that includes porous supported catalyst particles durably enmeshed in a porous fibrillated polymer membrane is provided. The porous fibrillated polymer membrane may be manipulated to take the form of a tube, disc, or diced tape and used in multiphase reaction systems. The supported catalyst particles are composed of at least one finely divided metal catalyst dispersed on a porous support substrate. High catalytic activity is gained by the effective fine dispersion of the finely divided metal catalyst such that the metal catalyst covers the support substrate and/or is interspersed in the pores of the support substrate. In some embodiments, the catalytic membrane composite may be introduced to a stirred tank autoclave reactor system, a continuous flow reactor system, or a Parr Shaker reaction system and used to effect the catalytic reaction.

Embodiments are directed to adamantane-intercalated layered double-hydroxide (LDH) particles and the methods of producing adamantane-intercalated LDH particles. The adamantane-intercalated LDH particles have a general formula defined by [M.sub.1-xAl.sub.x(OH).sub.2](A).sub.x.mH.sub.2O, where x is from 0.14 to 0.33, m is from 0.33 to 0.50, M is chosen from Mg, Ca, Co, Ni, Cu, or Zn, and A is adamantane carboxylate. The adamantane-intercalated LDH particles further have an aspect ratio greater than 100. The aspect ratio is defined by the width of an adamantane-intercalated LDH particle divided by the thickness of the adamantane-intercalated LDH particle.

Disclosed is an imine-type quaternary ammonium salt catalyst, wherein the catalyst has a general structure formula shown by formula I below; in the formula, R1 and R2, respectively, are independently selected from a C1-C20 linear alkyl or a branched C3-C20 alkyl, and a C1-C20 hydroxylalkyl, a C3-C8 cycloalkyl, and arylated alkyl; R3 is a linear or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl; and R4 is hydrogen, aryl, a linear C1-C15 alkyl or branched C3-C15 alkyl. Also disclosed are a method for preparing the catalyst and a polyisocyanate composition prepared therefrom. The catalyst, by introducing an imine structure, on the basis of ensuring high catalytic activity thereof, is allowed to have properties of high temperature decomposition and inactivation, and when applied to the synthesis of polyisocyanate, can effectively prevent the risk of explosive polymerization caused by an uncontrolled reaction.

A process for esterification and/or trans-esterification, uses an acid as catalyst in the presence of an anionic surfactant. The process may involve esterifying and/or trans-esterifying at least one fatty acid and/or fatty acid ester with at least one alcohol using at least one acid catalyst, such as methanesulfonic acid, in the presence of at least one anionic surfactant

An amide/iminium zwitterion catalyst has a catalyst pocket size that promotes transesterification and dehydrative esterification. The amide/iminium zwitterions are easily prepared by reacting aziridines with aminopyridines. The reaction can be applied a wide variety of esterification processes including the large-scale synthesis of biodiesel. The amide/iminium zwitterions allow the avoidance of strongly basic or acidic condition and avoidance of metal contamination in the products. Reactions are carried out at ambient or only modestly elevated temperatures. The amide/iminium zwitterion catalyst is easily recycled and reactions proceed in high to quantitative yields.

Provided is a process for producing 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, comprising condensing phenol with acetone in the presence of an acid catalyst; wherein the acid catalyst comprises a collection of sulfonated polymeric beads, wherein the sulfonated polymeric beads comprise (i) 75 to 99% by weight, based on the weight of the bead, polymerized units of monofunctional vinyl monomer, and (ii) 1 to 25% by weight, based on the weight of the bead, polymerized units of multifunctional vinyl monomer; wherein 90% or more of the beads by volume are uniform beads.

A method of making an organoaminosilane compound, comprising i) combining A) a compound comprising a primary or secondary amine, B) monosilane (SiH.sub.4), and C) a catalyst, where the catalyst comprises magnesium or boron, where A), B) and C) are combined under sufficient conditions to form the organoaminosilane compound and hydrogen. A method of making a silylamine, the method comprising: i) forming an organoaminosilane compound by i) combining A) a compound comprising a primary or secondary amine, B) monosilane (SiH.sub.4), and C) a catalyst, where the catalyst comprises magnesium or boron, and ii) combining ammonia and the organoaminosilane compound produced in i) under sufficient conditions to form a silylamine product and a byproduct, where the byproduct is a primary or secondary amine.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing dialkyl dicarbonates from the corresponding alkyl chloroformates using specific amine oxides as catalysts.

The invention relates to a method for producing an isocyanate, wherein a carbamate or thiolcarbomate is converted, in the presence of a catalyst, with separation of an alcohol or thioalcohol, at a temperature of at least 150 C., to the corresponding isocyanate, wherein a compound of the general formula (X)(Y)(ZH) is used as a catalyst, in particular characterized in that the compound has both a proton donor function and a proton acceptor function. In the catalysts according to the invention, a separable proton is bound to a heteroatom, which is more electronegative than carbon. Said heteroatom is either identical to Z or a component thereof. In the catalysts according to the invention, there is additionally a proton acceptor function which is either identical to X or a component thereof. According to the invention, the proton donator and proton acceptor function are connected to each other by the bridge Y.

The present invention provides processes for preparing silanylamines, such as disilanylamines and polysilanylamines, and compositions comprising the silanylamines. In one embodiment, the present invention provides processes for preparing a silanylamine compound, the processes comprising reacting a starting compound of general formula RR.sup.1N(Si.sub.xH.sub.2x+1) with an amine compound of general formula R.sup.2R.sup.3NH to produce the silanylamine compound of general formula R.sup.2.sub.mR.sup.3.sub.nN(Si.sub.xH.sub.2+1).sub.3-m-n.