Biodegradable polymers with advantageous physical and chemical properties are described, as well as methods for making such polymers. In one embodiment, a new chemical synthesis route to technologically important biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) with high isotacticity and molecular weight required for a practical use is described. The new route can utilize racemic eight-membered cyclic diolide (rac-DL), meso-DL, or a rac-DL and meso-DL mixture, derived from bio-sourced dimethyl succinate, and enantiomeric (R,R)-DL and (S,S)-DL, optically resolved by metal-based catalysts. With a stereoselective racemic molecular catalyst, the ROP of rac-DL under ambient conditions produces rapidly P3HB with essentially perfect isotacticity ([mm] >99%), high crystallinity and melting temperature (T.sub.m=171 C.), as well as high molecular weight and low dispersity (M.sub.n=1.5410.sup.5 g/mol, =1.01).

The present invention relates to Ziegler-Natta catalyst components for olefin polymerization employing specific carbonate compounds as an element of solid catalyst composition in conjunction with at least one or more internal donor compounds, for producing polyolefins, particularly polypropylene and ethylene-propylene block co-polymer, which exhibits substantially high rubber content with higher stereo-regularity and hydrogen response.

The present invention is directed to processes from producing beta-lactone and beta-lactone derivatives using heterogenous catalysts. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the processes comprise the steps: passing a feed stream comprising an epoxide reagent and a carbon monoxide reagent to a reaction zone; contacting the epoxide reagent and the carbon monoxide reagent with a heterogenous catalyst to produce a beta-lactone product in the reaction zone; and removing the beta-lactone product from the reaction zone. In preferred embodiments, the heterogenous catalyst comprises a solid support containing a cationic Lewis acid functional group and a metal carbonyl compound comprising at least one of anionic metal carbonyl compound or a neutral metal carbonyl compound. In certain preferred embodiments, the epoxide reagent and carbon monoxide reagent have a biobased content.

Biodegradable polymers with advantageous physical and chemical properties are described, as well as methods for making such polymers. In one embodiment, a new chemical synthesis route to technologically important biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) with high isotacticity and molecular weight required for a practical use is described. The new route can utilize racemic eight-membered cyclic diolide (rac-DL), meso-DL, or a rac-DL and meso-DL mixture, derived from bio-sourced dimethyl succinate, and enantiomeric (R,R)-DL and (S,S)-DL, optically resolved by metal-based catalysts. With a stereoselective racemic molecular catalyst, the ROP of rac-DL under ambient conditions produces rapidly P3HB with essentially perfect isotacticity ([mm]>99%), high crystallinity and melting temperature (T.sub.m=171 C.), as well as high molecular weight and low dispersity (M.sub.n=1.5410.sup.5 g/mol, =1.01).

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.

A method for the manufacture of an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst, the method comprising; providing a metal organic framework (MOF) material having a specific internal pore volume of 0.7 cm.sup.3g.sup.?1 or greater; providing a source of iron and/or cobalt; pyrolysing the MOF material together with the source of iron and/or cobalt to form the catalyst, wherein the MOF material comprises nitrogen and/or the MOF material is pyrolysed together with a source of nitrogen and the source of iron and/or cobalt is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a process for hydrosilylating an unsaturated compound with a compound comprising at least one hydrogenosilyl function catalysed by organic cobalt compounds in the presence of a compound (E) having the formula (3): ROH (3), wherein R represents the hydrogen atom or R is chosen from the group consisting of alkyl groups having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, aryl groups having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, aryl-alkyl groups, and silyl groups.

Provided is a composite, including a metal nanoparticle inside a porous coordination polymer (PCP), in which the PCP is formed of a metal ion and an organic ligand.

Disclosed is a method for preparing an organic carboxylic ester by using a combined catalyst of an aryl bidentate phosphine ligand. The method includes subjecting a terminal olefin, carbon monoxide, and an alcohol to a hydroesterification reaction in the presence of a combined catalyst of a palladium compound, an aryl bidentate phosphine ligand, and an acidic additive, to generate an organic carboxylic ester having one more carbon atom than the terminal olefin.

The present invention provides a catalyst for synthesizing a cyclic carbonate and a preparation method and use thereof. A diamine compound X, a salicylaldehyde-containing compound and a metal source M are subjected to reaction, and then added with a phenothiazine compound Y for continuous reaction to obtain a phenothiazine metal Schiff base catalyst. The formation of phenothiazine free radicals by phenothiazine compounds with a central metal can protect the central metal in the course of reaction and inhibit inactivation caused by the self-polymerization of the central meta, thus improving the activity and stability of a catalyst. Phenothiazine compounds can be present as a polymerization inhibitor to inhibit the generation of by-products such as polycarbonates and polyethylene glycol and enhance the selectivity of the catalyst during the reaction. The phenothiazine compounds are alkaline and can adsorb and activate carbon dioxide during reaction, which helps to improve the reaction efficiency. The phenothiazine metal Schiff base catalyst prepared in the present invention has high activity, strong stability and good selectivity and thus, can achieve the efficient catalyzed synthesis of cyclic carbonates under mild conditions.