Organosilicon Lewis acids supported on activated oxides and metal oxo complexes grafted on the organosilicon Lewis acids as heterogeneous catalysts and the related compositions, methods and systems are described. These organosilicon Lewis acids and the grafted metal oxo complexes catalyze industrially important chemical reactions including, respectively, CF bond activation and olefin metathesis reactions such as homocoupling and polymerizations.

The present invention relates to the field of polymerisation catalysts, and systems comprising said catalysts for polymerising carbon dioxide and an epoxide, a lactide and/or lactone, and/or an epoxide and an anhydride. The catalyst is of formula (I): ##STR00001## Wherein M.sub.1 and M.sub.2 are independently selected from Zn(II), Cr(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Mg(II), Fe(II), Ti(II), V(II), Cr(III)-X, Co(III)-X, Ni(III)-X, Mn(III)-X, Fe(III)-X, Ca(II), Ge(II), Al(III)-X, Ti(III)-X, V(III)-X, Ge(IV)-(X).sub.2 or Ti(IV)-(X).sub.2. R.sub.3A is different from R.sub.3B; and/or at least one occurrence of E.sub.3, E.sub.4, E.sub.5 and E.sub.6 is different to a remaining occurrence of E.sub.3, E.sub.4, E.sub.5 and E.sub.6. A ligand, a process of asymmetric N-substitution of a symmetrical ligand and a process for the reaction of: (i) carbon dioxide with an epoxide; (ii) an epoxide and an anhydride; and/or (iii) a lactide and/or a lactone, in the presence of a catalyst is also described.

Disclosed herein are a chromium compound represented by Formula 1a or 1c and a catalyst system including the same, exhibiting superior catalytic activity in an olefin trimerization reaction:

[{CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CH(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3)CO.sub.2}.sub.2Cr(OH)][Formula 1a]

[{CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CH(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3)CO.sub.2}.sub.2Cr(OH)].sub.4.2H.sub.2O.[Formula 1c]

The invention describes a method for dimerization of ethylene implementing a step for treatment of raw effluent by neutralization, at the outlet of the reactor, of the catalyst for dimerization of ethylene into but-1-ene by a particular alcohol.

Aspects of the present invention concern the ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of aromatic anhydrides and epoxides, such as terpene oxides, using sustainable starting materials, as well as the resulting polyester products having an unusually high glass transition temperature and low dispersity.

Processes for regenerating ionic liquid catalyst in which reaction vessel is operated under conditions sufficient to perform, in the presence of an ionic liquid catalyst, a hydrocarbon conversion reaction and provide a reaction effluent. The reaction effluent is separated into a hydrocarbon phase and a spent ionic liquid catalyst, wherein the spent ionic liquid catalyst includes conjunct polymer. The spent ionic liquid catalyst is contacted with hydrogen in a regeneration zone at conditions sufficient to reduce an amount of conjunct polymer in the spent ionic liquid catalyst to provide a regenerated effluent. The regenerated effluent is separated into a liquid phase comprising regenerated ionic liquid catalyst and a vapor phase comprising hydrogen and hydrogen chloride. The hydrocarbon phase is separated into a plurality of liquid hydrocarbon streams. The vapor phase is isolated from the liquid hydrocarbon streams. Alkylation processes are also disclosed.

An oxo-nitrogenated iron complex having general formula (I) or (II) wherein: R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom; or are selected from linear or branched, optionally halogenated C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups, optionally substituted cycloalkyl groups, optionally substituted aryl groups; R.sub.3, identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom; or are selected from linear or branched, optionally halogenated C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups, optionally substituted cycloalkyl groups, f optionally substituted aryl groups; X.sub.1 and X.sub.2, identical or different, represent a halogen atom such as, for example, chlorine, bromine, j iodine; or are selected from linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups, OCOR.sub.4 groups or OR.sub.4 groups wherein R.sub.4 is selected from linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups. Said oxo-nitrogenated iron complex having general formula (I) or (II) can be advantageously used in a catalytic system for the (co)polymerization of conjugated dienes.

##STR00001##

A process for synthesizing at least one levulinate ester, said process comprising the reaction of furfuryl alcohol with at least one other alcohol in the presence of water and at least one catalyst, said furfuryl alcohol being present in a quantity of at least 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the alcohols, and said catalyst comprising at least one triflate ligand and at least one metal selected from bismuth, gallium, aluminum, tin and iron.

A process is provided for the selective oligomerization of C.sub.5 to C.sub.20 alpha-olefins to produce polyalphaolefin oligomers with a molecular weight distribution that is suitable for use in lubricant base oils.

The present invention concerns a process for the preparation of poly(limonene)dicarbonate (PLDC) from poly(limonene)carbonate, proceeding via the epoxidized intermediate, as well as the resulting PLDC products having an unusually high glass transition temperature.