The present invention relates to a novel ligand compound represented by Formula 1 and a novel transition metal compound represented by Formula 2, and the novel ligand compound and transition metal compound according to the present invention has high comonomer incorporation effect in the preparation of an olefinic polymer having a low density and a high molecular weight, and thus can be usefully used as a catalyst for a polymerization reaction.

Novel crystalline porous materials known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and methods for their synthesis are provided herein. The MOFs include a M.sub.6(.sub.3-OH).sub.8(OH).sub.8(.sup.2,.sup.2-(O.sub.2C).sub.2cyclam).sub.8 cluster, and a metal atom coordinated to the one or more cyclam of the cluster, wherein M is Zr or Hf, and the metal atom is any one of Cu, Ni, Cr, Ru, Co, and Gd. The MOFs can be used as an adsorbent, alone or in a medium with other components, of CO.sub.2. The MOFs can also be used as a catalyst for the transformation of CO.sub.2 and epoxides to cyclic carbonates. The MOFs can also be used in the electrochemical catalytic reduction of CO.sub.2. The MOFs can also be used for photocatalytic CO.sub.2 reduction for the production of carbon-based fossil fuels. The MOFs can also be used for light-induced nitric oxide (NO) release. The MOFs can also be used as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents.

Embodiments of the present disclosure directed towards polymerization catalysts having improved ethylene enchainment. As an example, the present disclosure provides a polymerization catalyst having improved ethylene enchainment, the polymerization catalyst comprising a zirconocene catalyst of Formula (I) where R.sub.1 is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.20 alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, wherein R.sub.2 is an C.sub.1 to C.sub.20 alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, and where R.sub.3 is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.20 alkyl or a hydrogen, and where each X is independently a halide, C.sub.1 to C.sub.20 alkyl, aralkyl group or hydrogen.

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The present invention relates to a novel ligand compound represented by Formula 1 and a novel transition metal compound represented by Formula 2, and the novel ligand compound and transition metal compound according to the present invention has high comonomer incorporation effect in the preparation of an olefinic polymer having a low density and a high molecular weight, and thus can be usefully used as a catalyst for a polymerization reaction.

A novel metal organic framework, EMM-39, is described having the structure of UiO-66 and comprising bisphosphonate linking ligands. EMM-39 has acid activity and is useful as a catalyst in olefin isomerization. Also disclosed is a process of making metal organic frameworks, such as EMM-39, by heterogeneous ligand exchange, in which linking ligands having a first bonding functionality in a host metal organic framework are exchanged with linking ligands having a second different bonding functionality in the framework.

The present disclosure provides bridged metallocene catalyst compounds comprising SiSi bridges, catalyst systems comprising such compounds, and uses thereof. Catalyst compounds of the present disclosure can be hafnium-containing compounds having one or more cyclopentadiene ligand(s) substituted with one or more silyl neopentyl groups and linked with an SiSi-containing bridge. In another class of embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to polymerization processes to produce polyolefin polymers from catalyst systems comprising one or more olefin polymerization catalysts, at least one activator, and an optional support.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) having inorganic nodes that comprise an octahedral Hf.sub.6 cluster capped by eight .sub.3-ligands and having twelve octahedral edges, wherein the .sub.3-ligands are hydroxo ligands, oxo ligands or aquo ligands; and organic linkers connecting the organic nodes, the organic linkers comprising 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(p-benzoic acid)pyrene units; wherein eight of the twelve octahedral edges of the inorganic nodes are connected to the 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(p-benzoic acid)pyrene units are provided.

Disclosed herein is a catalyst compound represented by Formula (I) or Formula (II):

##STR00001##

M is a group 4 metal. Each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, and R.sup.9 is independently hydrogen, or a C1-C50 substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, silylcarbyl, alkoxyl, siloxyl, or one or more of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7, and R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are joined to form cyclic a saturated or unsaturated ring. Each X is independently a halide or C1-C50 substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, hydride, amide, alkoxide, sulfide, phosphide, halide, or a combination thereof, or two Xs are joined together to form a metallocycle ring, or two Xs are joined to form a chelating ligand, a diene ligand, or an alkylidene. Also disclosed is a method for using the catalyst compound in a catalyst system to produce polyolefin polymers.

The present application is directed to a method for the conversion of nitrous acid to dinitrogen gas. In particular, the present application relates to a method for the conversion of nitrous acid to dinitrogen gas by contacting the nitrous acid with an amine-functionalized metal organic framework.

The present invention discloses processes for oligomerizing an olefin feedstock containing C.sub.4 to C.sub.20 alpha olefins using a catalyst system containing a metallocene compound, an organoaluminum compound, and a suspension of a chemically-treated solid oxide. The liquid medium for the suspension of the chemically-treated solid oxide can be an alpha-olefin oligomer product formed by the oligomerization process.