Methods for preparation of olefins, including 8- and 11-unsaturated monoenes and polyenes, via transition metathesis-based synthetic routes are described. Metathesis reactions in the methods are catalyzed by transition metal catalysts including tungsten-, molybdenum-, and ruthenium-based catalysts. The olefins include insect pheromones useful in a number of agricultural applications.

The invention relates to degradation of organophosphate neurotoxins with molybdenum complexes. In particular, the degradation of phosphate ester neurotoxins can be performed with molybdenum peroxo complexes resulting in recoverable phosphorus-containing compounds.

The present invention provides a method for preparing 1,5-pentanediol via hydrogenolysis of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. The catalyst used in the method is prepared by supporting a noble metal and a promoter on an organic polymer supporter or an inorganic hybrid material supporter, wherein the supporter is functionalized by a nitrogen-containing ligand. When the catalyst is used in the hydrogenolysis of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol to prepare 1,5-pentanediol, a good reaction activity and a high selectivity can be achieved. The promoter and the nitrogen-containing ligand in the supporter are bound to the catalyst through coordination, thereby the loss of the promoter is significantly decreased, and the catalyst has a particularly high stability. The lifetime investigation of the catalyst, which has been reused many times or used continuously for a long term, suggests that the catalyst has no obvious change in performance, thus reducing the overall process production cost.

This present invention relates to the preparation of hydrocarbon-soluble molybdenum catalyst precursors by reacting molybdenum compounds with carboxylic acids. During the reaction, vacuum was applied to accelerate removal of the water produced and to improve the conversion of reactants when reaction was carried out at low temperatures, in the range of 100-200 C. A high controlled heating temperature was employed to increase the conversion of the reactants. Vacuum was also used after the reaction process to accelerate the removal of non-reacted carboxylic acid so as to increase the concentration of produced catalyst precursors. The catalyst precursors can generate, in situ, a hydroprocessing molybdenum sulphide catalyst during heavy oil or residue upgrading.

A nanofibrous catalyst for in the electrolyzer and methods of making the catalyst. The catalysts are composed of highly porous transition metal carbonitrides, metal oxides or perovskites derived from the metal-organic frameworks and integrated into a 3D porous nano-network electrode architecture. The catalysts are low-cost, highly active toward OER, with excellent conductivity yet resistant to the oxidation under high potential operable under both acidic and alkaline environments.

There is provided a method for producing a catalyst liquid containing a Group 6 to 11 transition metal catalyst in which the transition metal catalyst can be prevented from being blackened during storage, the method including performing addition of an alkenyl compound and addition of a phosphorus ligand, and then performing addition of a Group 6 to 11 transition metal catalyst

A slurry-phase catalyst composition may include a disulfide oil and a first metal complex. The first metal complex may include at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, cobalt, nickel, tungsten, iron, and combinations of these. The first metal complex may also include a plurality of ligands bonded to the at least one transition metal. The plurality of ligands may include at least one first ligand selected from the group consisting of dim ethyl sulfide, dimethyldisulfide, diethyl sulfide, diethyldisulfide, methyl ethyl sulfide, methylethyldisulfide, and combinations thereof, and the transition metal may be bonded to a sulfur atom of the at least one first ligand.

The invention relates to a method of forming an olefin from a first olefin and a second olefin in a metathesis reaction, comprising step (i): (i) reacting the first olefin with the second olefin in the presence of a compound that catalyzes said metathesis reaction such that the molar ratio of said compound to the first or the second olefin is from 1:500 or less, and the conversion of the first or the second olefin to said olefin is at least 50%, characterized in that as compound that catalyzes said metathesis reaction a compound of the following formula is used:

##STR00001## wherein M is Mo or W; R.sup.1 is aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl, or heteroalkyl; optionally substituted; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 can be the same or different and are hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, heteroalkyl, heteroalkenyl, aryl, or heteroaryl; optionally substituted; R.sup.5 is alkyl, alkoxy, heteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, silylalkyl, silyloxy, optionally substituted; and R.sup.4 is a residue R.sup.6X, wherein X=O and R.sup.6 is aryl, optionally substituted; or X=S and R.sup.6 is aryl, optionally substituted; or X=O and R.sup.6 is (R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9)Si; wherein R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9 are alkyl or phenyl, optionally substituted; or X=O and R.sup.6 is (R.sup.10, R.sup.11, R.sub.12)C, wherein R.sup.10, R.sup.11, R.sup.12 are independently selected from phenyl, alkyl; optionally substituted; and to the catalysts used in the method.

An ammonia manufacturing apparatus of an embodiment includes: an electrochemical reaction cell including: a first reaction tank in which a reduction electrode is arranged and gaseous nitrogen is supplied; a second reaction tank in which an oxidation electrode is arranged and an electrolytic solution containing water or water vapor is supplied; and a diaphragm provided between the first reaction tank and the second reaction tank. In the ammonia manufacturing apparatus of the embodiment, the reduction electrode includes a reduction catalyst that reduces nitrogen to produce ammonia, a porous carbon material that supports the reduction catalyst, and an organic polymer material that binds the porous carbon material. The porous carbon material has pores with a BET average pore size of 1 nm or more and 15 nm or less.

A nanofibrous catalyst for in the electrolyzer and methods of making the catalyst. The catalysts are composed of highly porous transition metal carbonitrides, metal oxides or perovskites derived from the metal-organic frameworks and integrated into a 3D porous nano-network electrode architecture. The catalysts are low-cost, highly active toward OER, with excellent conductivity yet resistant to the oxidation under high potential operable under both acidic and alkaline environments.