A highly pure optically active proton pump inhibitor compound can be produced safely and inexpensively in a high yield and enantioselectivity by a method of producing an optically active sulfoxide of Formula 2 or a salt thereof, comprising oxidizing a sulfide of Formula 1 or a salt thereof with hydrogen peroxide using an iron salt in the presence of a chiral ligand of Formula 3; wherein A is CH or N; R.sup.1 is hydrogen atom, an alkyl optionally substituted by halogen(s), or an alkoxy optionally substituted by halogen(s); one to three R.sup.2 may exist, and each of R.sup.2 is independently an alkyl, a dialkylamino, or an alkoxy optionally substituted by halogen(s) or alkoxy(s); each of R.sup.3 is independently hydrogen atom, a halogen, cyano or the like; R.sup.4 is a tertiary alkyl; and * and ** represent respectively R configuration or S configuration.

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An object of the present invention is to provide ferrite particles for supporting a catalyst having a small apparent density, various properties are maintained in a controllable state and a specified volume is filled with a small weight, and a catalyst using the ferrite particles for supporting a catalyst. To achieve the object, ferrite particles for supporting a catalyst provided with an outer shell structure containing Ti oxide, a catalyst using the ferrite particles for supporting a catalyst are employed.

Controlled height carbon nanotube arrays including catalysts and synthesis methods relating thereto are disclosed. Such nanotube arrays can be prepared from catalyst particles having an Fe:Co:Ni molar ratio impregnated in an exfoliated layered mineral to grow carbon nanotube arrays where the Fe:Co:Ni molar ratio of the catalyst is used to control the height of the array.

Controlled height carbon nanotube arrays including catalysts and synthesis methods relating thereto are disclosed. Such nanotube arrays can be prepared from catalyst particles having an Fe:Co:Ni molar ratio impregnated in an exfoliated layered mineral to grow carbon nanotube arrays where the Fe:Co:Ni molar ratio of the catalyst is used to control the height of the array.

The present invention relates to a catalyst to be applied to the process of gasification of coke or coal, individually or in mixture, and to the process of preparing said catalyst, which is useful in obtaining higher levels of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which allows the conversion of coke into by-products of higher added value (hydrogen-rich syngas). The present invention also addresses to a process for converting petroleum coke by using a catalyst according to the present invention.

The present invention relates to a catalyst to be applied to the process of gasification of coke or coal, individually or in mixture, and to the process of preparing said catalyst, which is useful in obtaining higher levels of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which allows the conversion of coke into by-products of higher added value (hydrogen-rich syngas). The present invention also addresses to a process for converting petroleum coke by using a catalyst according to the present invention.

The present invention relates to a hybrid iron nanoparticle catalyst comprising: i) 1 to 50 wt. % nanoparticles comprising iron and at least one of a metal M selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals of groups 3 to 7 and 9 to 11 of the Periodic Table of Elements, lanthanides and combinations of M thereof; and ii) 50 to 99 wt. % of an aluminosilicate or silicoaluminophosphate zeolite, based on the total weight of the catalyst, wherein said nanoparticle has a diameter of about 2 to 50 nm. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing the hybrid iron nanoparticle catalyst and a process for the production of light olefins using the hybrid iron nanoparticle catalyst.

A supported catalyst having rhodium particles with an average diameter of less than 1 nm disposed on a support material containing magnetic iron oxide (e.g. Fe.sub.3O.sub.4). A method of producing the supported catalyst and a process of reducing nitroarenes to corresponding aromatic amines employing the supported catalyst with a high product yield are also described. The supported catalyst may be recovered with ease using an external magnet and reused.

The present invention relates to a material comprising (i) an inner part comprising or consisting of bulk silicon, (ii) an outer part comprising or consisting of a silicon-based compound, said silicon-based compound comprising of silicon and a non-metal element, and (iii) clusters comprising or consisting of a transition metal. The present invention relates to preparation and applications of said material.

The present invention relates to a material comprising (i) an inner part comprising or consisting of bulk silicon, (ii) an outer part comprising or consisting of a silicon-based compound, said silicon-based compound comprising of silicon and a non-metal element, and (iii) clusters comprising or consisting of a transition metal. The present invention relates to preparation and applications of said material.