A transformational energy efficient technology using ionic liquid (IL) to couple with monoethanolamine (MEA) for catalytic CO.sub.2 capture is disclosed. [EMmim.sup.+][NTF.sub.2.sup.−] based catalysts are rationally synthesized and used for CO.sub.2 capture with MEA. A catalytic CO.sub.2 capture mechanism is disclosed according to experimental and computational studies on the [EMmim.sup.+][NTF.sub.2.sup.−] for the reversible CO.sub.2 sorption and desorption.

Processes for the direct alkylation of ethylene with isobutane or isopentane using a highly active ionic liquid alkylation catalyst are described. Ethylene is sent to a high-temperature alkylation reactor loop, and C.sub.3, C.sub.4, and C.sub.5 olefins are routed to a low temperature alkylation reactor loop. In each reactor, the olefins are contacted with an excess of isobutane or isopentane in the presence of a highly active ionic liquid catalyst. Portions of the reactor effluent streams are fed to a common downstream catalyst separation and product fractionation sections. The remainder of the reactor effluent is recycled back to the respective alkylation reactor.

Disclosed herein are mono- and di-substituted tetrazines and methods of their preparation and converting an oxetanyl ester to a thio-substituted tetrazine, which is then converted to a mono-substituted tetrazine, a di-substituted tetrazine, or a vinylether disubstituted tetrazine.

The disclosure is about a method capable of realizing the preparation and in-situ separation of the oligomeric ricinoleate, which uses the ricinoleic acid as raw material, and uses a protonic acid-type ionic liquid as a catalyst to cause the dehydration and esterification reactions between ricinoleic acid molecules. By continuously distilling out the generated water under a reduced pressure, the oligomeric ricinoleate with a polymerization degree of 2 to 10 is obtained. After the reaction, a method of washing with water or static stratification is selected to recover the catalyst according to the miscibility of the catalyst and reaction system. In his disclosure, renewable raw materials are used, the process is clean and pollution-free, and the operation is simple.

The present invention provides a catalyst system for producing cyclic carbonates comprising: a pre-catalyst, which is BiCl.sub.3 having amounts in the range from 5 to 10% by weight of silica support; a compound having formula (I)

##STR00001## wherein: Y is selected from bromide (Br.sup.−) or iodide (I.sup.−); R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are methyl group or R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are taken together to form a heteroaryl ring having formula (II)

##STR00002##

and a silica (SiO.sub.2) support.

Included herein are methods for photodriven hydrogenation of N.sub.2, the methods comprising, for example: hydrogenating N.sub.2 to NH.sub.3 in the presence of a light, an organic transfer agent, and a first metal-containing catalyst; wherein: the transfer agent and the first catalyst are in a solution; the transfer agent comprises n chemically transferable electrons and protons, n being an integer equal to or greater than 1; the step of hydrogenating comprises at least one charge-transfer reaction via which the transfer agent donates at least one electron and at least one proton to one or more other chemical species; the step of hydrogenating comprises at least one photochemical reaction; and the light is characterized by energy sufficient to drive the at least one photochemical reaction. Also disclosed herein are methods comprising regenerating a spent-transfer agent back into the transfer agent.

The present invention discloses in situ generated catalyst bound alpha radical compound represented by formula (I) or (II) and a single pot process for the preparation of oxo compounds by using in situ generated catalyst bound alpha radical compound of formula (I) or (II).

Disclosed herein are mono- and di-substituted tetrazines and methods of their preparation and converting an oxetanyl ester to a thio-substituted tetrazine, which is then converted to a mono-substituted tetrazine, a di-substituted tetrazine, or a vinylether disubstituted tetrazine.

We provide a process for regenerating a spent acidic ionic liquid, comprising contacting the spent acidic ionic liquid with hydrogen and without an addition of a hydrogenation catalyst; wherein a conjunct polymer content is decreased in the spent acidic ionic liquid to produce regenerated acidic ionic liquid. We also provide a process for making an alkylate gasoline blending component, comprising: a) alkylating a mixture of isoparaffins and olefins using an acidic ionic liquid and an alkyl halide or a hydrogen halide, wherein a conjunct polymer accumulates in a spent acidic ionic liquid; and b) feeding the spent acidic ionic liquid and a hydrogen, and without an addition of a hydrogenation catalyst, to a regeneration reactor operated under selected hydrogenation conditions to produce a regenerated acidic ionic liquid that is used for the alkylating, wherein the conjunct polymer in the regenerated acidic ionic liquid is decreased by at least 50 wt %.

A trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound having a formula: ##STR00001##
where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are the same or different and each is independently selected from C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 hydrocarbyl; and X is selected from F, Cl, Br, I, or combinations thereof is described. An ionic liquid catalyst composition incorporating the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound, methods of making the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound, and alkylation processes incorporating the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound are also described.