A method for the preparation of polyethers is provided, the method using a protic ionic salt formed by the combination of a Bronsted acid and a Bronsted base, as well as to the polyethers obtained using the method.

Disclosed is an application of an ionic iron (III) complex as a catalyst in preparation of a benzylamine compound, that is, an ionic iron (III) complex having a molecular formula of [(RNCHCHNR)CH][FeBr.sub.4] (R is tert-butyl) and containing 1,3-di-tert-butyl imidazolium cation is used as a catalyst, di-tert-butyl peroxide is used as an oxidizing agent, and a benzylamine compound is synthesized by oxidation reaction of a toluene/ethylbenzene compound with an aromatic amine. The present invention has a wide application range, and is applicable not only to a toluene compound containing a benzylic primary carbon-hydrogen bond but also to an ethylbenzene compound containing a benzyl secondary carbon-hydrogen bond. This is the first example of the preparation of a benzylamine compound by oxidation reaction of a toluene/ethylbenzene compound and an aromatic amine by an iron-based catalyst.

The present invention belongs to the field of catalytic chemistry, and more specifically to catalysed oxidation of lignin. It also relates to synthesis of catalyst compounds.

The present invention relates to new acridinium-based photoredox catalyst compounds and their use thereof in a chemical reaction, preferably in depolymerisation of lignin models and ultimately lignin. The invention also relates to the method of synthesis of the new acridinium-based photoredox catalyst compounds according to the invention.

Methods for making acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof by contacting a feed stream containing lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof with a molten salt catalyst comprising an ionic liquid (IL) and an acid in liquid phase are provided.

An ionic liquid as a solvent in the hydration reaction of α-pinene to α-terpineol. The ionic liquid is obtained from the reaction of an amine and an inorganic acid. The use of the ionic liquid as solvent favors the selectivity towards the formation of α-terpineol and once the reaction product has been brought to room temperature, the organic phase can be physically separated from the inorganic one by decantation. The inorganic phase contains the ionic liquid, water and reaction catalyst and can be directly reused for a new reaction batch.

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).

The present invention relates to a novel process for preparing high-reactivity isobutene homo- or copolymers with a content of terminal vinylidene double bonds per polyisobutene chain end of at least 70 mol %. The present invention further relates to novel isobutene polymers.

A compound having the formula (I): ##STR00001##
is disclosed. Methods of preparing the compound of formula (I) are also disclosed. The compound of formula (I) can be prepared by reacting a compound of formula (II) with a compound of formula (III) in an organic solvent with EDC (1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide). The compound of formula (I) can also be prepared by reacting the compound of formula (II) with the compound of formula (III) in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate as a solvent with silicomolybdic acid as a catalyst.

The present invention provides a catalyst system for producing cyclic carbonates from carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and epoxide-based compounds comprising: a pre-catalyst; and a co-catalyst wherein said pre catalyst is BiCl.sub.3 and said co-catalyst is selected from tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (TBAB), tetra-n-butylammonium iodide (TBAI), tetra-n-butylphosphonium bromide (PBu.sub.4Br), tetra-n-butylphosphonium iodide (PBu.sub.4I) or mixtures thereof.

Processes for regenerating ionic liquid catalyst by contacting the ionic liquid catalyst with hydrogen gas in a regeneration reactor. The amount of hydrogen is less than 550 SCF/BBL (97.96 m.sup.3/m.sup.3) of spent ionic liquid catalyst, or less than 500 SCF/BBL (89.05 m.sup.3/m.sup.3) of spent ionic liquid catalyst, or between 550 and 45 SCF/BBL (97.96 and 8.015 m.sup.3/m.sup.3) of spent ionic liquid catalyst, or between 500 and 50 SCF/BBL (89.05 and 8.905 m.sup.3/m.sup.3) of spent ionic liquid catalyst. Alkylation processes are also disclosed.