The present invention relates to a process for preparing cyclic carbonates of formula Ia or Ib or mixtures thereof (Ia) (Ib) comprising the process step: a) reacting a propargylic alcohol of formula II (II) with carbon dioxide in the presence of at least one transition metal catalyst TMC1, which comprises a transition metal selected from metals of groups 10, 11 and 12 of the periodic table of the elements according to IUPAC and at least one bulky ligand.

##STR00001##

A method for producing a sulfoxide derivative represented by general formula (1), ##STR00001##
the method being characterized in that a sulfide derivative represented by general formula (2) ##STR00002##
is reacted with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a catalyst that is a metal-ligand complex containing a metal compound and, as a ligand, a compound represented by general formula (3), ##STR00003##
and in the presence of a benzoic acid compound represented by general formula (4) ##STR00004##

Provided is a catalyst which comprises a compound represented by formula (1) and which exhibits activity for at least one type of reaction selected from among hydrosilylation reaction or hydrogenation reaction with respect to an aliphatic unsaturated bond and hydrosilane reduction reaction with respect to a carbon-oxygen unsaturated bond or a carbon-nitrogen unsaturated bond. Formula (1): M.sub.n(L.sub.m) {M represents Fe, Co, or Ni having an oxidation number of 0, L represents an isocyanide ligand represented by formula (2), n denotes an integer of 1-8, and m denotes an integer of 2-12. Formula (2): (CN).sub.xR.sup.1 (R.sup.1 represents a mono- to trivalent-organic group having 1-30 carbon atoms, optionally being substituted by a halogen atom, and optionally having interposed therein one or more atoms selected from among O, N, S, and Si; and x denotes an integer of 1-3)}.

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

The subject invention provides catalytical compounds/complexes, compositions comprising such compound/complex, synthesis of the compounds/complexes, and methods of using such compounds/complexes as catalysts in, for example, carbon isotope exchange (CIE) on target bioactive molecules. Methods that allow CIE directly on drug candidates are of great importance to chemistry, biology, and medicine. Especially valuable are catalytic procedures that rely on a limited collection of available labeled materials. The instant method comprises converting a methyl group to terminal CH.sub.2 utilizing transfer dehydrogenation catalysts to enable V-based olefin metathesis, followed by a hydrogenation step. The one-pot strategy allows the formal methylation/demethylation sequence and can be applied to an assortment of alkyl-containing compounds.

Novel, lubricious coatings for medical devices are disclosed. The coatings provide improved lubricity and durability, and are readily applied in coating processes. The present invention is also directed to a novel platinum catalyst for use in such coatings. The catalyst provides for rapid curing, while inhibiting cross-linking at ambient temperatures, thereby improving the production pot life of the coatings.

Disclosed in the present invention is a preparation method for a tetra-substituted allenoic acid compound based on a palladium catalytic system, that is, a highly optically active allenoic acid compound having axial chirality is directly constructed in one step by reacting tertiary propargyl alcohol, carbon monoxide and water in an organic solvent under the action of a palladium catalyst, a chiral bisphosphine ligand, an organophosphoric acid, and an organic additive, and the theoretical yield can reach 100%. The method of the present invention is simple to operate, the raw materials and reagents are readily available, the reaction conditions are mild, the substrate universality is wide, the functional group compatibility is good, the reaction has high enantioselectivity (77%?96% ee), and the reaction is well compatible with complex natural products or substrates of a drug molecular skeleton. The highly optically active allenoic acid compound obtained by the present invention can be used as an important intermediate for constructing a ?-butyrolactone compound containing a tetra-substituted chiral quaternary carbon center, tetra-substituted allenol, tetra-substituted allenal, tetra-substituted allenyl ketone, tetra-substituted allenami de and other compounds.

[Problem]

To provide an industrially preferred method for producing a sulfoxide derivative.

[Solution]

A method for producing a sulfoxide derivative represented by general formula (1),

##STR00001##

the method being characterized in that a sulfide derivative represented by general formula (2)

##STR00002##

is reacted with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a catalyst that is a metal-ligand complex containing a metal compound and, as a ligand, a compound represented by general formula (3),

##STR00003##

and in the presence of a benzoic acid compound represented by general formula (4).

##STR00004##

Novel, lubricious coatings for medical devices are disclosed. The coatings provide improved lubricity and durability, and are readily applied in coating processes. The present invention is also directed to a novel platinum catalyst for use in such coatings. The catalyst provides for rapid curing, while inhibiting cross-linking at ambient temperatures, thereby improving the production pot life of the coatings.

The present invention, with the purpose of providing a catalyst composition for hydrogenation having high hydrogenation activity, provides a catalyst composition for hydrogenation, comprising: a titanocene dichloride; an organometal compound comprising one or two or more elements selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Mg, Zn, Al and Ca; an unsaturated compound; and a polar compound, wherein a content ratio of the unsaturated compound to the titanocene dichloride is 0.1 or more and 8.0 or less, and a content ratio of the polar compound to the titanocene dichloride is 0.01 or more and 2.0 or less.