The present invention describes a process to prepare catalyst systems based on metal salts, supported on natural polymers and co-catalyzed by organic bases, for the catalytic transformation of carbon dioxide to organic carbonates through cycloaddition reactions to epoxides. The advantages of the presented system can be summarized on the use of raw materials of low cost for the preparation of the catalyst system, minimal environmental risk due to the low toxicity of the materials used, in some cases biodegradable such as the natural polymers, as well as high catalytic efficiency, reaching selectivities up to 100% and in some cases quantitative yields.

Provided are polymorphic forms of compound 5 or 5*, or mixtures thereof, and polymorph forms of compound 14 or 14*, or mixtures thereof. Also provided are methods of preparing compound 5 or 5*, or mixtures thereof, and methods of preparing compound of 14 or 14*, or mixtures thereof, which are useful as antifungal agents. In particular, provided is new methodology for preparing polymorphs of the compounds described and substituted derivatives thereof.

The invention concerns ionic compounds in which the anionic load has been delocalized. A compound disclosed by the invention is comprised of an amide or one of its salts, including an anionic portion combined with at least one cationic portion M.sup.+m in sufficient numbers to ensure overall electronic neutrality; the compound is further comprised of M as a hydroxonium, a nitrosonium NO.sup.+, an ammonium NH.sub.4.sup.+, a metallic cation with the valence m, an organic cation with the valence m, or an organometallic cation with the valence m. The anionic portion matches the formula R.sub.FSO.sub.xN.sup.?Z, where R.sub.F is a perflourinated group, x is 1 or 3, and Z is an electroattractive substituent. The compounds can be used notably for ionic conducting materials, electronic conducting materials, colorants and the catalysis of various chemical reactions.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to a compound, comprising a transition metal complex having the formula -[M (x,y)-L.sub.1 (w,v)-L.sub.2 (t,u)-L.sub.3].sup.p+An.sup..sub.mZ.sup..sub.pm. In an embodiment of the present disclosure may be . In another embodiment may be . In some embodiments of the present disclosure, M is a transition metal. In a related embodiment, p is an integer corresponding to the oxidation state of M. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of x, y, w, v, t, and u independently comprise R. In other embodiments, each of x, y, w, v, t, and u independently comprise S. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of L.sub.1, L.sub.2, and L.sub.3 independently is a ligand comprising a substituted diamine. In some embodiments, An.sup. comprises a lipophilic anion, where m is from 1 to 3, and where Z.sup. comprises an optional second anion.

Provided is a catalyst for an oxygen reduction reaction, including an alloy in which two metals are mixed, in which the corresponding alloy is an alloy of iridium (Ir); and silicon (Si), phosphorus (P), germanium (Ge), or arsenic (As). The corresponding catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction may have excellent price competitiveness while exhibiting a catalytic activity which is equal to or similar to that of an existing Pt catalyst. Accordingly, when the catalyst is used, the amount of platinum catalyst having low price competitiveness may be reduced, so that a production unit cost of a system to which the corresponding catalyst is applied may be lowered.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a composition having a cation and an anion. In some embodiments, a base is incorporated into the anion, and the cation and the anion form a bifunctional catalyst. In some embodiments, the cation is a chiral cobalt(III) species, and a nitrogenous Brpnsted base is incorporated into counter anions of the chiral cobalt(III) species cation. In some embodiments, the bifunctional catalyst is a tricationic cobalt(III) hydrogen bond donor catalyst, and a nitrogenous Brpnsted base is incorporated into counter anions of the tricationic cobalt(III) hydrogen bond donor catalyst. In another aspect, the present disclosure pertains to a bifunctional catalyst having a smart anion with a cationic metal species. In some embodiments, the smart anion performs a specific role in a chemical reaction without the inclusion of additional external components to accomplish a same specific role in the chemical reaction.

A heteroatom (N,S,O)-rich porous organic polymer and a membrane-based separation system and process employing the polymer is provided that utilizes one of a number of the heteroatom-rich porous organic polymers which contain ultra-small pores in their structures. The polymers can be used in the membranes to form a simpler, easy to regenerate separation system and method that and does not involve phase changes in the operation of the system. The system with the functionalized nanoporous organic polymer(s) can be utilized as a nanoporous membrane composite(s) for CO.sub.2 gas separation, or in the formation of a heterogeneous catalyst to convert CO.sub.2 to useful chemicals.

A catalyst including: neodymium; sodium; and a ligand, which is a compound expressed by Structural Formula (1) below, wherein the neodymium and the ligand form a complex at a molar ratio of 1:2 (neodymium:ligand):

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Provided are polymorphic forms of compound 5 or 5*, or mixtures thereof, and polymorph forms of compound 14 or 14*, or mixtures thereof. Also provided are methods of preparing compound 5 or 5*, or mixtures thereof, and methods of preparing compound of 14 or 14*, or mixtures thereof, which are useful as antifungal agents. In particular, provided is new methodology for preparing polymorphs of the compounds described and substituted derivatives thereof.

A heteroatom (N,S,O)-rich porous organic polymer and a membrane-based separation system and process employing the polymer is provided that utilizes one of a number of the heteroatom-rich porous organic polymers which contain ultra-small pores in their structures. The polymers can be used in the membranes to form a simpler, easy to regenerate separation system and method that and does not involve phase changes in the operation of the system. The system with the functionalized nanoporous organic polymer(s) can be utilized as a nanoporous membrane composite(s) for CO.sub.2 gas separation, or in the formation of a heterogeneous catalyst to convert CO.sub.2 to useful chemicals.