The invention relates to a method for synthesizing amino acids or amino acid derivatives involving cross metathesis of functionalized olefins and a tandem amination-reduction process. Amino acids and amino acid derivatives present many interesting physical and chemical properties finding many uses in the automotive, fuel, electronic, and textile industries.

The invention relates to a process for the production of 1,6-difunctionalized hexane derivatives from 1,3-diunsaturated hydrocarbons, preferably butadiene, wherein a hydroformylation with carbon monoxide and hydrogen is performed in the presence of an at least dihydric alkanol and during the hydroformylation the temperature is increased. The reaction yields the acetals of the 1,6-hexanedial derivatives which are isolated and further reacted to obtain the desired 1,6-difunctionalized hexane derivatives, in particular 1,6-hexanediamine, 1,6-hexanediol and adipic acid.

A catalyst prepared by polymerizing 0-98 weight % butylstyrene; 0-80 weight % vinyl toluene; 1.5-25 weight % divinyl benzene having 1-98 weight % of ethyl vinyl benzene; and 0-80 weight % styrene. Copolymer beads are made, sulfonated, and used as a catalyst.

According to the present invention, there is provided a catalytic complex comprising a metal, one or more ligands and one or more counterions, wherein said one or more ligands include a non-racemic chiral ligand and wherein said one or more counterions include a triflimide counterion. Also provided are methods of making said catalytic complex and processes for producing chiral compounds which involve the use of said catalytic complex. In addition, the present invention provides compounds of the formula (2) as defined herein. The compounds of formula (2) may be useful as ligands in catalytic complexes.

The present invention provides a process for the production of green hydrogen gas as a source of clean energy from methanol in addition to quantitative yields of formic acid, catalyzed by a range of group (VIII) complexes based on variety of ligands. Group (VIII) complexes consists of a series of new pincer ruthenium and related Group (VIII) complexes. All of the catalytic complexes are employed towards catalytic methanol reforming for generation of green hydrogen at relatively ambient conditions (<100 C. and 1 atm). Methanol has been used as an efficient and practical hydrogen storage material. A mechanistic pathway for the reaction has been proposed based on the evidence of NMR studies and formation of intermediate, generates hydrogen gas. Both hydrogen and formic acid have immense market value.