Provided are new functionalized nitrile rubbers, which may optionally also be in partially or wholly hydrogenated form, and also a process for preparing them by metathesis of nitrile rubbers in the presence of a metathesis catalyst and at least one functionalized allyl compound. The new functionalized nitrile rubbers are suitable for producing vulcanizable mixtures and allow the production of vulcanizates having very stable networks. Also made possible, in particular, is the synthesis of block copolymers.

The disclosure provides methods to synthesize graphene based hetero-nanostructures, the graphene based hetero-nanostructures resulting therefrom, and devices comprising the graphene based hetero-nanostructures thereof.

Re(V) alkylidyne-based catalytic systems for alkyne metathesis reactions capable of effecting alkyne metathesis, such as homo- and cross-metathesis of alkynes or diynes, ring closing metathesis and ring-opening metathesis, at room temperature to moderate temperatures. The catalysts are stable to air and moisture and tolerate a variety of functional groups in substrates and can be readily prepared on a large scale, and thus are practical catalytic systems of Re(V) alkylidynes.

The subject invention provides a series of vanadium alkylidyne complexes with the metal center V being in high oxidation state, as well as novel methods for synthesizing these vanadium alkylidyne complexes using a vanadium oxo trialkoxyl complex as a starting material. The vanadium alkylidyne complexes of the subject invention can be used as catalysts for metathesis reactions.