Spent polyurethanes are returned to the value chain by hydrogenating the spent polyurethanes in a hydrogen atmosphere in the presence of at least one homogeneous transition metal catalyst complex, wherein the transition metal is selected from metals of groups 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the periodic table of elements according to IUPAC, to obtain a polyamine and a polyol. The hydrogenation is carried out at a reaction temperature of at least 120° C. in a non-reducible solvent having a dipole moment of 10-10.sup.30 C.Math.m or less.

Included herein are methods for photodriven hydrogenation of N.sub.2, the methods comprising, for example: hydrogenating N.sub.2 to NH.sub.3 in the presence of a light, an organic transfer agent, and a first metal-containing catalyst; wherein: the transfer agent and the first catalyst are in a solution; the transfer agent comprises n chemically transferable electrons and protons, n being an integer equal to or greater than 1; the step of hydrogenating comprises at least one charge-transfer reaction via which the transfer agent donates at least one electron and at least one proton to one or more other chemical species; the step of hydrogenating comprises at least one photochemical reaction; and the light is characterized by energy sufficient to drive the at least one photochemical reaction. Also disclosed herein are methods comprising regenerating a spent-transfer agent back into the transfer agent.

The invention relates to monocarbonyl complexes of ruthenium and osmium with bi- and tridentate nitrogen and phosphine ligands. The invention relates to methods for preparing these complexes and the use of these complexes, isolated or prepared in situ, as catalysts for reduction reactions of ketones and aldehydes both via transfer hydrogenation or hydrogenation with hydrogen.

A catalytic membrane composite that includes porous supported catalyst particles durably enmeshed in a porous fibrillated polymer membrane is provided. The porous fibrillated polymer membrane may be manipulated to take the form of a tube, disc, or diced tape and used in multiphase reaction systems. The supported catalyst particles are composed of at least one finely divided metal catalyst dispersed on a porous support substrate. High catalytic activity is gained by the effective fine dispersion of the finely divided metal catalyst such that the metal catalyst covers the support substrate and/or is interspersed in the pores of the support substrate. In some embodiments, the catalytic membrane composite may be introduced to a stirred tank autoclave reactor system, a continuous flow reactor system, or a Parr Shaker reaction system and used to effect the catalytic reaction.

Organopolymers and their use in a backside irradiation system or front side irradiation system and method is provided. A reaction system includes a photocatalyst coating comprising non-conjugatively linked chromophores having a first surface adhered to a substrate, and second surface facing a volume, wherein the volume is configured to contain or pass over the second surface of the photocatalyst coating facing the volume one or more reactants. A source of electromagnetic radiation directs electromagnetic radiation either i) through said substrate and said coating of said photocatalyst to catalyze a reaction of said one or more reactants (backside irradiation), or ii) through said volume to said coating of said photocatalyst to catalyze the reaction of said one or more reactants (frontsi de irradiation).

A system and method for converting carbon dioxide are proposed. The system for converting carbon dioxide includes a carbon monoxide generator for generating carbon monoxide through a reverse water gas shift reaction and a hydrocarbon generator for producing a hydrocarbon through a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction, whereby the carbon monoxide generator is packed both with a catalyst for the reverse water gas shift reaction and with a catalyst for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction, thus increasing the CO yield in the carbon monoxide generator even at a low temperature compared to when the catalyst for the reverse water gas shift reaction is used alone, ultimately increasing the hydrocarbon yield in the hydrocarbon generator. Moreover, the energy of the exothermic Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction can be used as the energy required for the endothermic reverse water gas shift reaction, thereby increasing energy efficiency and processing yield and thus reducing operation and maintenance costs.

Compositions can include compounds having a formula: Co.sub.yW.sub.1-xMx0.sub.4 (I), wherein M is Mo, V, or Nb; 0.5≥x≥0; and 1<y≤4; and wherein the compound has an X-ray powder diffraction pattern including characteristic diffraction peaks having d-spacing values of about 2.90 Å, 2.56 Å, and 1.73 Å. Methods can include making a bulk catalyst composition including (i) combining tungstic acid and cobalt carbonate and (ii) reacting the tungstic acid and cobalt carbonate to form a catalyst composition, wherein the cobalt carbonate has an X-ray powder diffraction pattern including characteristic diffraction peaks having d-spacing values of about 10.03 Å, 5.91 Å, 4.35 Å, and 4.21 Å.

A compound by the name 1,1,1-tris(di(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)phosphino-methyl)ethane. The compound can be represented by the structure of formula (I): ##STR00001##
The compound is useful as a ligand for ruthenium to form an organometallic complex. The complex is an active catalyst for the hydrogenolysis of amides to form amines and optionally alcohols.

Disclosed are methods of selective hydrodeoxygenation of aromatic compounds by using catalyst systems comprising N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and 4-pyridinol-derived pincer ligands and metal complexes containing these ligands.

The invention describes the process of catalytic O-demethylation of 3-methoxymorphinane compounds using boron tribromide. Addition of catalysts reduces the reaction time, improves reacting the substrate to give the product in very good purity and yield. The process can be used, for example, for the preparation of oxycodone, oxymorphone, naltrexone, naloxone and nalbuphine from their respective O-methyl derivatives.