A catalyst system comprising a combination of: 1) one or more catalyst compounds having at least one nitrogen linkage and at least one oxygen linkage to a transition metal; 2) a support comprising an organosilica material, which is a mesoporous organosilica material; and 3) an optional activator. Useful catalysts include ONNO-type transition metal catalysts, ONYO-Type transition metal catalysts, and/or oxadiazole transition metal catalysts. The organosilica material is a polymer of at least one monomer of Formula [zOZ2 SiCH2]3(l), where Z.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkyl group, or a bond to a silicon atom of another monomer and Z.sup.2 represents a hydroxyl group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkoxy group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl group, or an oxygen atom bonded to a silicon atom of another monomer. This invention further relates to processes to polymerize olefins comprising contacting one or more olefins with the above catalyst system.

A transfer hydrogenation process for forming vicinal diols by hydrogenating 1,2-dioxygenated organic compounds using alcohols as the reducing agent instead of the traditional H.sub.2 gas. The transfer hydrogenation is carried out under milder conditions of temperature and pressure than is typical for ester hydrogenation with H.sub.2. The milder conditions of operation provide benefits, such as lower operating and capital costs for industrial scale production as well as savings in product purification due to the avoidance of by-products from exposure of reaction mixtures and products to high temperatures.

Iron-based homogeneous catalysts, supported by pincer ligands, are employed in the transfer hydrogenation of esters using C.sub.2-C.sub.12 alcohols as sacrificial hydrogen donors to produce corresponding alcohols from the esters. No external H.sub.2 pressure is required. The reaction can be carried out under ambient pressure.

Catalysts including at least one microporous material (e.g., zeolite), an organosilica material binder, and at least one catalyst metal are provided herein. Methods of making the catalysts, preferably without surfactants and processes of using the catalysts, e.g., for aromatic hydrogenation, are also provided herein.

A catalyst system comprising a combination of: 1) one or more catalyst compounds comprising at least one nitrogen linkage; 2) a support comprising an organosilica material, which is a mesoporous organosilica material; and 3) an optional activator. Useful catalysts include pyridyldiamido transition metal complexes, HN5 compounds, and bis(imino)pyridyl complexes. The organosilica material is a polymer of at least one monomer of Formula [Z.sup.1OZ.sup.2SiCH.sub.2].sub.3(1), where Z.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkyl group, or a bond to a silicon atom of another monomer and Z.sup.2 represents a hydroxyl group, a C1-C.sub.4alkoxy group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl group, or an oxygen atom bonded to a silicon atom of another monomer. This invention further relates to processes to polymerize olefins comprising contacting one or more olefins with the above catalyst system.

Organosilica materials, which are a polymer of at least one independent monomer of Formula [Z.sup.1OZ.sup.2OSiCH.sub.2].sub.3 (I), wherein Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl group or a bond to a silicon atom of another monomer and at least one other monomer is provided herein. Methods of preparing and processes of using the organosilica materials, e.g., for gas separation, color removal etc., are also provided herein.

Iron-based homogeneous catalysts, supported by pincer ligands, are employed in the catalytic dehydrocoupling of ethanol to produce ethyl acetate and hydrogen. As both ethanol and ethyl acetate are volatile materials, they can be readily separated from the catalyst by applying vacuum at room temperature. The hydrogen by-product of the reaction may be isolated and utilized as a feedstock in other chemical transformations.

A process for preparing a variety of secondary and tertiary alkyl formate esters via the coupling of methanol and secondary (or tertiary) alcohols. Iron-based catalysts, supported by pincer ligands, are employed to produce these formate esters in high yields and unprecedentedly high selectivities (>99%). Remarkably, the coupling strategy is also applicable to bulkier tertiary alcohols, which afford corresponding tertiary formate esters in moderately high yields and high selectivities.

A transfer hydrogenation process for forming vicinal diols by hydrogenating 1,2-dioxygenated organic compounds using alcohols as the reducing agent instead of the traditional H.sub.2 gas. The transfer hydrogenation is carried out under milder conditions of temperature and pressure than is typical for ester hydrogenation with H.sub.2. The milder conditions of operation provide benefits, such as lower operating and capital costs for industrial scale production as well as savings in product purification due to the avoidance of by-products from exposure of reaction mixtures and products to high temperatures.

Iron-based homogeneous catalysts, supported by pincer ligands, are employed in the transfer hydrogenation of esters using C.sub.2-C.sub.12 alcohols as sacrificial hydrogen donors to produce corresponding alcohols from the esters. No external H.sub.2 pressure is required. The reaction can be carried out under ambient pressure.