Provided is a Group 9 novel metal catalyst complex further comprising a ketone-containing cocatalyst. The metal catalyst complex is useful in generating olefins from alkanes with great efficiency. In one embodiment, provided is an iridium catalyst complex useful in the dehydrogenation of alkanes comprising a ketone-containing cocatalyst and iridium complexed with a tridentate ligand. Also provided is a novel dehydrogenation method which utilizes the catalyst composition. In other embodiments, a novel process for preparing oligomers from alkanes utilizing the catalyst composition is provided.

Described herein is the fusion of two families of unique carbon-containing molecules that readily disregard the tendency of carbon to form four chemical bonds, namely N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) and carborane anions. Deprotonation of an anionic imidazolium salt with lithium diisopropylamide at room temperature leads to a mixture of lithium complexes of C-2 and C-5 dianionic NHC constitutional isomers as well as a trianionic (C-2, C-5) adduct. Judicious choice of the base and reaction conditions allows for the selective formation of all three stable polyanionic carbenes. In solution, the so-called abnormal C-5 NHC lithium complex slowly isomerizes to the normal C-2 NHC, and the process can be proton catalyzed by the addition of the anionic imidazolium salt. These results indicate that the combination of two unusual forms of carbon atoms can lead to unexpected chemical behavior, and that this strategy paves the way for the development of a broad new generation of NHC ligands for catalysis.

The present invention is concerned with a catalyst composition comprising titanium-, zirconium- and/or hafnium amidinate complexes and/or titanium-, zirconium- and/or hafnium guanidinate complexes and organo aluminium and/or organic zinc compounds, a coordinative chain transfer polymerization (CCTP) process employing the catalyst composition as well as long chain aluminium alkyls and subsequent alcohols obtained by such process.

The present invention relates to catalyst compositions comprising nanoparticles comprising one or more elements selected from a group 10 element, cocatalysts, catalyst promoters and organic molecules as organic stabilizing agents, in adequate porous supports. The invention also includes a particular mode of preparing the catalyst composition and the use of the catalyst in selective non-oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes.

Methods are provided provides a method for preparing a catalyst for oxidative dehydrogenation. An exemplary method includes forming a slurry including oxides of molybdenum, tantalum oxide, and tellurium and adding VOSO4 to the slurry. Citric acid, oxalic acid, and ethylene glycol are added to the slurry. The slurry is transferred to an autoclave, and the autoclave is heated to form a catalyst precursor. The catalyst precursor formed in the autoclave is isolated and calcined to form the catalyst.

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The present invention relates to a method for preparing 4-hydroxy-2-methylene-butanal, 4-hydroxy-2-methyl-but-2-enal and esters thereof of the formula (I.a) and (I.b) where R.sup.1 is as defined in the claims and the description, by subjecting isoprenol or an ester thereof to a photooxidation in the presence of a photosensitizer and an acylating agent. The invention relates moreover to certain hydroperoxides of the compounds (I.a) or (I.b), and to the use thereof as intermediates in the synthesis of compounds (I.a) and (I.b) or in the synthesis of retinol, stereoisomers and derivatives thereof.