Enantiopure terphenyl presenting two ortho-located chiral axes having the following structural formula (I): their process of synthesis and their use as mono or bidentate ligands for asymmetric organometallic reactions, as organocatalysts, as chiral base and as generator, with metal, of isolable chiral metallic complexes for applications in asymmetric catalysis and others.

A method for preparing sugar-based mono and diesters is described. The process entails the esterification of 2,5-furan-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) with an alcohol in the presence of low loadings of a homogeneous organotin (IV) catalyst.

The present invention relates to a catalyst composition for hydroformylation and a method of preparing an aldehyde using the same. More specifically, the present invention provides a catalyst composition for hydroformylation including a specific phosphite-based ligand and a transition metal compound in a specific amount range, thereby being capable of greatly lowering a use amount of an expensive transition metal compound and exhibiting excellent catalyst activity or stability. In addition, by using the catalyst composition in hydroformylation, excellent reaction efficiency may be provided and iso-aldehyde may be generated in high yield.

A method of producing a polyether polyol that includes reacting a low molecular weight initiator with ethylene oxide in the presence of a polymerization catalyst, the low molecular weight initiator having a number average molecular weight of less than 1,000 g/mol and a nominal hydroxyl functionality at least 2, and the polymerization catalyst being a Lewis acid catalyst having the general formula M(R.sup.1)1(R.sup.2)1(R.sup.3)1(R.sup.4)0 or 1. Whereas, M is boron, aluminum, indium, bismuth or erbium, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 each includes a same fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group, and optional R.sup.4 includes a functional group or functional polymer group. R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are the same fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group. The method further includes forming a polyether polyol having a number average molecular weight of greater than the number average molecular weight of the low molecular weight initiator in the presence of the Lewis acid catalyst.

Described herein are catalytic hydrogenation processes, using Ru complexes with tetradentate ligands of formula L in hydrogenation processes for the reduction of ketone, aldehyde, ester, or lactone into the corresponding alcohol or diol respectively. These processes use a ruthenium complex of formula (1) as defined herein.

A method for producing an oligomer, the method comprising a step of oligomerizing a polymerizable monomer comprising an olefin in the presence of a catalyst comprising an iron complex represented by the following Formula (1) and trialkylaluminum: ##STR00001##
[In Formula (1), R represents a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an aromatic group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, a plurality of R in the same molecule may be the same or different, R represents a free radical having an oxygen atom and/or a nitrogen atom, a plurality of R in the same molecule may be the same or different, and Y represents a chlorine atom or a bromine atom].

Provided is a one-pot process for preparing propionic acid, which comprises (i) treating ethylene with a C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkanol, water, and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst system comprising the reaction product of (a) a Group 8 to 10 transition metal compound such as a palladium or ruthenium compound; and (b) an activating anion, at elevated temperature and pressure. The process also provides a facile, continuous process for the preparation of propionic acid via the alkoxycarbonylation of ethylene at elevated temperature and pressure followed by hydrolysis, in one reaction vessel.

Described herein are catalytic hydrogenation processes, using Ru complexes with tetradentate ligands of formula L in hydrogenation processes for the reduction of ketone, aldehyde, ester, or lactone into the corresponding alcohol or diol respectively. These processes use a ruthenium complex of formula (1) as defined herein.

The invention provides a process for preparing an alcohol by hydrogenating an ester which is obtained by alkoxycarbonylating a C2 to C20 hydrocarbon having at least one multiple bond, preferably having at least one olefinic double bond, in which the homogeneous catalyst system used is separated from the product mixture by means of membrane separation. In a development of the present invention, the ester thus formed is converted to another ester by transesterification and then hydrogenated.

A method for preparing a porous nano-fiber heterostructure photocatalytic filter screen includes: preparing a noble metal nanostructure with tunable spectra and a heterostructure composite photocatalyst of a photocatalytic material; and preparing a large area and multilayer porous nano-fiber filter screen structure, while utilizing a scattering enhancement effect of metal nanoparticles in an porous optical fiber to realize repeated conduction of sunlight in the optical fiber and finally interact with the composite photocatalyst on a surface to improve photocatalytic efficiency. Preparation of the heterostructure composite photocatalyst with a wide spectral response of and tunable visible to infrared band spectra is realized, at the same time, with reference to high adsorbability, high light transmission of nanometer fiber and unique optical characteristics of metal nanoparticles, an air purification filter screen with a high sunlight utilization rate and a high catalytic degradation capability is creatively provided.