Disclosed are N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and 4-pyridinol-derived pincer ligands and metal complexes containing these ligands. These compounds can be used to photocatalyticaly reduce CO.sub.2 to CO.

A preparation method for L-nicotine involves multiple steps. The resulting L-nicotine can have an optical purity of more than 99.9%, much higher than that of similar products in the current market. The total yield of synthesis reaches 50-60%.

The present application is directed to a supported rare earth-catalyst. This catalyst comprises a metal oxide support having Br?nsted acid sites and a rare earth element-catalyst. The rare earth element-catalyst is bound to the Br?nsted acid sites on the metal oxide support. The present application is also directed to methods of making supported rare earth-catalyst and methods for borylation of hydrocarbons using the supported rare earth-catalyst.

Metal-organic framework materials (MOFs) are highly porous entities comprising a multidentate organic ligand coordinated to multiple metal centers. MOFs having ambient condition stability may comprise a plurality of metal clusters comprising one or more M.sub.4O clusters (M is a metal), and a plurality of 4-pyrazolecarboxylate ligands coordinated to the plurality of metal clusters to define an at least partially crystalline network structure having a plurality of internal pores. The MOFs may have a Pa3 symmetry, which upon activation may convert into Fm3m symmetry. Methods for synthesizing the MOFs may comprise combining a metal source, such as a preformed metal cluster, with 4-pyrazolecarboxylic acid, and reacting the preformed metal cluster with the 4-pyrazolecarboxylic acid to form a MOF having an at least partially crystalline network structure with a plurality of internal pores defined therein and comprising a plurality of metal clusters coordinated to a multidentate organic ligand comprising 4-pyrazolecarboxylate.

A 4,4-divinylazoarylene-bridged diruthenium complex bearing two Ru(CO)(2-mercaptopyridine)(P.sup.iPr.sub.3).sub.2 moieties, its synthesis, and its use as a catalyst.

The present invention is directed to catalysts and processes for catalyzing two or more chemical reactions with a multifunctional catalyst in a reaction vessel. The processes include steps for introducing one or more reagents to a reaction vessel containing a multifunctional catalyst; contacting the one or more reagents with a first portion of the multifunctional catalyst to produce an intermediate; contacting the intermediate with a second portion of the multifunctional catalyst to produce a product; and removing the product from the reaction vessel. In certain embodiments, the multifunctional catalyst may have a first portion with carbonylation functionality for catalyzing the production of a beta-lactone intermediate from an epoxide reagent and a carbon monoxide reagent. In certain embodiments, the multifunctional catalyst may have a second portion with a functionality suitable for polymerization, co-polymerization, and/or modification of a beta-lactone intermediate. In preferred embodiments, the first portion and second portion are bonded to a heterogenous support.

The present disclosure provides novel methods of making aluminum complexes with utility for promoting epoxide carbonylation reactions. Methods include reacting neutral metal carbonyl compounds with alkylaluminum complexes.

The present invention provides a complex of formula (1),

##STR00001##

wherein, M is palladium or nickel, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently organic groups having 1-20 carbon atoms, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are linked to form a ring structure with the phosphorus atom, R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted aryl, substituted and unsubstituted heteroaryl, and substituted and unsubstituted metallocenyl, R.sub.4 is an organic group having 1-20 carbon atoms, n is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, and X is an anionic ligand. The invention also provides a process for the preparation of the complex, and its use in carbon-carbon or carbon-nitrogen coupling reactions.

A complex of formula (1), ##STR00001##
wherein, M is palladium or nickel, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently organic groups having 1-20 carbon atoms, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are linked to form a ring structure with the phosphorus atom, R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted aryl, substituted and unsubstituted heteroaryl, and substituted and unsubstituted metallocenyl, R.sub.4 is an organic group having 1-20 carbon atoms, n is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, X is an anionic ligand. A process for the preparation of the complex, and its use in carbon-carbon or carbon-nitrogen coupling reactions is also provided.

A process for producing an aromatic compound in high yield and a palladium complex are provided. The palladium complex is represented by formula (D) or formula (D):

##STR00001##

In formula (D), X represents a chlorine atom, A represents an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, B represents an alkyl group having 4 to 20 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl group having 5 to 10 carbon atoms, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or an alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and R.sup.6, R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms or a heteroaryl group having 4 to 20 carbon atoms.

##STR00002##

In formula (D), X, A, B and R.sup.4 to R.sup.8 are the same as defined above.