The present disclosure provides for a rhodium-catalyzed oxidative arene alkenylation from arenes and styrenes to prepare stilbene and stilbene derivatives. For example, the present disclosure provides for method of making arenes or substituted arenes, in particular stilbene and stilbene derivatives, from a reaction of an optionally substituted arene and/or optionally substituted styrene. The reaction includes a Rh catalyst or Rh pre-catalyst material and an oxidant, where the Rh catalyst or Rh catalyst formed Rh pre-catalyst material selectively functionalizes CH bond on the arene compound (e.g., benzene or substituted benzene).

The present invention relates to the field of catalytic hydrogenation and, more particularly, to methods of manganese-catalysed hydrogenation of esters to alcohols. Advantageously, where the esters are chiral, the hydrogenations proceed with high or complete stereochemical integrity.

Disclosed is a process for preparing 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutane-1,3-diol by reacting 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutane dione with isobutanol in the presence of a tandem transfer hydrogenation and Tischenko reaction catalyst.