This invention relates to molecular catalysts and chemical reactions utilizing the same, and particularly to molecular catalysts for efficient catalytic oxidation of hydrocarbons, such as hydrocarbons from natural gas. The molecular catalytic platform provided herein is capable of the facile oxidation of hydrocarbons, for example, under ambient conditions such as near room temperature and atmospheric pressure.

The present invention provides a novel catalyst of formula (I): wherein M is selected from Zn(H), Co(II), Mn(II), Mg(II), Fe(II), Cr(III)-X or Fe(III)-X, and the use thereof in polymerizing carbon dioxide and an epoxide.

The present invention relates to a chiral spiro phosphine-nitrogen-sulfur (PNS) tridentate ligand, preparation method and application thereof. The PNS tridentate ligand is a compound represented by Formula I or Formula II, their racemates, optical isomers, or catalytically acceptable salts thereof. The ligand has a primary structure skeleton characterized as a chiral spiro indan skeleton structure with a thio group. The chiral spiro phosphine-nitrogen-sulfur tridentate ligand can be synthesized by reacting racemic or optical active compound 7-diary/alkyl phosphine-7-amino-1,1-spiro-dihydro-indene compound having a spiro-dihydro-indene skeleton as the starting material. The chiral spiro PNS tridentate ligand being complex with transition metal salt can be used in an asymmetric catalytic hydrogenation reaction for catalyzing carbonyl compound. In particular, in asymmetric hydrogenation reaction process, being complex with iridium for catalyzing -alkyl--keto ester can obtain a high catalytic activity (a catalyst amount of 0.0002% mol) and high enantioselectivity (up to 99.9% ee) result. So the present invention has a practical value for industrial and commercial production.

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Methods for asymmetric cis-dihydroxylation (AD) of styrenes and conjugated dienes to produce cis-diols of styrene and conjugated diene or tetraols of conjugated diene with high yield (i.e., a yield 30%) and high enantioselectivity (i.e., an enantiometric excess 60%) are disclosed. The method uses an iron-based catalyst, such as one or more Fe(II) complexes, as the catalyst. The method generally includes: (i) maintaining a reaction mixture at a temperature for a period of time sufficient to form a product, where the reaction mixture contains a styrene or conjugated diene, one or more iron-based catalyst(s), an oxidant, and a solvent, and where the product contains a cis-diol or tetraol.

A catalytic compound of formula I, II, or III is described; wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu; R.sup.1, N is an integer from 1 to 3; R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are independently selected from lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, C.sub.5-C.sub.8 aryl, and NR.sup.6.sub.2, wherein R.sup.6 is CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2H.sub.5; and R.sup.5 is selected from H, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, and benzylic. Methods of using the compound to catalyze the formation of polylactides, and polylactides prepared using these methods are also described.

This invention relates to novel catalyst compositions based on Ruthenium- or Osmium-based complex catalysts and to a process for selectively hydrogenating nitrile rubbers in the presence of such catalyst compositions.

The present disclosure relates to a catalyst composition comprising a first metal complex and optionally a second metal complex dispersed throughout a matrix of an inorganic material. The present disclosure also relates to a method for preparing the catalyst composition, a catalyst comprising the catalyst composition, use of the catalyst composition as a catalyst or the catalyst for converting natural gas to syngas and a method for converting natural gas to syngas using the catalyst composition as a catalyst or the catalyst.

A multidentate phosphite ligand comprises an iptycene backbone in which the iptycene is optionally substituted with one or more C1 to C4 alkyl substituents, and at least two aryl phosphite groups chemically bonded to the backbone.

The invention relates to novel processes for manufacturing 6-[[5-methyl-3-(6-methyl-3-pyridyl)isoxazol-4-yl]methoxy]-N-tetrahydropyran-4-yl-pyridazine-3-carboxamide (1), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The processes according to the invention are particularly suitable for large-scale manufacturing of the compound of formula 1 under GMP conditions.

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