Ligands for use with catalyst compositions used in hydroformylation reactions are described herein. The ligands are used with various octofluorotoluene or hydrocarbon solvents and achieve an increase in isoselectivity with an increase in temperature, an increase in TON with an increase in temperature, and/or will show isoselectivity that is surprisingly high in comparison to the hydroformylation reactions using common solvents.

A method is provided of forming an olefin from a first olefin and a second olefin in a metathesis reaction, comprising reacting the first olefin with the second olefin in the presence of a compound that catalyzes the metathesis reaction such that the molar ratio of the compound to the first or the second olefin is from 1:500 or less, and the conversion of the first or the second olefin to the olefin is at least 30%.

Ligands for use with catalyst compositions used in hydroformylation reactions are described herein. The ligands are used with various octofluorotoluene or hydrocarbon solvents and achieve an increase in isoselectivity with an increase in temperature, an increase in TON with an increase in temperature, and/or will show isoselectivity that is surprisingly high in comparison to the hydroformylation reactions using common solvents.

The present invention provides methods of preparing Praziquantel, in particular (R)-Praziquantel and analogues thereof in a stereoselective manner. One method involves asymmetric hydrogenation of the following intermediate compound ##STR00001##
and subsequent cyclization.

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%.

Ligands for use with catalyst compositions used in hydroformylation reactions are described herein. The ligands are used with various ester solvents and achieve an increase in isoselectivity with an increase in temperature, an increase in TON with an increase in temperature, and/or will show isoselectivity that is surprisingly high in comparison to the hydroformylation reactions using common solvents.

The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I) and salts thereof,

##STR00001##

The present invention further relates to catalytic complexes comprising a compound of formula I and uses thereof in the stereoselective synthesis of stereocentres, in particular, all-carbon quaternary stereocentres.

A catalytic method for hydroformylating cyclooctadiene substrate involving forming a reaction mixture that includes the cyclooctadiene and a precursor of or a transitional metal ligand complex where the ligand has structure (1): ##STR00001##
(1) H.sub.2 and CO are fed into the reaction mixture and the mixture is heated to convert the cyclooctadiene into an aldehyde. A preferred ligand is 4-([1,1:3,1-terphenyl]-2-yloxy)-S-dinaphtho[2,1-d:1,2-f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepine.

A family of organometallic complexes of zirconium and hafnium (or other group 4 metals) bound to amine tris(phenolate) ligands bearing at least one phenolate substituent which is aryl or heteroaryl, and uses of these complexes in a (e.g., sterocontrolled) polymerization of cyclic esters such as lactides are provided. Polyester-containing materials featuring defined stereochemical structures are also provided.

Synthesis of organic compounds that has chirality is an important technique in the fields of pharmaceuticals, agrichemicals, health foods and the like. However, raw materials of a catalyst used for the synthesis of such compounds are expensive, and the synthesis needs many steps, so that it is difficult to reduce the cost. Linking a catalyst center to a polymer chain or a resin through an organic group enables to use the catalyst repeatedly and produce a chiral compound at low cost.