Improved processes for making glyceride oligomers are generally disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the disclosed processes provide improved methods of using olefin metathesis to oligomerize unsaturated glycerides to make novel branched-chain polyester compositions. In some aspects, the disclosure also provides compositions formed by such processes.

The present invention relates to the use of specific catalysts for the metathesis degradation of nitrile rubber (NBR). The invention further relates to a method for preparing nitrile rubber with reduced molecular weight using specific catalysts.

The invention is directed to ruthenium-based metathesis catalysts of the Grubbs-Hoveyda type. The new 2-aryloxy-substituted ruthenium catalysts described herein reveal rapid initiation behavior. Further, the corresponding styrene-based precursor compounds are disclosed. The catalysts are prepared in a cross-metathesis reaction starting from styrene-based precursors which can be prepared in a cost-effective manner.

The new Grubbs-Hoveyda type catalysts are suitable to catalyze ring-closing metathesis (RCM), cross metathesis (CM) and ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Low catalyst loadings are necessary to convert a wide range of substrates including more complex and critical substrates via metathesis reactions at low to moderate temperatures in high yields within short reaction times.

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of acetals from carbon dioxide. The invention also relates to a mixture of phosphorus containing ligands comprising least one polydentate ligand and at least one monodentate ligand. Further, the invention also relates to the use of mixtures comprising at least one polydentate ligand and at least one monodentate ligand in transition metal complexes for the preparation of acetals.

The present application discloses complexes useful as catalysts for organic chemical synthesis including hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of unsaturated compounds or dehydrogenation of substrates. The range of hydrogenation substrate compounds includes esters, lactones, oils and fats, resulting in alcohols, diols, and triols as reaction products. The catalysts of current application can be used to catalyze a hydrogenation reaction under solvent free conditions. The present catalysts also allow the hydrogenation to proceed without added base, and it can be used in place of the conventional reduction methods employing hydrides of the main-group elements. Furthermore, the catalysts of the present application can catalyze a dehydrogenation reaction under homogenous and/or acceptorless conditions. As such, the catalysts provided herein can be useful in substantially reducing cost and improving the environmental profile of manufacturing processes for variety of chemicals.

Subject of the invention is a process for producing a biofuel from fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) obtained by transesterification of vegetable oils, comprising the steps of: (a) ethenolysis of the fatty acid methyl esters in the presence of ethylene and an ethenolysis catalyst, and (b) isomerizing metathesis in the presence of an isomerization catalyst and a metathesis catalyst. The invention also relates to biofuels obtainable by the inventive process and to uses of ethylene for adjusting and optimizing biofuels.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention encompass compositions containing a latent catalyst and a compound capable of generating a Bronsted acid with a counterion capable of coordinating and activating the latent catalyst along with one or more monomers which undergo ring open metathesis polymerization (ROMP) when said composition is exposed to a suitable radiation to form a three-dimensional (3D) object. The catalyst system employed therein can be sensitive to oxygen and thus inhibits polymerization in ambient atmospheric conditions. The three-dimensional objects made by this process exhibits improved mechanical properties, particularly, high distortion temperature, impact strength, elongation to break, among others. Accordingly, compositions of this invention are useful as 3D inkjet materials for forming high impact strength objects of various sizes with microscale features lower than 100 microns, among various other uses.

Methods for preparing conjugated dienes are described. An α,β-unsaturated E olefin intermediate may be prepared via cross-metathesis using a catalyst comprising a transition metal (e.g., ruthenium), a first carbene ligand (e.g., a substituted indenylidene) and an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand (e.g., an imidazolidinylidene). The catalyst further includes a phenylphosphine ligand, a tri(isopropoxy)phosphine ligand, a dimethylsulfoxide ligand, an acetonitrile ligand, or a pyridine ligand. Following the cross metathesis-step, the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde intermediate may be converted to the conjugated diene product via reaction with a phosphonium ylide. Products obtained via the methods of the disclosure include (7E,9Z)-dodeca-7,9-dien-1-yl acetate, a pheromone produced by Lobesia botrana (European grapevine moth), and other insect pheromones.

The present invention relates to a process for the hydrogenation of the carbon-carbon double bonds in nitrile butadiene rubber which is present in latex form, this means as a suspension of nitrile butadiene rubber particles in an aqueous medium, using a hydrogenation catalyst in the presence of an emulsifier.

A highly efficient, Z-selective ring-closing metathesis system for the formation of macrocycles using a stereoretentive, ruthenium-based catalyst supported by a dithiolate ligand is reported. This catalyst is demonstrated to be remarkably active as observed in initiation experiments showing complete catalyst initiation at −20° C. within 10 min. Using easily accessible diene starting materials bearing a Z-olefin moiety, macrocyclization reactions generated products with significantly higher Z-selectivity in appreciably shorter reaction times, in higher yield, and with much lower catalyst loadings than in previously reported systems. Macrocyclic lactones ranging in size from twelve-membered to seventeen-membered rings are synthesized in moderate to high yields (68-79% yield) with excellent Z-selectivity (95%-99% Z).