A process can be used for producing an organic compound A, which contains at least one primary alcoholic hydroxy group and at least one secondary alcoholic hydroxy group. The process involves reacting a compound B, which contains at least one nitrile group and at least one ketone group, with hydrogen and water in the presence of at least one homogeneous transition metal catalyst TMC 1.

An organometallic complex catalyst is disclosed for use in a cross-coupling reaction. In formula (1), M is the coordination center and represents a metal atom such as Pd or an ion thereof. R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 may be the same or different and are a substituent such as a hydrogen atom. R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, and R.sup.7 may be the same or different and are a substituent such as a hydrogen atom. X represents a halogen atom. R.sup.8 represents a substituent that has a n bond and 3-20 carbon atoms. With regard to the electron-donating properties of R.sup.1-R.sup.7 with respect to the coordination center M of the ligand containing R.sup.1-R.sup.7 that is indicated in formula (2), R.sup.1-R.sup.7 are arranged in combination such that the TEP value obtained from infrared spectroscopy shifts toward the high frequency side compared to the TEP value of the ligand of formula (2-1).

##STR00001##

This invention relates generally to olefin metathesis catalysts, to the preparation of such compounds, compositions comprising such compounds, methods of using such compounds, and the use of such compounds in the metathesis of olefins and in the synthesis of related olefin metathesis catalysts. The invention has utility in the fields of catalysis, organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, and in industrial applications such as oil and gas, fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

The invention relates to ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) reactions of making polymers suitable for the electronic industry. Particularly, the invention relates to novel polymers with low dielectric constant (D.sub.k) and low dielectric loss (D.sub.f) suited for smaller, lighter, higher speeds and higher frequency transmission electronic products. Such polymers can be used in a variety of materials and composites of the printed circuit board (PCB) industry.

This invention relates generally to olefin metathesis catalyst compounds, to the preparation of such compounds, compositions comprising such compounds, methods of using such compounds, articles of manufacture comprising such compounds, and the use of such compounds in the metathesis of olefins and olefin compounds. The invention has utility in the fields of catalysts, organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, and industrial and fine chemicals industry.

Novel ruthenium complexes of general formula 4

##STR00001##

in which the substituents are defined herein. The present disclosure relates also to methods for preparing such compounds and use thereof as catalysts and/or (pre)catalysts in olefin cross metathesis.

Disclosed herein are methods for preparing isotopically modified polyunsaturated lipids containing 1,4-diene systems involving selective isotopic modification of one or more bis-allylic positions of the polyunsaturated lipids in the presence of a transition metal catalyst.

The present invention provides an oxa-spirodiphosphine ligand having a structure of general Formula (I) below:

##STR00001##

wherein in general Formula (I), R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are the same, and are alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, or hydrogen, in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 may or may not form a ring, any two of them may form a ring, or a polycyclic ring may be formed between two pairs of them; R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 is alkyl, aryl, or hydrogen; and R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 is alkyl, benzyl, or aryl. The present invention also provides a method for asymmetric hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids. A complex of the oxa-spirodiphosphine ligand with ruthenium shows excellent activity and enantioselectivity in the asymmetric hydrogenation of various α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids, with which a chiral carboxylic acid product can be obtained with an enantioselectivity up to 99%.

An organometallic complex catalyst is disclosed for use in a cross-coupling reaction. In formula (1), M is the coordination center and represents a metal atom such as Pd or an ion thereof. R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 may be the same or different and are a substituent such as a hydrogen atom. R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, and R.sup.7 may be the same or different and are a substituent such as a hydrogen atom. X represents a halogen atom. R.sup.8 represents a substituent that has a π bond and 3-20 carbon atoms. With regard to the electron-donating properties of R.sup.1-R.sup.7 with respect to the coordination center M of the ligand containing R.sup.1-R.sup.7 that is indicated in formula (2), R.sup.1-R.sup.7 are arranged in combination such that the TEP value obtained from infrared spectroscopy shifts toward the high frequency side compared to the TEP value of the ligand of formula (2-1). ##STR00001##

The invention provides a method for synthesizing musk macrocycles comprising contacting an easily accessible diene starting materials bearing a Z-olefin moiety and performing a ring closing metathesis reaction in the presence of a Group 8 olefin metathesis catalyst. ##STR00001##