The present invention discloses a phosphine free cobalt based catalyst of formula (I) and a process for preparation thereof. The present invention further discloses a process for the synthesis of aromatic heterocyclic compounds of formula (II) and pyrazine derivative using the phosphine free cobalt based catalyst of formula (I).

A composition of a photocatalyst, a method of manufacturing the photocatalyst, and a method of chemically reducing carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide using the photocatalyst under visible-light irradiation is provided. The photocatalyst comprises a transition metal ion and graphitic carbon nitride and includes single metal sites on carbon nitride. Under visible light, the metal sites that are coordinated to nitrogen atoms get activated, without the use of additional ligands, to catalyze the reduction of carbon dioxide to selectively produce carbon monoxide. The photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide is highly efficient, resulting a turnover number of more than 800 for carbon monoxide production in 2 hours. The composition is useful in converting carbon dioxide into useful chemicals and carbon-based fuels. A functional model of molecular catalysts for efficient carbon dioxide reduction is also present.

Aminoalcohol lipidoids are prepared by reacting an amine with an epoxide-terminated compound are described. Methods of preparing aminoalcohol lipidoids from commercially available starting materials are also provided. Aminoalcohol lipidoids may be prepared from racemic or stereochemically pure epoxides. Aminoalcohol lipidoids or salts forms thereof are preferably biodegradable and biocompatible and may be used in a variety of drug delivery systems. Given the amino moiety of these aminoalcohol lipidoid compounds, they are particularly suited for the delivery of polynucleotides. Complexes, micelles, liposomes or particles containing the inventive lipidoids and polynucleotide have been prepared. The inventive lipidoids may also be used in preparing microparticles for drug delivery. They are particularly useful in delivering labile agents given their ability to buffer the pH of their surroundings.

A process for preparing a ketone or carboxylic acid by catalytic oxidation of a secondary or primary alcohol comprises adding the secondary or primary alcohol as a raw material and N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) combined with phthalocyanine, serving as a catalytic system, into an amount of an organic solvent into which oxygen gas is then introduced, to proceed with an oxidation reaction to give the ketone or carboxylic acid. The oxygen gas is employed as the source of an oxidant. The oxidation reaction may be carried out under normal pressure at 60 to 120 C. for 9 to 36 hours. The process can produce a high yield of ketone or carboxylic acid. Compared with conventional technology, the process has several advantages, such as the green oxidant, the cheap catalyst which can also be easily prepared and separated, and mild reaction conditions, and it is also an environmentally friendly process for alcohol oxidation.

Nanoparticles that can be used as hydrosilylation and dehydrogenative silylation catalysts. The nanoparticles have at least one transition metal with an oxidation state of 0, chosen from the metals of columns 8, 9 and 10 of the periodic table, and at least one carbonyl ligand, preferably a silicide.

Among other things, the present invention encompasses the applicant's recognition that epoxide carbonylation can be performed industrially utilizing syngas streams containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and varying amounts carbon dioxide. Contrary to expectation, the epoxide carbonylation reaction proceeds selectively in the presence of these mixed gas streams and incorporates excess CO in the syngas stream into valuable chemical precursors, resulting in hydrogen streams substantially free of CO. This is economically and environmentally preferable to performing WSGR which releases the excess carbon as CO2. The integrated processes herein therefore provide improved carbon efficiency for processes based on coal or biomass gasification or steam methane reforming.

Provided are a novel isocyanide compound, a hydrosilylation reaction catalyst having excellent handling properties and storage properties that allows a hydrosilylation reaction to proceed under moderate conditions by using the isocyanide compound, and a method for producing an addition compound by a hydrosilylation reaction using the hydrosilylation reaction catalyst. A hydrosilylation reaction catalyst prepared from a catalyst precursor comprising a transition metal compound of groups 8, 9, or 10 of the periodic table, excluding platinum, such as an iron carboxylate, cobalt carboxylate, or nickel carboxylate, and a ligand comprising an isocyanide compound having an organosiloxane group.

A catalyst system has been designed that disrupts the sedimentation process. The catalyst system achieves this by saturating key feed components before the feed components are stripped into their incompatible aromatic cores. The efficacy of this disruptive catalyst system is particularly evident in a hydrocracker configuration that runs in two-stage-recycle operation. The catalyst is a self-supported multi-metallic catalyst prepared from a precursor in the hydroxide form, and the catalyst must be toward the top level of the second stage of the two-stage system.

The present invention relates to a novel metal complex, a method for producing same, and a method for producing a gamma-lactam compound using same, and the metal complex according to the present invention is used as a catalyst for producing a gamma-lactam compound and can efficiently produce a gamma-lactam compound with an excellent yield and excellent selectivity.

An improved alkaline pretreatment of biomass is provided that uses a homogenous catalyst with one or more metals and metal coordinating ligands, wherein the homogeneous catalyst is used with at least two oxidants in an oxidation reaction to catalytically pretreat lignocellulosic biomass. In one embodiment, hydrogen peroxide and oxygen are utilized as co-oxidants during alkaline-oxidative pretreatment to improve biomass pretreatment and increase enzymatic digestibility. In one embodiment, the homogenous catalyst is copper (II) 2,2-bipyridine (Cu(bpy)). Related methods are also disclosed to improve the economic feasibility of production of lignocellulose derived sugars.