Provided is a Group 9 novel metal catalyst complex further comprising a ketone-containing cocatalyst. The metal catalyst complex is useful in generating olefins from alkanes with great efficiency. In one embodiment, provided is an iridium catalyst complex useful in the dehydrogenation of alkanes comprising a ketone-containing cocatalyst and iridium complexed with a tridentate ligand. Also provided is a novel dehydrogenation method which utilizes the catalyst composition. In other embodiments, a novel process for preparing oligomers from alkanes utilizing the catalyst composition is provided.

A technological method for synthesizing optically pure L-/D-lactide by using a biogenic guanidine catalysis method. The method of the present invention comprises: by using biogenic guanidine creatinine (CR) as a catalyst and L-/D-lactic acid (90% of mass content) as a raw material, synthesizing optically pure L-/D-lactide by using a reactive reduced pressure distillation catalysis method. The method of the present invention has advantages that the used catalyst is biogenic guanidine creatinine and free of toxicity, metal, and cytotoxicity; the synthesized lactide is high in optical purity (the specific rotation of the L-lactide []25D=276280, and the specific rotation of the D-lactide []25D=280), and does not contain any metal; the amount of the catalyst used in reaction is low, the technological process is simplified (a process for rectifying and purifying a crude lactide product by using a conventional method is avoided); and the technological method is simple and convenient to operate and easy in industrial implementation.

Layered double hydroxides having a high surface area (at least 125 m.sup.2/g) and the formula (I)

[M.sup.z+.sub.1-xM.sup.y+.sub.x(OH).sub.2].sup.a+(X.sup.n-).sub.a/n.sup.+bH.sub.2O.c(AMO-solvent)(I)

wherein M and M are different and each is a charged metal cation (and must be present), z=1 or 2; y=3 or 4, 0<x<0.9, b is 0 to 10, c=0 to 10, X is an anion, n is the charge on the anion, and a=z(1x)+xy2; AMO-solvent is aqueous miscible organic solvent, may be prepared by a method which comprises a) precipitating a layered double hydroxide having the formula

[M.sup.z+.sub.1-xM.sup.y+.sub.x(OH).sub.2].sup.a+(X.sup.n-).sub.a/n.sup.+bH.sub.2O wherein M, M, z, y, x, a, b and X are as defined above from a solution containing the cations of the metals M and M and the anion X.sup.n-; b) ageing the layered double hydroxide precipitate obtained in step a) in the original solution; c) collecting, then washing the layered double hydroxide precipitate; d) dispersing the wet layered double hydroxide in an AMO solvent so as to produce a slurry of the layered double hydroxide in the solvent; e) maintaining the dispersion obtained in step d); and f) recovering and drying the layered double hydroxide.

The high surface area products have low particle size and are particularly suitable for use as catalysts, catalyst supports, sorbents and coatings.

A non-aqueous metal catalytic composition includes (a) a silver complex comprising reducible silver ions, (b) an oxyazinium salt silver ion photoreducing agent, (c) a hindered pyridine, (d) a photocurable component, a non-curable polymer, or combination of a photocurable component and a non-curable polymer, and (e) a photo sensitizer different from all components (a) through (d) in the non-aqueous metal catalytic composition, in an amount of at least 1 weight %. This non-aqueous metal catalytic composition can be used to form silver metal particles in situ during suitable reducing conditions. The silver metal can be provided in a suitable layer or pattern on a substrate, which can then be subsequently subjected to electroless plating to form electrically-conductive layers or patterns for use in various articles or as touch screen displays in electronic devices.

An asymmetric fused aromatic ring derivative containing sulfonyl group, which includes a structure represented by formula (I). Formula (I) is defined as in the specification. A use of the asymmetric fused aromatic ring derivative containing sulfonyl group, which is used as a photocatalyst. A hydrogen production device, which includes the asymmetric fused aromatic ring derivative containing sulfonyl group. An optoelectronic component, which includes the asymmetric fused aromatic ring derivative containing sulfonyl group.

A redox composition includes a carbohydrate material and a catalytic molar amount of an organic compound positioned in catalytic relationship with the carbohydrate material to catalyze oxidation of the carbohydrate material in an environment in which the carbohydrate material would not otherwise oxidize.

A catalyst solution for electroless plating is provided. The catalyst solution is printable and devoid of an amine. The catalyst solution comprises a catalytic metal salt, a solvent, and an epoxy.