The present application describes process for preparing an ortho-allylated hydroxy aryl compounds such as compounds of Formula (I) by reacting an allylic alcohol with a hydroxy aryl compound in the presence of aluminum compound selected from alumina and aluminum alkoxides and in a non-protic solvent wherein at least one carbon atom ortho to the hydroxy group in the hydroxy aryl compound is unsubstituted. The present application also includes compounds of Formula (I).

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A method for producing a carbodiimide compound, comprising a carbodiimide production step of reacting an aliphatic tertiary isocyanate compound (A) in the presence of an organic alkali metal compound (B) having Lewis basicity.

The invention relates to a process for preparing an aromatic carbonate, comprising reacting a dialkyl carbonate or an alkyl aryl carbonate with an aryl alcohol or an alkyl aryl carbonate, resulting in an aromatic carbonate which is an alkyl aryl carbonate or a diaryl carbonate, wherein a composition comprising a titanium or zirconium alkoxide or aryloxide, wherein the alkoxy group in the titanium or zirconium alkoxide is a group of formula R-0˜ wherein R is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the aryloxy group in the titanium or zirconium aryloxide is a group of formula Ar-0˜ wherein Ar is an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and wherein the composition additionally comprises 0.1 to 50 wt. % of an alcohol, based on the total weight of the composition, is mixed with an alcohol or an organic carbonate, and the mixture thus obtained is contacted with said dialkyl carbonate or alkyl aryl carbonate and aryl alcohol or alkyl aryl carbonate to catalyze the preparation of the aromatic carbonate. Further, the invention relates to a process for making a polycarbonate from the diaryl carbonate thus prepared.

The invention concerns a process for the preparation of a catalyst for carrying out hydrogenation reactions in hydrotreatment and hydrocracking processes. Said catalyst is prepared from at least one mononuclear precursor based on molybdenum (Mo), in its monomeric or dimeric form, having at least one Mo═O or Mo—OR bond or at least one Mo═S or Mo—SR bond where [R=C.sub.xH.sub.y where x≧1 and (x−1)≦y≦(2x+1) or R=Si(OR′).sub.3 or R=Si(R′).sub.3 where R′=C.sub.x′H.sub.y′ where x′≧1 and (x′−1)≦y′≦(2x′+1)], and optionally from at least one promoter element from group VIII. Said precursors are deposited onto an oxide support which is suitable for the process in which it is used, said catalyst being dried at a temperature of less than 200° C. then advantageously being sulphurized before being deployed in said process.

According to various aspects and embodiments, multilayer particles having an irregular surface architecture and methods of making the same are disclosed.

The invention describes phospho-amino pincer-type ligands, metal complexes thereof, and catalytic methods comprising such metal complexes for conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol, conversion of aldehydes into alcohols, conversion of aldehydes in the presence of a trifluoromethylation agent into trifluorinated secondary alcohols, cycloaddition of carbon dioxide to an epoxide to provide cyclic carbonates or preparation of an amide from the combination of an alcohol and an amine.

The present invention relates to a method to form a polyurethane material, a catalyst composition comprising metalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POMS) compounds in combination with reactive compounds suitable to be used to provide a polyurethane material and the polyurethane material obtained using the catalyst composition.

The invention describes phospho-amino pincer-type ligands, metal complexes thereof, and catalytic methods comprising such metal complexes for conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol, conversion of aldehydes into alcohols, conversion of aldehydes in the presence of a trifluoromethylation agent into trifluorinated secondary alcohols, cycloaddition of carbon dioxide to an epoxide to provide cyclic carbonates or preparation of an amide from the combination of an alcohol and an amine.

A catalyst comprising particles of iridium oxide and a metal oxide (M oxide), wherein the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of a Group 4 metal oxide, a Group 5 metal oxide, a Group 7 metal oxide and antimony oxide, wherein the catalyst is prepared by subjecting a precursor mixture to flame spray pyrolysis, wherein the precursor mixture comprises a solvent, an iridium oxide precursor and a metal oxide precursor is disclosed. The catalyst has particular use in catalysing the oxygen evolution reaction.

A process for preparing a catalyst material, includes: (a) providing a support material having surface hydroxyl (OH) groups, the support material is ceria (CeO.sub.2), zirconia (ZrO.sub.2) or a combination, and the support material contains between 0.3 and 2.0 mmol OH groups/g of the support material; (b) reacting the support material with at least one of: (b1) a compound containing at least one alkoxy or phenoxy group bound though its oxygen atom to a metal element from Group 5 (V, Nb, Ta) or Group 6 (Cr, Mo, W); (b2) a compound containing at least one hydrocarbon group bound though a carbon atom to a metal element from Group 5 or 6; (b3) a compound containing at least one hydrocarbon group bound though a carbon atom to a metal element which is copper (Cu); and (c) calcining the product obtained in step (b).