The present invention, with the purpose of providing a catalyst composition for hydrogenation having high hydrogenation activity, provides a catalyst composition for hydrogenation, comprising: a titanocene dichloride; an organometal compound comprising one or two or more elements selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Mg, Zn, Al and Ca; an unsaturated compound; and a polar compound, wherein a content ratio of the unsaturated compound to the titanocene dichloride is 0.1 or more and 8.0 or less, and a content ratio of the polar compound to the titanocene dichloride is 0.01 or more and 2.0 or less.

A method for producing a catalyst composition for hydrogenation, wherein: (A): a titanocene compound represented by following general formula (1): ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 represent a group selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group, an alkoxy group, a halogen group and a carbonyl group, and may be the same or different, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent a group selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and may be the same or different, provided that R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent are not all hydrogens or all hydrocarbon groups having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; (B): a compound containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of elements Li, Na, K, Mg, Zn, Al, and Ca; and (C): an unsaturated compound
are used, and the method has: a force application step of applying a shearing force at a shearing rate of 1000 (1/s) or more to at least component (A); and a step of mixing components (A), (B), and (C).

The present invention discloses a composite catalyst for the photocatalytic isomerization of norbornadiene to prepare quadricyclane, comprising: a solid photocatalyst, selected from the group consisting of TiO.sub.2, Ti-MCM-41, Ti-SBA-15, ZnO, WO.sub.3, Ta.sub.2O.sub.5 or SrTiO.sub.3; and an organic photo-sensitizer loaded on the surface or in the channel of said solid photocatalyst, selected from benzophenone, acetophenone, Michler's Ketone, tetraethyl Michler's Ketone, and diethyl Michler's Ketone, where the organic photo-sensitizer is present in the solid photocatalyst in an amount of 0.5% to 20% by weight. The catalyst of the invention can catalyze a target reaction under the condition that no solvent is used, and the yield of the target product quadricyclane is higher. Furthermore, the catalyst of the invention has a stable activity, and it can be recycled. The invention further discloses a process for preparing the composite catalyst.

Provided herein are methods for producing ,-unsaturated ketones from the condensation of methyl ketones in the presence of an amine catalyst. Such amine catalysts may be supported, for example, on a silica-alumina support. Such amine catalysts may be used in the presence of an additional acid. The ,-unsaturated ketones may be produced by dimerization and/or timerization of the methyl ketones. Such ,-unsaturated ketones may be suitable for use in producing fuels, gasoline additives, and/or lubricants, or precursors thereof. The methyl ketones may be obtained from renewable sources, such as by the fermentation of biomass.

The invention describes a novel nickel-based composition. The invention also concerns the use of said composition as a catalytic composition in an olefin oligomerization process.

The production of 2-propylheptanol described here is effected via Rh-catalyzed hydroformylation of C.sub.4-olefin to afford C.sub.5-aldehyde, aldol condensation to afford the C.sub.10-aldehyde and hydrogenation to afford the C.sub.10-alcohol. The emphasis is on the hydroformylation and the ligand employed therein. The problem addressed by the invention is that of reducing the costs of 2PH production. This problem is solved when a cheaper catalyst system which simultaneously achieves a better regioselectivity is employed in the hydroformylation. This catalyst system contains rhodium as the central atom and is complexed with the ligand (1):

##STR00001##

The present disclosure provides a catalyst composition for conversion of biomass to crude bio oil. The composition comprises at least one metal compound, at least one support and at least one stabilizing/solubilizing agent. Also disclosed are processes for the preparation of catalyst composition, and hydrothermal conversion of biomass to crude bio oil.

Novel compositions of matter based on homopiperazine precursor materials and forming a homopiperazine-based ligand are disclosed, along with suitable techniques and materials for the synthesis and utilization thereof. In particular various synthetic schemes and techniques for applying the disclosed compositions of matter as a decontaminating agent. The decontaminating agents include homopiperazine-based ligand-metal complexes that are particularly effective at neutralizing toxicity of nerve agents, pesticides, and other toxic organophosphorus-based compounds. In preferred approaches, the homopiperazine-based ligand-metal complexes act as catalysts to facilitate substitution of a leaving group of the organophosphorus-based compound with a functional group that does not permit the organophosphorus-based compound to inactivate acetylcholinesterase upon introduction of the organophosphorus-based compound to a living organism such as insects and mammals. Advantageously, the catalytic homopiperazine-based ligand-metal complexes are formed using inexpensive, readily-available precursor materials, and may be utilized to neutralize toxins without relying on damaging caustic reactants or environmentally unfriendly organic solvents.

A catalyst composition, including a titanate of the formula Ti(OR).sub.4 wherein each R is the same or different, and is a hydrocarbon residue; a catalyst additive, wherein the catalyst additive is a dibutyl ether a silicate, a silazane, an aromatic ether, a fluorocarbon, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and an organic aluminum compound.

Provided herein are methods for producing ketone(s) from the condensation of methyl ketone(s) and alcohol(s) in the presence of an amine catalyst and a metal catalyst. Such amine catalysts may be supported, for example, on a silica-alumina support. Such ketones may be suitable for use in producing fuels, gasoline additives, and/or lubricants, or precursors thereof. The methyl ketone(s) and/or alcohol(s) may be obtained from renewable sources, such as by fermentation of biomass.