Methods of selectively synthesizing n-tetrasilane are disclosed. N-tetrasilane is prepared by catalysis of silane (SiH.sub.4), disilane (Si.sub.2H.sub.6), trisilane (Si.sub.3H.sub.8), or mixtures thereof. More particularly, the disclosed synthesis methods tune and optimize the n-tetrasilane:i-tetrasilane isomer ratio. The isomer ratio may be optimized by selection of process parameters, such as temperature and the relative amount of starting compounds, as well as selection of proper catalyst. The disclosed synthesis methods allow facile preparation of n-tetrasilane.

Disclosed are iron nanoparticles, in which at least 70% of the iron atoms they contain are present in an Fe2,2C crystalline structure. In particular, these nanoparticles can be obtained via the carburization of zero-valent iron nanoparticles, by contacting the iron nanoparticles with a gas mixture of dihydrogen and carbon monoxide. The iron carbide nanoparticles are particularly suitable to be used for hyperthermia and for catalyzing Sabatier and Fischer-Tropsch reactions.

Provided herein are methods and catalysts for the production of hexoses, pentoses, tetroses, trioses, ketoses, heptoses, aldehydes, glycolaldehyde, and glyceraldehyde from carbon dioxide using a system that does not rely on biological production methods. The process first converts carbon dioxide into an aldehyde intermediate, which is secondly used as feedstock to produce larger aldehydes and sugars in a formose reaction. The resulting process is a useful CO2 utilization method for space exploration and in-situ resource utilization, with potential application for terrestrial production of low-carbon chemicals.

The present invention relates to the application of lithium 4-methoxyaniline in catalysis of the hydroboration reaction of an imine and a borane. A catalyst, a borane and an imine are successively stirred and mixed until uniform, reacted for 1 to 2 hours, and then exposed to air so as to stop the reaction, and the reaction liquid is subjected to decompression to remove a solvent therein, so as to obtain a borate with different substituents. The lithium 4-methoxyaniline disclosed in the present invention can catalyze the hydroboration reaction of an imine and a borane in a high activity manner at room temperature, wherein the amount of the catalyst is merely 4-5 mol % of the molar amount of the imine, and the yield of the reaction can reach 90% or more. The yield of a borate with different substituents can reach 99% with mild reaction conditions under an optimized condition.

The invention concerns ionic compounds in which the anionic load has been delocalized. A compound disclosed by the invention is comprised of an amide or one of its salts, including an anionic portion combined with at least one cationic portion M.sup.+m in sufficient numbers to ensure overall electronic neutrality; the compound is further comprised of M as a hydroxonium, a nitrosonium NO.sup.+, an ammonium NH.sub.4.sup.+, a metallic cation with the valence m, an organic cation with the valence m, or an organometallic cation with the valence m. The anionic portion matches the formula R.sub.FSO.sub.xN.sup.?Z, where R.sub.F is a perflourinated group, x is 1 or 3, and Z is an electroattractive substituent. The compounds can be used notably for ionic conducting materials, electronic conducting materials, colorants and the catalysis of various chemical reactions.

An electrode catalyst obtained by calcining a metal phthalocyanine polymer having a repeating structural unit obtained by the amide bonding of a structural unit represented by general formula (1a) to a structural unit represented by general formula (2a) to form a calcined body, then treating the calcined body with an acid. Formula (1a) (wherein L is a divalent or trivalent metal ion belonging to Period 3 to Period 5 on the long-form periodic table.) Formula (2a) (wherein M is a divalent or trivalent metal ion belonging to Period 3 to Period 5 on the long-form periodic table.)

A method for manufacturing metal nanoparticles includes adding at least one metal salt to an ionic liquid to form metal ions in the ionic liquid, and heating the ionic liquid to which the metal salt has been added to thermally reduce the metal ions.

A catalyst, which is obtained by mixing a compound expressed by the following Structural Formula (1), a nitroalkane compound, a neodymium-containing compound, a sodium-containing compound, and a carbon structure: ##STR00001##

An electrode catalyst obtained by calcining a metal phthalocyanine polymer having a repeating structural unit obtained by the amide bonding of a structural unit represented by general formula (1a) to a structural unit represented by general formula (2a) to form a calcined body, then treating the calcined body with an acid. Formula (1a) (wherein L is a divalent or trivalent metal ion belonging to Period 3 to Period 5 on the long-form periodic table.) Formula (2a) (wherein M is a divalent or trivalent metal ion belonging to Period 3 to Period 5 on the long-form periodic table.)