The present invention provides a catalyst system capable of catalyzing the carbonylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, which system is obtainable by combining: a) a metal of Group VIB or Group VIIIB or a compound thereof, b) a bidentate phosphine, arsine or stibine ligand, and c) an acid,
wherein the ligand is present in at least a 2:1 molar excess compared to the metal or the metal in the metal compound, and that the acid is present in at least a 2:1 molar excess compared to the ligand, a process for the carbonylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, a reaction medium, and use of the system.

A method of recycling a plastic includes decomposing the plastic in the presence of a catalyst to form hydrocarbons. The catalyst includes a porous support having an exterior surface and defining at least one pore therein. The catalyst also includes a depolymerization catalyst component disposed on the exterior surface of the porous support for depolymerizing the plastic. The depolymerization catalyst component includes a Ziegler-Natta catalyst, a Group IIA oxide catalyst, or a combination thereof. The catalyst further includes a reducing catalyst component disposed in the at least one pore.

The present invention refers to a process for the trans-selective hydroboration of internal alkynes and the so-obtained products. The inventive process makes use of a borane of the formula X.sup.1X.sup.2BH selected from the group of dialkyl boranes or di(alkoxy)boranes which are reacted with the internal alkynes in the presence of a cyclyopentadienyl-coordinated ruthenium catalyst.

A highly efficient method for the conversion of a natural product into the high density fuel RJ-4 with concomitant evolution of isobutylene for conversion to fuels and polymers, more specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to efficient methods for the conversion of the renewable, linear terpene alcohol, linalool into a drop-in, high density fuel suitable for ramjet or missile propulsion.

A formic acid decomposition catalyst system includes organometallic complexes having formula 1:

##STR00001##

wherein: M is a transition metal; E is P, N, or C (as in imidazolium carbene); R.sub.1, R.sub.2 are independently C.sub.1-6 alkyl groups; o is 1, 2, 3, or 4; R.sub.3 are independently hydrogen, C.sub.1-6 alkyl groups, OR.sub.14, NO.sub.2, halogen; R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7, R.sub.8, R.sub.9, R.sub.10, R.sub.11, R.sub.12, R.sub.13, R.sub.15, R.sub.16 are independently hydrogen or C.sub.1-6 alkyl groups; R.sub.14 is a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group; and X.sup.−is a negatively charge counter ion.

This invention relates to transition metal complexes of a dianionic, tridentate ligand that features a central neutral heterocyclic Lewis base and two phenolate donors, where the tridentate ligand coordinates to the metal center to form two eight-membered rings. Preferably the bis(phenolate) complexes are represented by Formula (I): ##STR00001##
where M, L, X, m, n, E, E′, Q, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.1′, R.sup.2′, R.sup.3′, R.sup.4′, A.sup.1, A.sup.1′, ##STR00002##
are as defined herein, where A.sup.1QA.sup.1′ are part of a heterocyclic Lewis base containing 4 to 40 non-hydrogen atoms that links A.sup.2 to A.sup.2′ via a 3-atom bridge with Q being the central atom of the 3-atom bridge.

Provided is a method for preparing an enamide compound, which includes reacting an organic azide compound having α-hydrogen and an anhydride by addition of a ruthenium complex catalyst in the presence of an ionic liquid, and a ruthenium complex catalyst used herein.

Processes for producing an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, such as acrylic acid, or a salt thereof, using solid promoters are disclosed. The solid promoters can be certain solid oxides, mixed oxides, and clays, illustrative examples of which can include alumina, zirconia, magnesia, magnesium aluminate, sepiolite, and similar materials.

An aluminum catalyst is obtained by reacting at least one compound of a specific alkylaluminum compound and a specific hydridoaluminum compound with a specific hydroxy compound. The specific hydroxyl compound is a specific 2-cycloalkyl-6-arylphenol or a specific di(2-cycloalkyl-6-arylphenol). A method for producing isopulegol or optically active isopulegol includes selectively cyclizing citronellal using the aluminum catalyst.

The present invention provides highly efficient process for the preparation of enantiomerically enriched Sitagliptin of Formula (Ia). More particularly, a direct rhodium catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation in the presence of bis-phosphine chiral ligand has been developed to yield enantiopure Sitagliptin product with the highest enantiomeric excess of 85-99.9%.

##STR00001##