The present invention relates to a novel phenonthroline based pincer complexes and process for preparation thereof. The present invention also provides a one pot process for the conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol in the presence of a molecularly defined pincer-type single-site Ru-catalyst and secondary amine. Further the present invention provides the use of phenonthroline based pincer complexes for the esterification of alcohols and hydrogenation of esters under mild conditions.

The present disclosure discusses (i) a compound having a chemical formula according to Formula (I), or its enantiomer; and (ii) a compound that is reactive with a hydride to produce a compound having a chemical formula according to Formula (I), or its enantiomer. Formula (I) is: Formula (I) where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are H, optionally substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alkyl, or linked together to form an optionally substituted C.sub.3 or C.sub.4 alkyl group; R.sub.3 and R.sub.3are H; R.sub.4 and R.sub.4 are the same, and are optionally substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl; and R.sub.5 and R.sub.5 are the same, and are optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl. In some examples, R4 and R5 are linked, and R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are linked, where both linking groups are the same. The present disclosure also discusses methods of asymmetric reduction of an imine, and methods of forming the catalysts and pre-catalysts.

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The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a deuterated ethanol from an acetic acid, an acetate, or an amide by reaction with D.sub.2 in the presence of a transition metal catalyst.

The present invention relates to a two-stage hydroformylation process for producing pound of the formula (I) and to a process for producing a compound of the formula (V) comprising the two-stage hydroformylation process for producing a compound of the formula (I) followed by hydrogenation of the compound of the formula (I).

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The present invention provides a novel cationic ruthenium complex which is easy to produce and handle and can be procured at a relatively low cost and a production method for the ruthenium complex, a method for producing an alcohol or the like using the ruthenium complex as a catalyst, a method for producing a carbonyl compound using the ruthenium complex as a catalyst, and a method for producing a N-alkylamine compound using the ruthenium complex as a catalyst. The present invention pertains to a ruthenium complex represented by general formula (1): [RuX(CO).sub.2(PNP)]Y (wherein, X represents a monovalent anionic monodentate ligand, Y represents a counter anion, PNP represents a tridentate ligand, and CO represents carbon monoxide), a production method for the ruthenium complex, a catalyst containing the ruthenium complex, and a production method for various organic compounds using the catalyst.

A complex that includes a metal fine particle dispersant including a branched polymer compound having an ammonium group and having a weight average molecular weight of 500 to 5,000,000; and a metal fine particle, wherein the metal fine particle includes platinum (Pt) or palladium (Pd), the metal fine particle dispersant includes a branched polymer compound of Formula (1): ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a method for efficiently producing a ruthenium complex (1.sup.A) by reacting a dinuclear ruthenium complex (2.sup.A) with a compound (3.sup.A) in the presence of a primary alcohol and a base. The ruthenium complex (1.sup.A) can also be efficiently produced by treating a dinuclear ruthenium complex (4.sup.A) with a primary alcohol and a base. (In the formulas, solid lines, triple lines, broken lines, C, H, N, OP, Ru, X, AH and R.sup.1 to R.sup.12 have the meanings defined in the specification.) ##STR00001##

A chemoselective process for producing alcohols from ,-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones is described.

The present disclosure relates to new transition metal isonitrile compounds, processes for the production of the compounds and the use of the compounds as catalysts. The disclosure also relates to the use of the metal isonitrile compounds as catalysts for hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation of compounds containing one or more carbon-oxygen, and/or carbon-nitrogen and/or carbon-carbon double bonds.

The present invention relates to a chiral spiro phosphine-nitrogen-sulfur (PNS) tridentate ligand, preparation method and application thereof. The PNS tridentate ligand is a compound represented by Formula I or Formula II, their racemates, optical isomers, or catalytically acceptable salts thereof. The ligand has a primary structure skeleton characterized as a chiral spiro indan skeleton structure with a thio group. The chiral spiro phosphine-nitrogen-sulfur tridentate ligand can be synthesized by reacting racemic or optical active compound 7-diary/alkyl phosphine-7-amino-1, 1-spiro-dihydro-indene compound having a spiro-dihydro-indene skeleton as the starting material. The chiral spiro PNS tridentate ligand being complex with transition metal salt can be used in an asymmetric catalytic hydrogenation reaction for catalyzing carbonyl compound. In particular, in asymmetric hydrogenation reaction process, being complex with iridium for catalyzing -alkyl--keto ester can obtain a high catalytic activity (a catalyst amount of 0.0002% mol) and high enantioselectivity (up to 99.9% ee) result. So the present invention has a practical value for industrial and commercial production. ##STR00001##