The present disclosure provides novel methods of making aluminum complexes with utility for promoting epoxide carbonylation reactions. Methods include reacting neutral metal carbonyl compounds with alkylaluminum complexes.

A process for the carbonylation of epoxides in the presence of catalyst systems, wherein the carbonylation takes place in the presence of carbon monoxide, and wherein the catalyst system contains a molybdenum-based compound. Carbonylation products as well as carbonylation derivatives and to the use of the claimed catalyst systems for the carbonylation of epoxides are also provided.

The invention relates to a process for the carbonylation of epoxides in the presence of catalyst systems, in which the carbonylation is carried out in the presence of carbon monoxide, and wherein the catalyst system comprises a vanadium-based, chromium-based, manganese-based and/or tungsten-based compound, preferably a tungsten-based compound. The invention further relates to carbonylation products and carbonylation conversion products and to the use of catalyst systems according to the invention for carbonylation of epoxides.

A field of asymmetric catalytic synthesis, and in particular a preparation method for a high optical indoxacarb intermediate includes reacting 5-chloro-2-methoxycarbonyl-1-indanone ester (or indanone ester for short) with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a chiral Zr-salen polymer to obtain an indoxacarb intermediate (2S)-5-chloro-2,3-dihydro-2-hydroxy-1-oxo-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester. The yield is stabilized between 86% and 90%, and the S-enantiomer content is up to 99%. Such catalyst can replace catalysts such as cinchonine, and greatly increase the content of the effective S-enantiomer of the indoxacarb, so that the content of the hydroxyl intermediate S-enantiomer of the indoxacarb is raised from 75% to 99% or more. In addition, the chiral Zr-salen polymer catalyst is recycled without retreatment, and can be recycled at least 5 times or more, greatly reducing the production cost and laying a foundation for the industrial production of high quality indoxacarb.

The present invention provides a method for preparing a cyclic carbonate, which has the advantages of high yield, mild reaction conditions, high catalytic efficiency under room temperature and 1 atm pressure conditions, and wide substrate scopes. It is not only suitable for monosubstituted epoxides, but also suitable for disubstituted epoxides. The method comprises the step of reacting epoxides of Formula (I) with carbon dioxide in the presence of a quaternary ammonium salt and a catalyst, to obtain a cyclic carbonate of Formula (II). The reaction formula is:

##STR00001##

Provided herein are heterogeneous catalysts suitable for use in carbonylation reactions, including the production of acrylic acid from ethylene oxide and carbon monoxide on an industrial scale. The production may involve various unit operations, including, for example: a beta-propiolactone production system configured to produce beta-propiolactone from ethylene oxide and carbon monoxide; a polypropiolactone production system configured to produce polypropiolactone from beta-propiolactone; and an acrylic acid production system configured to produce acrylic acid with a high purity by thermolysis of polypropiolactone.

Aminoalcohol lipidoids are prepared by reacting an amine with an epoxide-terminated compound are described. Methods of preparing aminoalcohol lipidoids from commercially available starting materials are also provided. Aminoalcohol lipidoids may be prepared from racemic or stereochemically pure epoxides. Aminoalcohol lipidoids or salts forms thereof are preferably biodegradable and biocompatible and may be used in a variety of drug delivery systems. Given the amino moiety of these aminoalcohol lipidoid compounds, they are particularly suited for the delivery of polynucleotides. Complexes, micelles, liposomes or particles containing the inventive lipidoids and polynucleotide have been prepared. The inventive lipidoids may also be used in preparing microparticles for drug delivery. They are particularly useful in delivering labile agents given their ability to buffer the pH of their surroundings.

The present invention provides a method for preparing a cyclic carbonate, which has the advantages of high yield, mild reaction conditions, high catalytic efficiency under room temperature and 1 atm pressure conditions, and wide substrate scopes. It is not only suitable for monosubstituted epoxides, but also suitable for disubstituted epoxides. The method comprises the step of reacting epoxides of Formula (I) with carbon dioxide in the presence of a quaternary ammonium salt and a catalyst, to obtain a cyclic carbonate of Formula (II). The reaction formula is: ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to ligands based on calixarenes, metal complexes comprising such ligands and their use as homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysts.

A three-way catalyst article, and its use in an exhaust system for internal combustion engines, is disclosed. The catalyst article for treating exhaust gas comprising: a substrate comprising an inlet end and an outlet end with an axial length L; a first catalytic region comprising a first palladium (Pd) component and a first Pd support material, wherein the substrate is substantially free of the first Pd component.