The present disclosure relates to block copolymers comprising, and methods of making thereof, a polycarbonate chain linked to a hydrophilic polymer. Such block copolymers may have the formula B-A-B, where A is a polycarbonate or polyethercarbonate chain and B is a polyether. Provided methods are useful in reducing the amount of waste generated from the synthesis of polycarbonates and provide improved thermal stability and high primary hydroxyl content. Provided block copolymers also have utility as additives in enhanced oil recovery methods, and foam polymer applications.

The present invention is directed to processes from producing beta-lactone and beta-lactone derivatives using heterogenous catalysts. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the processes comprise the steps: passing a feed stream comprising an epoxide reagent and a carbon monoxide reagent to a reaction zone; contacting the epoxide reagent and the carbon monoxide reagent with a heterogenous catalyst to produce a beta-lactone product in the reaction zone; and removing the beta-lactone product from the reaction zone. In preferred embodiments, the heterogenous catalyst comprises a solid support containing a cationic Lewis acid functional group and a metal carbonyl compound comprising at least one of anionic metal carbonyl compound or a neutral metal carbonyl compound. In certain preferred embodiments, the epoxide reagent and carbon monoxide reagent have a biobased content.

A method for producing a sulfoxide derivative represented by general formula (1), ##STR00001##
the method being characterized in that a sulfide derivative represented by general formula (2) ##STR00002##
is reacted with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a catalyst that is a metal-ligand complex containing a metal compound and, as a ligand, a compound represented by general formula (3), ##STR00003##
and in the presence of a benzoic acid compound represented by general formula (4) ##STR00004##

The present invention relates to the field of polymerisation catalysts, and systems comprising said catalysts for polymerising carbon dioxide and an epoxide, a lactide and/or lactone, and/or an epoxide and an anhydride. The catalyst is of formula (I): ##STR00001## Wherein M.sub.1 and M.sub.2 are independently selected from Zn(II), Cr(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Mg(II), Fe(II), Ti(II), V(II), Cr(III)-X, Co(III)-X, Ni(III)-X, Mn(III)-X, Fe(III)-X, Ca(II), Ge(II), Al(III)-X, Ti(III)-X, V(III)-X, Ge(IV)-(X).sub.2 or Ti(IV)-(X).sub.2. R.sub.3A is different from R.sub.3B; and/or at least one occurrence of E.sub.3, E.sub.4, E.sub.5 and E.sub.6 is different to a remaining occurrence of E.sub.3, E.sub.4, E.sub.5 and E.sub.6. A ligand, a process of asymmetric N-substitution of a symmetrical ligand and a process for the reaction of: (i) carbon dioxide with an epoxide; (ii) an epoxide and an anhydride; and/or (iii) a lactide and/or a lactone, in the presence of a catalyst is also described.

Methods of preparing fluorinated compounds by carboxylative fluorination using fluoride are contained herein. Fluorinated compounds are provided. Methods of using fluorinated compounds are contained herein.

The present invention concerns a composite comprising supported nanoclusters, the nanoclusters comprising one or more metal ion-containing compounds, wherein each metal ion-containing compound is a transition metal complex having ligands coordinated to a transition metal ion, the ligands being selected from the group consisting of glyoxime; a glyoxime derivative; salicylaldimine; and a salicylaldimine derivative; and wherein the nanoclusters are spaced across one or more surfaces of a support; a material prepared from the composite by annealing; and solution-based methods for forming the composite and materials. Uses of the metal ion-containing compounds are also described, as are uses of the products as catalysts and adsorbers.

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.

A method of aerobic depolymerization of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites using sustainable reagents and conditions. A cured matrix is digested into soluble monomers and oligomers by catalytic aerobic oxidation. Carbon fibers are removed for re-use, then the remaining material is treated and valuable monomers are isolated. The isolated monomers can be converted back into resin precursors for re-use. The method solves the problem created because the typically irreversible cure reaction impedes recycling and re-use of FRP composites.

Disclosed herein are reaction compositions comprising an oxidation catalyst, a solvent, and a substrate that is dissolved in the solvent. The oxidation catalyst comprises a metal ion complexed with an -keto acid and a tridentate N,N,O-ligand. Also disclosed herein are methods for oxidizing a CH bond of a molecule, the methods comprising contacting the molecule with a metal complex comprising a metal ion complexed with a tridentate N,N,O-ligand in the presence of an -keto acid and a solvent. In some embodiments, the oxidation catalyst or metal complex is linked to a solid support.

Methods and compositions for the catalytic oxidation of pharmaceutically active compounds, and more particularly to ex vivo methods for predicting in vivo metabolism of pharmaceutically active compounds, including predicting in vivo interaction between two or more pharmaceutically active compounds.