The subject invention pertains to a method of halogenating phenols, yielding a range of halogenated phenols with enantiomeric ratio of up to 99.5:0.5. In certain embodiments, the subject invention pertains to a method of asymmetric halogenation of bisphenol, yielding a range of chiral bisphenol ligands. The novel chiral bisphenols are potent privileged catalyst cores that can be applied to the preparation of ligands for various catalytic asymmetric reactions. The catalyst library can easily be accessed because late-stage modification of the scaffold can readily be executed through cross-coupling of the halogen handles on the bisphenols.

A nitrogen heterocyclic carbene catalyst, having a structural formula represented by formula I:

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Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 in the formula I represent any one independently selected from the group consisting of an aryl, a substituted aryl, a heteroaryl, and a substituted heteroaryl, respectively; and X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom. Thiourea (urea) is introduced to the nitrogen heterocyclic carbene skeleton as another active site, which can form various bifunctional nitrogen heterocyclic carbene catalysts.

Disclosed are a reduction method and reduction product of an alkenyl active methylene compound. The reduction reaction comprises the following steps: taking an alkenyl active methylene compound as a substrate, a metal hydride as a reducing agent, and a palladium compound as a catalyst, performing a reduction reaction to obtain a reduction product, and then reducing the alkenyl active methylene compound. The reduction system is a simple method for reducing the alkenyl active methylene compound, and the used hydride and palladium compound catalyst are both reagents that could easily be obtained in a laboratory. Compared with conventional hydrogen hydrogenation methods and reduction methods of reducing agents, the method is easier to operate, higher in safety, mild in conditions, and high in reaction yield, a reaction in a one-pot two-step manner can be achieved, and high atom economy and step economy can be obtained.

Catalyst compositions for the conversion of aldehyde compounds and primary alcohol compounds to olefins are disclosed herein. Reactions include oxidative dehydroxymethylation processes and oxidative dehydroformylation methods, which are beneficially conducted in the presence of a sacrificial acceptor of H.sub.2 gas, such as N,N-dimethylacrylamide.

A chiral catalyst represented by formula (II) is provided. In formula (II), Y independently includes hydrogen, fluorine, trifluoromethyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl, C.sub.mH.sub.2m+1 or OC.sub.mH.sub.2m+1, wherein m=1-10 and n=1-10. A heterogeneous chiral catalyst is also provided. The heterogeneous chiral catalyst includes the chiral catalyst represented by formula (II), and a substrate connected to the chiral catalyst. ##STR00001##

A degradation method of thermosetting resin is provided. The method includes the following steps, for example, a first resin composition is provided. The resin in the first resin composition includes a carbon-nitrogen bond, an ether bond, an ester bond or a combination thereof. The first resin composition and a catalyst composition are mixed to perform a degradation reaction to form a second resin composition. The catalyst composition includes a transition metal compound and a group IIIA metal compound. The second resin composition includes a resin monomer or an oligomer thereof having functional groups. The functional group includes an amine group, a hydroxyl group, an ester group, an acid group or a combination thereof. A catalyst composition used in the degradation method and a resin composition obtained by the degradation method are also provided.

A chiral catalyst represented by formula (II) is provided. In formula (II), Y independently includes hydrogen, fluorine, trifluoromethyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl, C.sub.mH.sub.2m+1 or OC.sub.mH.sub.2m+1, wherein m=1-10 and n=1-10. A heterogeneous chiral catalyst is also provided. The heterogeneous chiral catalyst includes the chiral catalyst represented by formula (II), and a substrate connected to the chiral catalyst.

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A chiral catalyst represented by formula (I) is provided. In formula (I), Z═Z.sub.1 or Z.sub.2, and the combination of Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 in formula (I) includes

##STR00001##

Y independently includes hydrogen, fluorine, trifluoromethyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl, C.sub.mH.sub.2m+1 or OC.sub.mH.sub.2m+1, m=1-10, and n=1-10. A heterogeneous chiral catalyst including the chiral catalyst is also provided.

##STR00002##

This disclosure relates to synthetic coupling methods using catalytic molecules. In certain embodiments, the catalytic molecules comprise heterocyclic thiolamide, S-acylthiosalicylamide, disulfide, selenium containing heterocycle, diselenide compound, ditelluride compound or tellurium containing heterocycle. Catalytic molecules disclosed herein are useful as catalysts in the transformation of hydroxy group containing compounds to amides, esters, ketones, and other carbon to heteroatom or carbon to carbon transformations

Disclosed is a method for preparing a 1,3-dicarbonyl compound based on a metal hydride/palladium compound system. The method includes the following steps: suspending a palladium compound and a metal hydride in a solvent under the protection of nitrogen, then adding an electron-deficient olefin compound, reacting same at 0 C.-100 C. for 0.3 to 10 hours, then adding a saturated ammonium chloride aqueous solution to stop the reaction, and then subjecting same to extraction, evaporation until dryness, and column chromatography purification to obtain the 1,3-dicarbonyl compound. The hydride and palladium compound catalysts used by the present invention are reagents easily obtained in a laboratory. Compared to a common hydrogen hydrogenation method, the method is easier to operate, and has a higher safety, mild conditions, and a high reaction yield.