Carbonate esters of Formula (I): (R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3)SiR.sup.4OC(O)OR.sup.4Si(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3) are prepared by reaction of a silyl-substituted alcohol of Formula (II): (R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3)SiR.sup.4OH with an activated carbonyl compound of Formula (III): C(O)Z.sub.2 in the presence of a catalyst (e.g., an bicyclic amidine, a bicyclic guanidine, or a phosphazene) in an aprotic solvent. In Formulas (I) and (II) each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently is alkyl; R.sup.3 is alkyl or X.sup.1Si(R.sup.5)(R.sup.6)(R.sup.7); X.sup.1 is O or alkylene; R.sup.4 is alkylene; and each R.sup.5, R.sup.6, and R.sup.7 independently is alkyl. In Formula (III), Z is 1-N-imidazolyl or 1-N-succinimidyl. In some embodiments, the catalyst used in the methods described herein comprises at least one base selected from the group consisting of a bicyclic amidine and a bicyclic guanidine. The reaction proceeds readily under both bulk and continuous flow reactor conditions.

The present invention provides a high-purity glucose-based compound ultra-highly substituted with a biopolymer, in which a surface of a glucose-based compound as a natural material is ultra-highly modified with a biopolymer to improve compatibility and dispersibility with biodegradable polymers, thereby significantly improving the mechanical properties of the biodegradable polymer composite.

A method of deconstructing polymer waste into at least one useful breakdown product, wherein the polymer waste contains at least one condensation polymer, the method comprising contacting the polymer waste with a catalyst comprising an organic nitrogen-containing base and a carboxylic acid or ester thereof, in the presence of a protic molecule selected from alcohols, diols, polyols, and amines, at an elevated temperature effective for inducing alcoholysis or aminolysis of the condensation polymer, wherein the useful breakdown products comprise monomer species capable of being polymerized, and the organic nitrogen-containing base has the following structure:

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wherein: R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 are independently selected from hydrogen atom, electron pair, and alkyl groups containing one to three carbon atoms, and wherein any adjacent two of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 may optionally interconnect to form a five, six, or seven-membered ring.

A method of preparing glycolide, the method including dehydrative oligomerization and catalytic depolymerization. The dehydrative oligomerization includes stepwise heating a glycolic acid aqueous solution from room temperature to a temperature of between 200 and 210 C., and maintaining the temperature at each corresponding temperature stage, to yield an oligoglycolic acid. The catalytic depolymerization includes adding a binary complex catalytic system to the oligoglycolic acid to yield a reactant mixture, stepwise heating the reactant mixture from room temperature to a temperature of between 280 and 285 C., and maintaining the temperature at each corresponding temperature stage.

The present invention relates to ion pair catalysts (I) comprising the cationic bisguanidinium ligand (A) and diperoxomolybdate anion (B). The present invention also relates to ion pair catalysts (III) comprising the cationic bisguanidinium ligand (C) and peroxotungstate anion (D). It further relates to the use of the said catalysts in the manufacture of enantiomerically enriched sulfoxides.

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The invention concerns ionic compounds in which the anionic load has been delocalized. A compound disclosed by the invention is comprised of an amide or one of its salts, including an anionic portion combined with at least one cationic portion M.sup.+m in sufficient numbers to ensure overall electronic neutrality; the compound is further comprised of M as a hydroxonium, a nitrosonium NO.sup.+, an ammonium NH.sub.4.sup.+, a metallic cation with the valence m, an organic cation with the valence m, or an organometallic cation with the valence m. The anionic portion matches the formula R.sub.FSO.sub.xN.sup.?Z, where R.sub.F is a perflourinated group, x is 1 or 3, and Z is an electroattractive substituent. The compounds can be used notably for ionic conducting materials, electronic conducting materials, colorants and the catalysis of various chemical reactions.

Provided herein are methods for producing ,-unsaturated ketones from the condensation of methyl ketones in the presence of an amine catalyst. Such amine catalysts may be supported, for example, on a silica-alumina support. Such amine catalysts may be used in the presence of an additional acid. The ,-unsaturated ketones may be produced by dimerization and/or timerization of the methyl ketones. Such ,-unsaturated ketones may be suitable for use in producing fuels, gasoline additives, and/or lubricants, or precursors thereof. The methyl ketones may be obtained from renewable sources, such as by the fermentation of biomass.

A method for the preparation of polyethers is provided, the method using a protic ionic salt formed by the combination of a Bronsted acid and a Bronsted base, as well as to the polyethers obtained using the method.

A catalyst containing at least one amidine or guanidine group of formula (Ia) or (Ib), which is bound to a silicon atom of a siloxane residue. At room temperature, the catalyst is liquid and odorless. It is particularly suitable as a cross-linking catalyst for curable compositions, in particular for silane group-containing compositions. It is particularly good at accelerating the hardening of such compositions without impairing stability in storage, and displays little volatility but good compatibility. As a result, the compositions do not tend towards separation or migration or evaporation of the catalyst.

The present technology provides compositions, methods, and processes to form polysiloxanes. In one aspect, the present technology provides a process for the ring opening polymerization of a cyclosiloxane comprising contacting a cyclosiloxane with a bicyclic guanidine compound. The guanidine-containing compounds useful in the ring opening reaction include a fused ring structure comprising a guanidine functional group as part of the fused ring.