The invention pertains to the synthesis of carbamate and urea compounds. In particular the invention is directed to the synthesis of carbamate and urea compounds which may be used in the production of compounds that are used to stabilize nitrocellulose. The method of the invention comprises preparing a carbamate or urea derivative comprising reacting an amine and a carbonate or carbamate in the presence of an ionic liquid.

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 refers to a process for the asymmetric synthesis of isopiperitenol and successor compounds.

The invention relates to a process for producing oxamide-functional siloxanes by reacting (A) siloxanes of the general formula (I)

##STR00001## with (B) siloxanes selected from (B1) linear siloxanes of the general formula

HO[SiR.sub.2O].sub.tH(II) and (B2) cyclic compounds of the general formula

(SiR.sup.4.sub.2O).sub.s(III), wherein the radicals and indices have the definitions specified in claim 1, in the presence of (C) catalysts.

Provided are a phosphazene compound, a method for preparing a phosphazene compound and a method for producing a polymer with a phosphazene compound as a catalyst. The compound of formula (I) or a solvate thereof, where A is a six- or eight-membered ring consisting of repeated PN, and B is at least one of unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-6 alkylamino, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-6 cycloalkylamino, unsubstituted or substituted arylamino,

##STR00001##

or halogen, and B is attached to A at phosphorus in PN, where R is unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-6 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-6 cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, or unsubstituted or substituted benzyl, or R forms C.sub.1-6 heterocycloalkyl together with N attached thereto.

##STR00002##

The invention describes a novel catalytic composition comprising at least one nickel precursor A with at least one diphosphinamine ligand B1 of formula (R1)(R1)PN(R3)P(R2)(R2) or an iminobisphosphine ligand B2 of formula (R3)NP(R1)(R1)P(R2)(R2) or an iminobisphosphine ligand B2 of formula (R3)NP(R2)(R2)P(R1)(R1). The invention also describes the use of said catalytic composition in a method for the oligomerisation of olefins.

The present invention is directed to processes for catalyzing two or more chemical reactions with a multifunctional catalyst in a reaction vessel. The processes include steps for introducing one or more reagents to a reaction vessel containing a multifunctional catalyst; contacting the one or more reagents with a first portion of the multifunctional catalyst to produce an intermediate; contacting the intermediate with a second portion of the multifunctional catalyst to produce a product; and removing the product from the reaction vessel. In certain embodiments, the multifunctional catalyst may have a first portion with carbonylation functionality for catalyzing the production of a beta-lactone intermediate from an epoxide reagent and a carbon monoxide reagent. In certain embodiments, the multifunctional catalyst may have a second portion with a functionality suitable for polymerization, co-polymerization, and/or modification of a beta-lactone intermediate. In preferred embodiments, the first portion and second portion are bonded to a heterogenous support.

The present invention relates to a transition metal complex that exhibits high activity in the polymerization reaction of olefin monomers and improved copolymerization activity, thus enabling the preparation of a low density, high molecular weight polyolefin, a catalyst composition including the same, and a method for preparing a polyolefin using the composition.

The present invention provides unimolecular metal complexes having increased activity in the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and epoxides. Also provided are methods of using such metal complexes in the synthesis of polymers. According to one aspect, the present invention provides metal complexes comprising an activating species with co-catalytic activity tethered to a multidentate ligand that is coordinated to the active metal center of the complex.

The present invention provides unimolecular metal complexes having increased activity in the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and epoxides. Also provided are methods of using such metal complexes in the synthesis of polymers. According to one aspect, the present invention provides metal complexes comprising an activating species with co-catalytic activity tethered to a multidentate ligand that is coordinated to the active metal center of the complex.