The present invention relates to the preparation of novel nickel complexes containing iminopyrrolyl-type ligands, having the general molecular structure (I), and to their use as active catalysts in the polymerisation reaction of ethylene to hyperbranched polyethylene. The structure of the ligand precursor is such that it allows the occurrence of a cyclometallation reaction by the activation of a CH bond, in the coordination reaction to the metal centre, generating a C,N,N-tridentate complex.

The disclosure relates to a dual catalytic method for forming aryl carbon-nitrogen bonds. The method comprises contacting an aryl halide with an amine in the presence of a dual catalytic solution comprising a Ni(II) salt catalyst, a photocatalyst, and an optional base, thereby forming a reaction mixture; exposing the reaction mixture to light under reaction condition sufficient to produce the aryl carbon-nitrogen bonds. In certain embodiments, the amine may be present in a molar excess to the aryl halide. In certain embodiment, the photocatalyst may be [Ru(bpy).sub.3]Cl.sub.2 or an organic phenoxazine. In certain embodiments, the Ni salt catalyst solution includes a Ni(II) salt and a polar solvent, wherein the Ni(II) salt is dissolved in the polar solvent.

Metal-organic framework (MOFs) compositions based on nitrogen donor-based organic bridging ligands, including ligands based on 1,3-diketimine (NacNac), bipyridines and salicylaldimine, were synthesized and then post-synthetically metalated with metal precursors, such as complexes of first row transition metals. Metal complexes of the organic bridging ligands could also be directly incorporated into the MOFs. The MOFs provide a versatile family of recyclable and reusable single-site solid catalysts for catalyzing a variety of asymmetric organic transformations. The solid catalysts can also be integrated into a flow reactor or a supercritical fluid reactor.

The present disclosure discloses an immobilized metalloporphyrin catalyst and its utilization in maleic acid preparation, belonging to the technical field of metalloporphyrin catalytic application. The immobilized metalloporphyrin catalyst is used for catalyzing furfural to prepare maleic acid and is good in catalytic effect, mild in reaction conditions and capable of greatly reducing the energy consumption required in the prior art. The catalyst disclosed by the present disclosure can provide a good microenvironment for a reaction, so that the yield and selectivity of maleic acid are increased; and according to a method disclosed by the present disclosure, the conversion ratio of furfural is 20.4%-95.6%, the yield of maleic acid is 10%-56.1%, and the selectivity is 43.6%-76.1%. Meanwhile, the catalyst is easy to separate and environmentally friendly and may be recycled for many times.

Methods of CH bond fluorination using non-heme manganese catalyst are described herein. For example, a method comprises providing a reaction mixture including a non-heme manganese catalyst, a substrate comprising an sp.sup.3 CH bond and a fluorinating agent and converting the sp.sup.3 CH bond to a CF bond in the presence of the non-heme manganese catalyst or a derivative thereof.

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.

Disclosed herein is a method for selectively reducing, using electrical energy, CO.sub.2 to formic acid, a catalyst for use in the method, and an electrochemical reduction system. The method for producing formic acid by electrochemically reducing carbon dioxide of the present invention includes (a) reacting carbon dioxide with a metal complex represented by formula (1), and (b) applying a voltage to a reaction product of the carbon dioxide and the metal complex represented by formula (1): ##STR00001##

Process for the preparation of azidoperfluoroalkanes and azidopolyfluoroalkanes of general formula R.sub.FN.sub.3, where R.sub.F is chosen from a group containing C.sub.nF.sub.2n+1, C.sub.nF.sub.xH.sub.2n+1x, C.sub.nF.sub.xX.sub.2n+1x or R.sup.1CF.sub.2CF.sub.2, where n is an integer in the range of 1 to 10, x is an integer in the range of 2 to 20, X is Cl, Br, or I, R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-10 alkyl, ArO, ArS, imidazolyl, benzimidazolyl, or pyrazolyl and Ar is phenyl or substituted phenyl, by the reaction of electrophilic azidation reagent of general formula R.sup.2N.sub.3, where R.sup.2 is n-C.sub.4F.sub.9SO.sub.2, ArSO.sub.2, Br, I, with synthetic equivalent of polyfluoroalkylated carbanion of general formula [R.sub.F].sup..

A process for making methyl esters in high yields. The process comprises contacting aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes and methanol with a homogeneous dimeric ruthenium catalyst, to catalyze the dehydrogenative coupling between aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes and methanol. The reaction is highly selective (<99.9%) toward the formation of methyl esters over homoesters and alcohols and operates at temperatures of less than 100 C. for 2-8 hours.

Systems and a method for manufacturing a base stock from a hydrocarbon stream are provided. An example method includes cracking the hydrocarbon stream to form a raw product stream, separating an ethylene stream from the raw product stream, and oligomerizing the ethylene stream to form a raw oligomer stream. A Light olefinic stream is distilled from the raw oligomer stream and oligomerized the light olefinic stream with the ethylene stream. A heavy olefinic stream is distilled from the raw oligomer stream. The heavy olefinic stream is to form a hydro-processed and distilled to form the base stock.