The present invention discloses a method for preparing a phenylboronic acid neopentyl glycol ester. A mixed nickel(II) complex with a formula of Ni[P(OR.sup.1).sub.3][(R.sup.2NCH.sub.2CH.sub.2NR.sup.2)C]X.sub.2 is used as a catalyst. The method comprises: in the presence of potassium methoxide, efficiently catalyze a cross coupling reaction between a phenyl chloride and a bis(neopentyl glycolato)-diboron to prepare a phenylboronic acid neopentyl glycol ester. The invention provides the first embodiment of using a mixed nickel(II) complex with phosphonate ester and nitrogen heterocyclic carbene ancillary ligands to catalyze a cross coupling reaction.

Compound of formula (4) or formula (5), wherein L is a neutral ligand, preferably a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic carbene (NHC) such as carbene containing at least two nitrogen atoms, a cyclic aminoalkyl carbene (CAAC) or a bicyclic aminoalkyl carbene (BICAAC); R.sup.1, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 are, independently, H, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkyl, C.sub.5-9 cycloalkyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkoxy, optionally bearing one or more halogen atoms, respectively; or aryl, optionally substituted with one or more of unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkyl, C.sub.5-9 cycloalkyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, heteroaryl, carboxyl, cyano, nitro, amido, aminosulfonyl, N-heteroarylsulfonyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkylsulfinyl, arylsulfinyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkylthio, arylthio, sulfonamide, halogen or N(R.sup.y)(R.sup.z), wherein R.sup.y and R.sup.z are independently selected from H and C.sub.1-20 alkyl: R.sup.C is H, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkyl. ##STR00001##

An organometallic complex catalyst is disclosed for use in a cross-coupling reaction. In formula (1), M is the coordination center and represents a metal atom such as Pd or an ion thereof. R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 may be the same or different and are a substituent such as a hydrogen atom. R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, and R.sup.7 may be the same or different and are a substituent such as a hydrogen atom. X represents a halogen atom. R.sup.8 represents a substituent that has a bond and 3-20 carbon atoms. With regard to the electron-donating properties of R.sup.1-R.sup.7 with respect to the coordination center M of the ligand containing R.sup.1-R.sup.7 that is indicated in formula (2), R.sup.1-R.sup.7 are arranged in combination such that the TEP value obtained from infrared spectroscopy shifts toward the low frequency side compared to the TEP value of the ligand of formula (2-1).

##STR00001##

A method of carrying out a metathesis reaction includes the combination of at least one alkene or non conjugated diene with a Ruthenium-based catalyst with an cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbene ligand to form a reaction mixture and heating the reaction mixture to a temperature of 100 C. or greater. The reaction can be an ADMET, ROMP, a metathesis ring-closure or an olefin exchange reaction.

The present invention discloses a method for preparing a phenylboronic acid neopentyl glycol ester. A mixed nickel(II) complex with a formula of Ni[P(OR.sup.1).sub.3][(R.sup.2NCH.sub.2CH.sub.2NR.sup.2)C]X.sub.2 is used as a catalyst. The method comprises: in the presence of potassium methoxide, efficiently catalyze a cross coupling reaction between a phenyl chloride and a bis(neopentyl glycolato)-diboron to prepare a phenylboronic acid neopentyl glycol ester. The invention provides the first embodiment of using a mixed nickel(II) complex with phosphonate ester and nitrogen heterocyclic carbene ancillary ligands to catalyze a cross coupling reaction.

The present disclosure is directed to photosensitive compositions Fischer-type ruthenium carbene catalysts containing chelated 2,2-bipyridine ligands and methods of using the same. These catalysts are surprisingly active even when using relatively low intensity diode light sources. The 2,2-bipyridine-chelated ruthenium photocatalysts show reactivity at substantially lower exposure levels than other photoactive chelating dinitrogen ligands of similar structure. The present disclosure is further directed to novel photosensitive compositions, their use as photoresists, and methods related to patterning polymer layers on substrates.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention encompass compositions encompassing a latent catalyst and a compound capable of generating a Bronsted acid along with one or more monomers which undergo ring open metathesis polymerization (ROMP) when said composition is exposed to a suitable radiation to form a substantially transparent film. The monomers employed therein have a range of refractive index from 1.4 to 1.6 and thus these compositions can be tailored to form transparent films of varied refractive indices. The composition of this invention also features low dielectric constant (low k in the range of from about 2.2 to 3). Accordingly, compositions of this invention are useful in various opto-electronic applications, including as coatings, encapsulants, fillers, leveling agents, among others.

Catalysts and methods for transformation of glycerol and a carbon feedstock, such as CO.sub.2, a carbonate salt or a bicarbonate salt, are described herein. Homogeneous catalysts include compounds of formula M[NHC-R-linker]aLbXc, where M is a transition metal, NHC is an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand, R is an alkyl or aryl group, linker is a polar group, L is a neutral ligand, X is an anionic ligand, a ranges from 1-3, b ranges from 0-3, and c ranges from 0-3. Heterogeneous catalysts include a solid support with a catalytically active compound immobilized on the solid support, where the catalytically active compound has the formula M[NHC-R-linker]aLbXc where M is a transition metal, NHC is an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand, R is an alkyl or aryl group; linker is a polar group, L is a neutral ligand, X is an anionic ligand, a ranges from 1-3, b ranges from 0-3, and c ranges from 0-3.

The present disclosure is directed to a cleavable agent for enhanced magnetic resonance generally corresponding to the formula Y-L-R, wherein Y represents a catalyst-binding moiety having at least one isotopically labeled heteroatom, L represents a cleavable bond, and R represents a hyperpolarized payload having at least one isotopically labeled carbon. Also disclosed herein is a method of cleaving the cleavable agent for enhanced magnetic resonance.

Conversion of vegetable-derived triglycerides to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) is a popular approach to the generation of biodiesel fuels and the basis of a growing industry. Drawbacks of the strategy are that (a) the glycerol backbone of the triglyceride is discarded as waste in this synthesis, and (2) many natural triglycerides are multiply-unsaturated or fully saturated, giving inferior performance and causing engine problems with long-term use. Here, we show that catalysis by iridium complex 1 can address both of these problems through selective reduction of triglycerides high in polyunsaturated fatty esters to FAMEs with high oleate concentration. This is realized using hydrogen imbedded in the triglyceride backbone, concurrently generating lactate as a value-added C.sub.3 product. Additional methanol or glycerol as a hydrogen source enables reduction of corn and soybean oils to >80% oleate.