Novel crystalline porous materials known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and methods for their synthesis are provided herein. The MOFs include a M.sub.6(.sub.3-OH).sub.8(OH).sub.8(.sup.2,.sup.2-(O.sub.2C).sub.2cyclam).sub.8 cluster, and a metal atom coordinated to the one or more cyclam of the cluster, wherein M is Zr or Hf, and the metal atom is any one of Cu, Ni, Cr, Ru, Co, and Gd. The MOFs can be used as an adsorbent, alone or in a medium with other components, of CO.sub.2. The MOFs can also be used as a catalyst for the transformation of CO.sub.2 and epoxides to cyclic carbonates. The MOFs can also be used in the electrochemical catalytic reduction of CO.sub.2. The MOFs can also be used for photocatalytic CO.sub.2 reduction for the production of carbon-based fossil fuels. The MOFs can also be used for light-induced nitric oxide (NO) release. The MOFs can also be used as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents.

A catalyst composition comprising (a) a manganese-containing compound and (b) a carboxylic acid functionalized metal organic framework (MOF) compound; and a process for preparing an olefin oxide compound product including reacting (a) at least one olefin compound with (b) at least one oxidant in the presence of (c) the above catalyst composition.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods that can achieve photoreduction of CO.sub.2 to CO in pure water at pH 6-7 with excellent performance parameters. In embodiments, the compositions and methods use CuInS.sub.2 colloidal quantum dots (QDs) as photosensitizers, and a Co-porphyrin catalyst.

Disclosed are a novel catalyst system which is a catalyst system for selectively oligomerizing olefin including ethylene and may trimerize and tetramerize olefin, different from the catalyst system for olefin oligomerization reported until now, and a method for preparing an olefin oligomer using same. The present invention provides a catalyst system for olefin oligomerization, including a ligand compound represented by Formula 1; a chromium compound; and a metal alkyl compound, and a method for preparing an olefin oligomer using same.

The present invention provides a class of catalyst compounds that can safely and effectively release hydrogen gas from a chemical substrate without producing either noxious byproducts or byproducts that will deactivate the catalyst. The present invention provides catalysts used to produce hydrogen that has a satisfactory and sufficient lifespan (measured by turnover number (TON)), that has stability in the presence of moisture, air, acid, or impurities, promote a rapid reaction rate, and remain stable under the reaction conditions required for an effective hydrogen production system. Described herein are compounds for use as catalysts, as well as methods for producing hydrogen from formic acid and/or a formate using the disclosed catalysts. The methods include contacting formic acid and/or a formate with a catalyst as described herein, as well as methods of producing formic acid and/or a formate using the disclosed catalyst and methods for generating electricity using the catalysts described herein.

The present invention relates in part to the unexpected discovery of novel complexes capable of catalyzing the selective dehydrogenative coupling of olefins. The invention further relates to the use of these complexes for the selective coupling of olefins.

Novel compositions of matter based on homopiperazine precursor materials and forming a homopiperazine-based ligand are disclosed, along with suitable techniques and materials for the synthesis and utilization thereof. In particular various synthetic schemes and techniques for applying the disclosed compositions of matter as a decontaminating agent. The decontaminating agents include homopiperazine-based ligand-metal complexes that are particularly effective at neutralizing toxicity of nerve agents, pesticides, and other toxic organophosphorus-based compounds. In preferred approaches, the homopiperazine-based ligand-metal complexes act as catalysts to facilitate substitution of a leaving group of the organophosphorus-based compound with a functional group that does not permit the organophosphorus-based compound to inactivate acetylcholinesterase upon introduction of the organophosphorus-based compound to a living organism such as insects and mammals. Advantageously, the catalytic homopiperazine-based ligand-metal complexes are formed using inexpensive, readily-available precursor materials, and may be utilized to neutralize toxins without relying on damaging caustic reactants or environmentally unfriendly organic solvents.

The invention relates to monocarbonyl complexes of ruthenium and osmium with bi- and tridentate nitrogen and phosphine ligands. The invention relates to methods for preparing these complexes and the use of these complexes, isolated or prepared in situ, as catalysts for reduction reactions of ketones and aldehydes both via transfer hydrogenation or hydrogenation with hydrogen.

A method of synthesizing a doped carbonaceous material includes mixing a carbon precursor material with at least one dopant to form a homogeneous/heterogeneous mixture; and subjecting the mixture to pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere to obtain the doped carbonaceous material. A method of purifying water includes providing an amount of the doped carbonaceous material in the water as a photocatalyst; and illuminating the water containing the doped carbonaceous material with visible light such that under visible light illumination, the doped carbonaceous material generates excitons (electron-hole pairs) and has high electron affinity, which react with oxygen and water adsorbed on its surface forming reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals, singlet oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, that, in turn, decompose pollutants and micropollutants.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a composition having a cation and an anion. In some embodiments, a base is incorporated into the anion, and the cation and the anion form a bifunctional catalyst. In some embodiments, the cation is a chiral cobalt(III) species, and a nitrogenous Brpnsted base is incorporated into counter anions of the chiral cobalt(III) species cation. In some embodiments, the bifunctional catalyst is a tricationic cobalt(III) hydrogen bond donor catalyst, and a nitrogenous Brpnsted base is incorporated into counter anions of the tricationic cobalt(III) hydrogen bond donor catalyst. In another aspect, the present disclosure pertains to a bifunctional catalyst having a smart anion with a cationic metal species. In some embodiments, the smart anion performs a specific role in a chemical reaction without the inclusion of additional external components to accomplish a same specific role in the chemical reaction.