The current invention describes new metathesis catalysts, a method for their preparation and their use in metathesis reactions.

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 synthesis, structure, and reactivity of a family of iridium-based molecular cluster complexes, including neutron and X-ray single-crystal diffraction measurements, are provided. It is found that one complex, which includes an Ir.sub.3H.sub.6(.sup.3H) trinuclear core, exhibits reactivity for reversible CO.sub.2 hydrogenation via hydride transfer. This reactivity is unlike previous reports of one known Ir.sub.3H.sub.6(.sup.3H) complex, which is inert.

Preparation of a catalyst suitable for use in Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis reactions using a two step process in which the steps may be performed in either order. In step a), impregnate an iron carboxylate metal organic framework selected from a group consisting of iron-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (Fe-(BTC), Basolite F-300 and/or MIL-100 (Fe)), iron-1,4 benzenedicarboxylate (MIL-101(Fe)), iron fumarate (MIL-88 A (Fe)), iron-1,4 benzenedicarboxylate (MIL-53 (Fe)), iron-1,4 benzenedicarboxylate (MIL-68 (Fe)) or iron azobenzenetetracarboxylate (MIL-127 (Fe)) with a solution of a promoter element selected from alkali metals and alkaline earth metals. In step b) thermally decompose the iron carboxylate metal organic framework under an inert gaseous atmosphere to yield a catalyst that is a porous carbon matrix having embedded therein a plurality of discrete aliquots of iron carbide. If desired, add a step intermediate between steps a) and b) or preceding step b) wherein the metal organic framework is impregnated with an oxygenated solvent solution of a polymerizable additional carbon source and the polymerizable additional carbon source is thereafter polymerized.

The present invention is directed towards a catalyst which is obtainable by contacting in situ a ruthenium precursor and a phenol derivative. Furthermore, the present invention is directed towards the use of said catalyst in transfer hydrogenation reactions. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method for preparing menthone starting from isopulegol.

A metal complex represented by the following Formula (1):

##STR00001##

(wherein M represents palladium or platinum; L represents a ligand selected from carbon monoxide, an olefin compound, an amine compound, a phosphine compound, an N-heterocyclic carbene compound, a nitrile compound and an isocyanide compound; n represents an integer of 0 to 2 showing the number of the ligand; and each of R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 represents an organic group). The metal complex described above can be fixed on an inorganic oxide while maintaining a skeletal structure thereof to obtain a supported metal complex, and this makes it possible to allow the supported metal complex to maintain the same catalytic activity as that of the original metal complex.

Also, calcining the supported metal complex obtained in the manner described above makes it possible to obtain a supported metal catalyst which is improved in catalytic activity to a greater extent than conventional supported metal catalysts.

Preparation of a catalyst suitable for use in Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis reactions using a two step process in which the steps may be performed in either order. In step a), impregnate an iron carboxylate metal organic framework selected from a group consisting of iron-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (Fe-(BTC), Basolite F-300 and/or MIL-100 (Fe)), iron-1,4 benzenedicarboxylate (MIL-101(Fe)), iron fumarate (MIL-88 A (Fe)), iron-1,4 benzenedicarboxylate (MIL-53 (Fe)), iron-1,4 benzenedicarboxylate (MIL-68 (Fe)) or iron azobenzenetetracarboxylate (MIL-127 (Fe)) with a solution of a promoter element selected from alkali metals and alkaline earth metals. In step b) thermally decompose the iron carboxylate metal organic framework under an inert gaseous atmosphere to yield a catalyst that is a porous carbon matrix having embedded therein a plurality of discrete aliquots of iron carbide. If desired, add a step intermediate between steps a) and b) or preceding step b) wherein the metal organic framework is impregnated with an oxygenated solvent solution of a polymerizable additional carbon source and the polymerizable additional carbon source is thereafter polymerized.

A hydroprocessing catalyst has been developed. The catalyst is a unique transition metal tungsten oxy-hydroxide material. The hydroprocessing using the transition metal tungsten oxy-hydroxide material may include hydrodenitrification, hydrodesulfurization, hydrodemetallation, hydrodesilication, hydrodearomatization, hydroisomerization, hydrotreating, hydrofining, and hydrocracking.

Disclosed herein are methods of making bis(phenol) ligand compounds and transition metal bis(phenolate) compounds. The transition metal bis(phenolate) compounds can be used as components in catalyst systems for the polymerization of olefins.

A process to prepare a relatively inexpensive utility fluid comprises contacting together ethylene and a coordination-insertion catalyst and, optionally, an alpha-olefin, in a continuously-fed backmixed reactor zone under conditions such that a mixture of a hyperbranched oligomer and a branched oligomer is formed. The hyperbranched oligomer has an average of at least 1.5 methine carbons per oligomer molecule, and at least 40 methine carbons per one-thousand total carbons, and at least 40 percent of the methine carbons is derived from the ethylene, and the average number of carbons per molecule is from 25 to 100, and at least 25 percent of the hyperbranched oligomer molecules has a vinyl group and can be separated from the branched oligomer, which has an average number of carbons per molecule of up to 20. The coordination-insertion catalyst is characterized as having an ethylene/octene reactivity ratio up to 20 and a kinetic chain length up to 20 monomer units.