Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of forming a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state, irradiating the hydrocarbon reactant and the supported chromium catalyst with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The supported chromium catalyst can be formed by heat treating a supported chromium precursor, contacting a chromium precursor with a solid support while heat treating, or heat treating a solid support and then contacting a chromium precursor with the solid support.

The present disclosure features a strain-promoted [2+2+2] reaction that can be carried out under physiological conditions. In general, the reaction involves reacting a pi-electrophile with a low lying LUMO with a quadricyclane on a biomolecule, generating a covalently modified biomolecule. The selectivity of the reaction and its compatibility with aqueous environments provides for its application in vivo and in vitro. The reaction is compatible with modification of living cells. In certain embodiments, the pi-electrophile can comprise a molecule of interest that is desired for delivery to a quadricyclane-containing biomolecule via [2+2+2] reaction.

The present disclosure features a strain-promoted [2+2+2] reaction that can be carried out under physiological conditions. In general, the reaction involves reacting a pi-electrophile with a low lying LUMO with a quadricyclane on a biomolecule, generating a covalently modified biomolecule. The selectivity of the reaction and its compatibility with aqueous environments provides for its application in vivo and in vitro. The reaction is compatible with modification of living cells. In certain embodiments, the pi-electrophile can comprise a molecule of interest that is desired for delivery to a quadricyclane-containing biomolecule via [2+2+2] reaction.

The present invention relates to the process for production of ketones from secondary alcohols by the use of a hybrid material, formed by the dichlorohydrotris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane iron (II) complex covalently bound to multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with superficial carboxylate groups, as efficient and selective catalyst of peroxidative oxidation, microwave-assisted and without solvent addition.

The present invention relates to the process for production of ketones from secondary alcohols by the use of a hybrid material, formed by the dichlorohydrotris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane iron (II) complex covalently bound to multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with superficial carboxylate groups, as efficient and selective catalyst of peroxidative oxidation, microwave-assisted and without solvent addition.

Embodiments herein relate to apparatus and systems for phenolic and ketone synthesis and methods regarding the same. In an embodiment, a method of producing phenolics and ketones is included. The method can specifically include forming a reaction mixture comprising nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and water. The method can also include contacting the reaction mixture with a metal oxide catalyst at a temperature of 350 degrees Celsius or higher and a pressure of at least about 3200 psi to form a reaction product mixture. The reaction product mixture can include at least about 20 wt. % phenolics and at least about 10 wt. % ketones as a percentage of the total mass of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). Other embodiments are also included herein.

Embodiments herein relate to apparatus and systems for phenolic and ketone synthesis and methods regarding the same. In an embodiment, a method of producing phenolics and ketones is included. The method can specifically include forming a reaction mixture comprising nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and water. The method can also include contacting the reaction mixture with a metal oxide catalyst at a temperature of 350 degrees Celsius or higher and a pressure of at least about 3200 psi to form a reaction product mixture. The reaction product mixture can include at least about 20 wt. % phenolics and at least about 10 wt. % ketones as a percentage of the total mass of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). Other embodiments are also included herein.

Methods, systems and catalysts for converting an alcohol containing feedstock to an upgraded material in a single catalyst bed wherein a feedstock is fed to a catalyst under preselected conditions to obtain an intermediate; and condensing the intermediate through an aldol condensation reaction to yield a product containing an upgraded material. In one instance the feedstock includes ethanol, the catalyst is a mixed metal oxide catalyst and the upgraded material is typically a C.sub.5+ ketone(s) or alcohol(s), such as 2-pentanone, 2-heptanone, 4-heptanone and 2-nonanone.

Methods, systems and catalysts for converting an alcohol containing feedstock to an upgraded material in a single catalyst bed wherein a feedstock is fed to a catalyst under preselected conditions to obtain an intermediate; and condensing the intermediate through an aldol condensation reaction to yield a product containing an upgraded material. In one instance the feedstock includes ethanol, the catalyst is a mixed metal oxide catalyst and the upgraded material is typically a C.sub.5+ ketone(s) or alcohol(s), such as 2-pentanone, 2-heptanone, 4-heptanone and 2-nonanone.

The present invention relates to the process for production of ketones from secondary alcohols by the use of a hybrid material, formed by the dichlorohydrotris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane iron (II) complex covalently bound to multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with superficial carboxylate groups, as efficient and selective catalyst of peroxidative oxidation, microwave-assisted and without solvent addition.