A method for direct synthesis of cyclic carbonates is achieved by reacting at least one epoxide with carbon dioxide in the presence of a choline catalyst, such as choline chloride, under mild conditions such as a temperature between about 25 C. to 150 C. and a pressure of from about atmospheric to 75 psi (0.52 MPa), in a cyclic carbonate solvent. The choline catalyst may be the only catalyst used, and a co-catalyst or hydrogen bond donor is not necessary. The concentration of choline catalyst in the solvent ranges from about 0.5 mol % to about 10 mol %, based on the epoxide.

The present invention relates to a process of manufacturing of allene ketone using specific ammonium (thio)sulfates or hydrogen (thio)sulfates as catalyst. The reaction provides the allene ketone in high yields and selectivities.

The present invention relates to a process of manufacturing of allene ketone using specific ammonium (thio)sulfates or hydrogen (thio)sulfates as catalyst. The reaction provides the allene ketone in high yields and selectivities.

Improved methods of oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of short chain alkanes or ethylbenzene to the corresponding olefins, and improved methods of oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) to ethylene and/or ethane, are disclosed. The disclosed methods use boron- or nitride-containing catalysts, and result in improved selectivity and/or byproduct profiles than methods using conventional ODH or OCM catalysts.

The inventive concepts disclosed and/or claimed herein relate generally to catalysts and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a heterogeneous, metal-free hydrogenation catalyst containing frustrated Lewis pairs. In one non-limiting embodiment, the heterogeneous, metal-free catalyst comprises hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) having frustrated Lewis pairs therein.

The invention relates to a process for preparing pilocarpine and intermediate compounds therefor. In particular, the present invention relates to key intermediates for the preparation of pilocarpine, i.e., compounds of formula I and formula II, and processes for their preparation. One method is to use malic acid as a raw material, react it with alcohol or sulfate ester first, then react with haloethane, etc. to obtain the compound of formula II, and finally react with a halogenating reagent to obtain the compound of formula I; in the other method, n-butyraldehyde is used as a raw material, and is subjected to condensation reaction, oxidation reaction, esterification reaction and sulfonylation reaction in sequence to obtain the compound of formula II, and finally react with a halogenating reagent to obtain the compound of formula I. The preparation method of the present invention has the advantages of mild reaction conditions, simple reaction process, high overall yield and high purity of the target product, and is therefore very suitable for industrial production.

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The present invention discloses a sulfonamide compound (III) which is intermediately produced in a process for preparing a high-purity sulfonamide compound (I). The preparation comprises the following steps: a, taking a crude product of a sulfonamide compound (I) as an initial raw material, and enabling the raw material to react with a compound of a formula (II) in presence of alkali and a catalyst so as to synthesize an intermediate of a formula (III); and b, enabling the compound represented by the formula (III) to react with alkali or acid, thereby obtaining the high-purity sulfonamide compound (I).

A catalyst for oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes includes a substrate including an oxide; at least one promoter including a transition metal or a main group element of the periodic table; and an oxidation-active transition metal. The catalyst is multimetallic.

Improved methods of oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of short chain alkanes or ethylbenzene to the corresponding olefins, and improved methods of oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) to ethylene and/or ethane, are disclosed. The disclosed methods use boron- or nitride-containing catalysts, and result in improved selectivity and/or byproduct profiles than methods using conventional ODH or OCM catalysts.

Improved methods of oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of short chain alkanes or ethylbenzene to the corresponding olefins, and improved methods of oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) to ethylene and/or ethane, are disclosed. The disclosed methods use boron- or nitride-containing catalysts, and result in improved selectivity and/or byproduct profiles than methods using conventional ODH or OCM catalysts.