Method of forming a trisubstituted ethylene compound, the method comprising: (A) providing a trisubstituted ethylene compound bearing a first, a second and a third substituent, in which the first and the second substituent are bound to the one olefinic carbon atom and are different from one another; (B) providing a monosubstituted ethylene compound or a disubstituted ethylene compound in which the substituents are vicinally bound to the olefinic carbon atoms, bearing at least a fourth substituent, respectively; (C) subjecting the trisubstituted ethylene compound provided in step (A) to a cross-metathesis reaction with olefin provided in step (B) to form said trisubstituted ethylene, wherein the cross-metathesis reaction is catalysed by a transition metal complex bearing ligands from which one ligand is a carbene ligand, wherein the carbene complex is characterized by a MC moiety, wherein M is the transition metal; and wherein the reaction proceeds stereoselectively.

High activity metal nanoparticle catalysts, such as Pd or Pt nanoparticle catalysts, are provided. Adsorption of metal precursors such as Pd or Pt precursors onto carbon based materials such as graphene followed by solventless (or low-solvent) microwave irradiation at ambient conditions results in the formation of catalysts in which metal nanoparticles are supported on i) the surface of the carbon based materials and ii) in/on/within defects/holes in the carbon based materials.

High activity metal nanoparticle catalysts, such as Pd or Pt nanoparticle catalysts, are provided. Adsorption of metal precursors such as Pd or Pt precursors onto carbon based materials such as graphene followed by solventless (or low-solvent) microwave irradiation at ambient conditions results in the formation of catalysts in which metal nanoparticles are supported on i) the surface of the carbon based materials and ii) in/on/within defects/holes in the carbon based materials.

The present invention relates to a device for generating ultra pure 1-methyl-cyclopropene (1-MCP) by using an improved carrier gas flow control system. The invention also relates to the use of a 1-MCP generating device for inhibiting the action of ethylene which accelerates the ripening process of plants such as fruits, flowers, vegetables and the like. Furthermore the invention encompasses a method for treating and storing harvested agricultural products using said 1-MCP generating device.

The present invention relates to a device for generating ultra pure 1-methyl-cyclopropene (1-MCP) by using an improved carrier gas flow control system. The invention also relates to the use of a 1-MCP generating device for inhibiting the action of ethylene which accelerates the ripening process of plants such as fruits, flowers, vegetables and the like. Furthermore the invention encompasses a method for treating and storing harvested agricultural products using said 1-MCP generating device.

The object of the present invention is to provide a process for preparing a 5-alken-1-yne compound efficiently at low costs and a process for preparing (2E,6Z)-2,6-nonadienal by making use of the aforesaid process for preparing the 5-alken-1-yne compound.

There is provided a process for preparing a 5-alken-1-yne compound of the following formula (4): Y-Z-CR.sup.1CR.sup.2(CH.sub.2).sub.2CCH (4) in which Y in formula (4) represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, the process comprising at least steps of: subjecting (i) an alkenylmagnesium halide compound prepared from a haloalkene compound of the following formula (1): Y-Z-CR.sup.1CR.sup.2(CH.sub.2).sub.2-X.sup.1 (1) and (ii) an alkyne compound of the following formula (2): X.sup.2=CCSi(R.sup.3)(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5) (2) to a coupling reaction to form a silane compound of the following formula (3): Y-Z-CR.sup.1CR.sup.2(CH.sub.2).sub.2CCSi(R.sup.3)(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5) (3); and subjecting the silane compound (3) to a desilylation reaction to form the 5-alken-1-yne compound (4).

The object of the present invention is to provide a process for preparing a 5-alken-1-yne compound efficiently at low costs and a process for preparing (2E,6Z)-2,6-nonadienal by making use of the aforesaid process for preparing the 5-alken-1-yne compound.

There is provided a process for preparing a 5-alken-1-yne compound of the following formula (4): Y-Z-CR.sup.1CR.sup.2(CH.sub.2).sub.2CCH (4) in which Y in formula (4) represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, the process comprising at least steps of: subjecting (i) an alkenylmagnesium halide compound prepared from a haloalkene compound of the following formula (1): Y-Z-CR.sup.1CR.sup.2(CH.sub.2).sub.2-X.sup.1 (1) and (ii) an alkyne compound of the following formula (2): X.sup.2=CCSi(R.sup.3)(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5) (2) to a coupling reaction to form a silane compound of the following formula (3): Y-Z-CR.sup.1CR.sup.2(CH.sub.2).sub.2CCSi(R.sup.3)(R.sup.4)(R.sup.5) (3); and subjecting the silane compound (3) to a desilylation reaction to form the 5-alken-1-yne compound (4).

Provided herein are nickel(O) catalysts that are stable when exposed to air and can be used to catalyze the formation of a CC, CO, or CN bond.

The present invention relates to a device for carrying out continuous-flow chemical reactions under pressure or high pressure using a cascade of perfectly stirred Gas-Liquid-Solid reactors, and to the use of these devices for the implementation of such reactions. The device comprises a cascade of interconnected autoclave reactors. The reactors of the cascade are of different volumes and are provided with means allowing them to be controlled individually in a completely independent manner. The cascade of reactors comprises at least two reactors of different volumes, increasing or decreasing in the fluid flow direction.

Processes of forming C.sub.sp2C.sub.sp3 bonds at the allylic carbon of a cyclic allylic compound starting material are disclosed, in which a racemic mixture of a cyclic allylic compound having a leaving group attached to the allylic carbon is reacted with a compound having a nucleophilic carbon atom in the presence of a Rh(I), Pd(II) or Cu(I) pre-catalyst and a chiral ligand. The reaction products containing the newly-formed C.sub.sp2C.sub.sp3 bond are generated in high stereoisomeric excess, and may therefore serve as important organic building blocks in the preparation of new agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals.