One or more concentrated low-viscosity solutions of alkaline earth alkoxide compounds M(OCH.sub.2R.sup.6).sub.2-a-b(OR.sup.7).sub.a[O(CHR.sup.8).sub.nOR.sup.9].sub.b in mixture with a metal alkyl compound M(R.sup.10R.sup.11) in an aprotic solvent and related methods are disclosed herein.

Systems and methods for formation of highly reactive alkali dendrites are provided. For example, in some embodiments alkali metals are dissolved in ammonia to form metal electrides after which the ammonia is removed via vacuum to reveal highly activated metal surfaces in the form of crystalline alkali dendrites. The alkali dendrites can mimic powders but have the advantage of being freshly prepared from inexpensive and readily available metal sources. These uniquely activated metals exhibit enhanced reactivity comparatively to similar off the shelf sources of the corresponding metals. For example, the dendrites can have about 100 times greater surface area than conventional metal sources and/or be about 19 times more reactive than powders that serve as the industry standard for the preparation of organometallic compounds. After surface activation, these metals can be used to prepare various organometallic reagents.

Systems and methods for formation of highly reactive alkali dendrites are provided. For example, in some embodiments alkali metals are dissolved in ammonia to form metal electrides after which the ammonia is removed via vacuum to reveal highly activated metal surfaces in the form of crystalline alkali dendrites. The alkali dendrites can mimic powders but have the advantage of being freshly prepared from inexpensive and readily available metal sources. These uniquely activated metals exhibit enhanced reactivity comparatively to similar off the shelf sources of the corresponding metals. For example, the dendrites can have about 100 times greater surface area than conventional metal sources and/or be about 19 times more reactive than powders that serve as the industry standard for the preparation of organometallic compounds. After surface activation, these metals can be used to prepare various organometallic reagents.

The present invention relates to an integrated process for simultaneously preparing at least two mixtures comprising alkali metal methoxide and methanol in at least two parallel reactive distillation columns, wherein one rectification column is used for providing a methanol stream which is then used as methanol source for the reactive distillation columns, and wherein the top streams of said reactive distillation columns are used as methanol source for said rectification column.

The present invention relates to an integrated process for simultaneously preparing at least two mixtures comprising alkali metal methoxide and methanol in at least two parallel reactive distillation columns, wherein one rectification column is used for providing a methanol stream which is then used as methanol source for the reactive distillation columns, and wherein the top streams of said reactive distillation columns are used as methanol source for said rectification column.

A method of manufacture of zinc monoglycerolate containing an incorporated modifier, and the product, the zinc monoglycerolate being in the form of agglomerates of crystallites, wherein the crystallite size based on the average coherence domain length is not more than 30 nm in the <100> direction, and not more than 60 nm in the <011> direction, as determined by the Scherrer equation via powder X-ray diffraction; and the aspect ratio computed by <100>/<011> coherent domain lengths is less than 0.65, preferably less than 0.56, in particular less than 0.44. Polymers containing this nucleating agent and methods for their production are also described. The zinc monoglycerolate is useful as a nucleating agent, and is very effective at low loading levels in polymers such as polypropylene.

A method of manufacture of zinc monoglycerolate containing an incorporated modifier, and the product, the zinc monoglycerolate being in the form of agglomerates of crystallites, wherein the crystallite size based on the average coherence domain length is not more than 30 nm in the <100> direction, and not more than 60 nm in the <011> direction, as determined by the Scherrer equation via powder X-ray diffraction; and the aspect ratio computed by <100>/<011> coherent domain lengths is less than 0.65, preferably less than 0.56, in particular less than 0.44. Polymers containing this nucleating agent and methods for their production are also described. The zinc monoglycerolate is useful as a nucleating agent, and is very effective at low loading levels in polymers such as polypropylene.

A method of manufacture of zinc monoglycerolate containing an incorporated modifier, and the product, the zinc monoglycerolate being in the form of agglomerates of crystallites, wherein the crystallite size based on the average coherence domain length is not more than 30 nm in the <100> direction, and not more than 60 nm in the <011> direction, as determined by the Scherrer equation via powder X-ray diffraction; and the aspect ratio computed by <100>/<011> coherent domain lengths is less than 0.65, preferably less than 0.56, in particular less than 0.44. Polymers containing this nucleating agent and methods for their production are also described. The zinc monoglycerolate is useful as a nucleating agent, and is very effective at low loading levels in polymers such as polypropylene.

A method for manufacturing calcium diglyceroxide crystals includes at least the following steps: placing at least one calcium element source compound, in particular calcium oxide, in suspension in glycerol or in a homogeneous mixture of glycerol and an anhydrous glycerol solvent, in particular methanol, referred to as the starting suspension, the molar ratio being greater than or equal to 2; milling the starting suspension at an ambient temperature of less than or equal to 50 C. in a three-dimensional liquid-phase ball mill for a holding time of 15 minutes or less; recovering, at the outlet of the mill, a suspension of calcium diglyceroxide crystals, and optionally, washing the obtained suspension with a glycerol solvent in order to eliminate any excess glycerol, optionally, drying the suspension of calcium diglyceroxide crystals so as to obtain a powder of calcium diglyceroxide crystals. Also disclosed are uses associated with the calcium diglyceroxide crystals.

A method for manufacturing calcium diglyceroxide crystals includes at least the following steps: placing at least one calcium element source compound, in particular calcium oxide, in suspension in glycerol or in a homogeneous mixture of glycerol and an anhydrous glycerol solvent, in particular methanol, referred to as the starting suspension, the molar ratio being greater than or equal to 2; milling the starting suspension at an ambient temperature of less than or equal to 50 C. in a three-dimensional liquid-phase ball mill for a holding time of 15 minutes or less; recovering, at the outlet of the mill, a suspension of calcium diglyceroxide crystals, and optionally, washing the obtained suspension with a glycerol solvent in order to eliminate any excess glycerol, optionally, drying the suspension of calcium diglyceroxide crystals so as to obtain a powder of calcium diglyceroxide crystals. Also disclosed are uses associated with the calcium diglyceroxide crystals.