Zwitterion ligand metal complexes and methods of aerobic oxidation using a zwitterion ligand metal complex are provided. The zwitterion ligand metal complexes can include a transition metal salt and a zwitterion ligand, which can comprise a non-conjugated amide anion-phosphonium cation, an amide anion-ammonium cation, or an iminium cation. The methods of aerobic oxidation can include combining the zwitterion ligand metal complex with an oxidizable compound and molecular oxygen to allow the isolation of an oxidized compound from the oxidizable compound.

Provided herein is a method for producing methyl pentenone (MPO) in high yield in a continuous mode in a fixed bed reactor having a plurality of sidewall injecting ports by reacting excess methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) with acetaldehyde in presence of a cation exchange resin catalyst, wherein the acetaldehyde is injected from the plurality of sidewall injecting ports of the reactor. The method is also effective in reducing the complete consumption of the catalyst during the course of the reaction.

Provided herein is a method for producing methyl pentenone (MPO) in high yield in a continuous mode in a fixed bed reactor having a plurality of sidewall injecting ports by reacting excess methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) with acetaldehyde in presence of a cation exchange resin catalyst, wherein the acetaldehyde is injected from the plurality of sidewall injecting ports of the reactor. The method is also effective in reducing the complete consumption of the catalyst during the course of the reaction.

A (Z)-solanone has the steric formula of: ##STR00001##
or ##STR00002##
with the name of (S,Z)-5-isopropyl-8-methyl-6,8-diene-2-one or (R,Z)-5-isopropyl-8-methyl-6,8-diene-2-one. A process for the preparation of the (Z)-type solanone and the use thereof in flavoring of cigarette shred are further disclosed. The process includes the following steps: (1) reacting isopentanal and methyl vinyl ketone, under the action of a catalyst and a co-catalyst, to give (S)-2-isopropyl-5-carbonylhexanal or (R)-2-isopropyl-5-carbonylhexanal; (2) reacting the (S)-2-isopropyl-5-carbonylhexanal or the (R)-2-isopropyl-5-carbonylhexanal obtained in step (1) with (iodomethyl)triphenylphosphonium iodide, to give (S,Z)-7-iodo-5-isopropyl-6-ene-2-one or (R,Z)-7-iodo-5-isopropyl-6-ene-2-one; and (3) reacting the (S,Z)-7-iodo-5-isopropyl-6-ene-2-one or the (R,Z)-7-iodo-5-isopropyl-6-ene-2-one obtained in step (2) with pinacol isopropenylborate in the presence of a catalyst to give the (Z)-solanone.

A (Z)-solanone has the steric formula of: ##STR00001##
or ##STR00002##
with the name of (S,Z)-5-isopropyl-8-methyl-6,8-diene-2-one or (R,Z)-5-isopropyl-8-methyl-6,8-diene-2-one. A process for the preparation of the (Z)-type solanone and the use thereof in flavoring of cigarette shred are further disclosed. The process includes the following steps: (1) reacting isopentanal and methyl vinyl ketone, under the action of a catalyst and a co-catalyst, to give (S)-2-isopropyl-5-carbonylhexanal or (R)-2-isopropyl-5-carbonylhexanal; (2) reacting the (S)-2-isopropyl-5-carbonylhexanal or the (R)-2-isopropyl-5-carbonylhexanal obtained in step (1) with (iodomethyl)triphenylphosphonium iodide, to give (S,Z)-7-iodo-5-isopropyl-6-ene-2-one or (R,Z)-7-iodo-5-isopropyl-6-ene-2-one; and (3) reacting the (S,Z)-7-iodo-5-isopropyl-6-ene-2-one or the (R,Z)-7-iodo-5-isopropyl-6-ene-2-one obtained in step (2) with pinacol isopropenylborate in the presence of a catalyst to give the (Z)-solanone.

A method for making cyclopentadiene fuels comprising producing cyclopent-2-en-1-one or a mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-one from a bio-based source. The cyclopent-2-en-1-one or the mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-one is hydrogenated, thereby forming cyclopent-2-en-1-ol or a mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-ol. The cyclopent-2-en-1-ol or the mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-ol is dehydrated with a dehydrating agent, thereby forming cyclopentadiene or a mixture of cyclopentadiene. The cyclopentadiene or mixture of cyclopentadiene is converted to dicyclopentadiene or dihydrodicyclopentadiene. The dicyclopentadiene or dihydrodicyclopentadiene is hydrogenated, thereby forming tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene. The tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene is isomerized, thereby forming exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene.

A method for making cyclopentadiene fuels comprising producing cyclopent-2-en-1-one or a mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-one from a bio-based source. The cyclopent-2-en-1-one or the mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-one is hydrogenated, thereby forming cyclopent-2-en-1-ol or a mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-ol. The cyclopent-2-en-1-ol or the mixture of cyclopent-2-en-1-ol is dehydrated with a dehydrating agent, thereby forming cyclopentadiene or a mixture of cyclopentadiene. The cyclopentadiene or mixture of cyclopentadiene is converted to dicyclopentadiene or dihydrodicyclopentadiene. The dicyclopentadiene or dihydrodicyclopentadiene is hydrogenated, thereby forming tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene. The tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene is isomerized, thereby forming exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene.

Zwitterion ligand metal complexes and methods of aerobic oxidation using a zwitterion ligand metal complex are provided. The zwitterion ligand metal complexes can include a transition metal salt and a zwitterion ligand, which can comprise a non-conjugated amide anion-phosphonium cation, an amide anion-ammonium cation, or an iminium cation. The methods of aerobic oxidation can include combining the zwitterion ligand metal complex with an oxidizable compound and molecular oxygen to allow the isolation of an oxidized compound from the oxidizable compound.

Zwitterion ligand metal complexes and methods of aerobic oxidation using a zwitterion ligand metal complex are provided. The zwitterion ligand metal complexes can include a transition metal salt and a zwitterion ligand, which can comprise a non-conjugated amide anion-phosphonium cation, an amide anion-ammonium cation, or an iminium cation. The methods of aerobic oxidation can include combining the zwitterion ligand metal complex with an oxidizable compound and molecular oxygen to allow the isolation of an oxidized compound from the oxidizable compound.

The present invention relates to: a method for converting a hydroxyl group of an alcohol; and a catalyst which makes the method possible. A method for converting a hydroxyl group of an alcohol according to the present invention is characterized by producing a compound represented by CH(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)Nu (wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and Nu are as defined below) by reacting an alcohol represented by CH(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)OH (wherein each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group, or the like) and a compound having an active proton, which is represented by H-Nu (wherein Nu represents a group represented by CHX.sup.1-EWG.sup.1 or NR.sup.3R.sup.4; X.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or the like; EWG.sup.1 represents an electron-withdrawing group; and each of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group, or the like), with each other in the presence of a complex of a group 7-11 metal of the periodic table and at least one solid base that is selected from the group consisting of layered double hydroxides, composite oxides and calcium hydroxide.