A hydrocarbon compound and carbon monoxide are reacted in the presence of either a supported chromium (VI) catalyst or a supported chromium (II) catalyst, optionally with UV-visible light irradiation and/or exposure to an oxidizing atmosphere, followed by removing a reaction product containing an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound from the respective chromium catalyst. Often, the reaction product contains one or more ketone and/or aldehyde compounds.

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.

A method of reducing an aromatic ring or a cyclic, allylic ether in a compound includes preparing a reaction mixture including a compound including an aromatic moiety or a cyclic, allylic ether moiety, an alkali metal, and either ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, or a combination thereof, in an ether solvent; and reacting the reaction mixture at from −20° C. to 30° C. for a time sufficient to reduce a double bond in the aromatic moiety to a single bond or to reduce the cyclic, allylic ether moiety.

A method of reducing an aromatic ring or a cyclic, allylic ether in a compound includes preparing a reaction mixture including a compound including an aromatic moiety or a cyclic, allylic ether moiety, an alkali metal, and either ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, or a combination thereof, in an ether solvent; and reacting the reaction mixture at from −20° C. to 30° C. for a time sufficient to reduce a double bond in the aromatic moiety to a single bond or to reduce the cyclic, allylic ether moiety.

The present invention relates to a novel synthetic pathway for alpha-tocopherol. The invention discloses different reactions yielding some new intermediates in a very high yield and stereoselectivity.

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 the field of organic synthesis and more specifically it concerns a process for the dehydrogenation of compound of formula (I) catalyzed by palladium (Pd.sup.0) in elemental metallic form.

The present invention relates to the field of organic synthesis and more specifically it concerns a process for the dehydrogenation of compound of formula (I) catalyzed by palladium (Pd.sup.0) in elemental metallic form.