The invention concerns a process for the dimerization of ethylene to 1-butene, carried out with a catalytic composition comprising: at least one nickel precursor with an oxidation number of (+II), at least one phosphine ligand with formula PR.sub.1R.sub.2R.sub.3 in which the groups R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 may be identical or different and which may or may not be bonded together, and at least one activating agent selected from the group formed by chlorinated and brominated hydrocarbylaluminium compounds, used alone or as a mixture, said composition having a molar ratio of the phosphine ligand to the nickel precursor in the range 5 to 30 and a molar ratio of the activating agent to the phosphine ligand greater than or equal to 1.

A process for producing isomerized olefins, branched aldehydes, branched alcohols, branched surfactants and other branched derivatives through isomerization, hydroformylation, hydrogenation, surfactant forming reactions and other derivative forming reactions.

An olefin metathesis catalyst and method for producing same is provided.

Disclosed is a method for using a metal catalyst or catalyst precursor that catalyzes the isomerization of an unsaturated fatty acid, unsaturated fatty acid derivative, or an unsaturated triglyceride. Also disclosed is a method for using a metal catalyst or catalyst precursor that catalyzes the decarboxylation of an unsaturated organic compound. Also disclosed is a method for using a catalyst or catalyst precursor for the dual function isomerization and decarboxylation of an unsaturated fatty acid to an unsaturated organic compound.

The present disclosure provides a catalyst system that is capable of selectively hydrogenating (2,3)/(4,5) and (2,3)/(5,6) dienones with hydrogen gas. Specifically, the present disclosure provides catalysts capable of providing high selectivity for the reduction even in the absence of catalyst poisons such as pyridine, pyrazine, quinoline, and quinoxaline

A process for isomerizing endo-hydrogenated dicyclopentadiene to form the corresponding exo-isomer using a stable, pumpable liquid aluminum halide catalyst which includes steps of providing a first solution containing a hydrogenated dicyclopentadiene compound that is dissolved in a hydrocarbon solvent, adding a cosolvent to the first solution to form a second solution, adding an aluminum halide to the second solution, and isomerizing the hydrogenated dicyclopentadiene compound in the presence of dissolved aluminum halide which acts as a catalyst to produce the corresponding exo-isomer.