The present invention provides new methods for preparing compound 5, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, of structure ##STR00001##
Compound 5, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is an important intermediate in the synthesis of carfilzomib. The invention further provides methods of making a useful manganese catalyst that may be used in the epoxidation step of the present invention.

Disclosed herein is a method for selectively reducing, using electrical energy, CO.sub.2 to carbon monoxide or formic acid, a catalyst for use in the method, and an electrochemical reduction system. The method for producing carbon monoxide or formic acid by electrochemically reducing carbon dioxide of the present invention includes (a) reacting carbon dioxide with a metal complex represented by formula (1), and (b) applying a voltage to a reaction product of the carbon dioxide and the metal complex represented by formula (1):

##STR00001##

A homogeneous catalyst is provided comprising one or more metals; and at least two metal coordinating ligands wherein the homogeneous catalyst is a multi-ligand metal complex adapted for use with an oxidant in an oxidation reaction to catalytically pretreat lignocellulosic biomass. In one embodiment, the homogenous catalyst is copper (II) 2, 2′ bipyridine ethylenediamine (Cu(bpy)en). Related methods are also disclosed.

[Mn.sub.3SrO.sub.4] cluster compounds are synthesized in a single step from raw materials consisting of simple and inexpensive Mn.sup.2+, Sr.sup.2+ inorganic compounds and carboxylic acids by using permanganate anion as oxidant. This step can be followed by the synthesis of asymmetric biomimetic water splitting catalyst [Mn.sub.4SrO.sub.4] cluster compounds in the presence of water. The [Mn.sub.4SrO.sub.4] cluster compound can catalyze the splitting of water in the presence of an oxidant to release oxygen gas. The neutral [Mn.sub.3SrO.sub.4](R.sub.1CO.sub.2)6(R.sub.1CO.sub.2H).sub.3 cluster compound can serve as precursors for the synthesis of biomimetic water splitting catalysts, and can be utilized in the synthesis of different types of biomimetic water splitting catalysts. [Mn.sub.4SrO.sub.4](R.sub.1CO.sub.2).sub.8(L.sub.1)(L.sub.2)(L.sub.3)(L.sub.4) cluster compounds can serve as artificial water splitting catalysts, can be utilized on the surface of an electrode or in the catalyzed splitting of water driven by an anoxidant.

Metal-organic framework materials (MOFs) are highly porous entities comprising a multidentate organic ligand coordinated to multiple metal centers. MOFs having ambient condition stability may comprise a plurality of metal clusters comprising one or more M.sub.4O clusters (M is a metal), and a plurality of 4-pyrazolecarboxylate ligands coordinated to the plurality of metal clusters to define an at least partially crystalline network structure having a plurality of internal pores. The MOFs may have a Pa3 symmetry, which upon activation may convert into Fm3m symmetry. Methods for synthesizing the MOFs may comprise combining a metal source, such as a preformed metal cluster, with 4-pyrazolecarboxylic acid, and reacting the preformed metal cluster with the 4-pyrazolecarboxylic acid to form a MOF having an at least partially crystalline network structure with a plurality of internal pores defined therein and comprising a plurality of metal clusters coordinated to a multidentate organic ligand comprising 4-pyrazolecarboxylate.

The present application provides a mononuclear transition metal complex, a photocatalyst for carbon dioxide reduction including same, and a method for reducing carbon dioxide to formic acid, the method comprising using the photocatalyst for carbon dioxide reduction.

The present invention relates to a method of degrading biofilm by contacting it with an aqueous mixture comprising a peroxide compound and a manganese complex, wherein the aqueous mixture comprises a macrocylic ligand. The invention also relates to a method of degrading a biofilm by contacting it with an aqueous mixture comprising a peroxide compound and a macrocyclic ligand.

Provided is a fuel reforming system that can convert gasoline into alcohol in a vehicle. Provided is a fuel reforming system (1) equipped with a reformer (15) having a reforming catalyst (152) that uses air to reform gasoline to produce alcohol, a mixer (14) which mixes gasoline and air and supplies the mixture to the reformer (15), and a condenser (16) which separates the gas produced in the reformer (15) into a gas phase and a condensed phase of which reformed fuel is the primary constituent; wherein the fuel reforming system (1) is characterized in that the reforming catalyst (152) is configured including a main catalyst for extracting hydrogen atoms from the hydrocarbons in the gasoline to produce alkyl radicals, and a catalytic promoter for reducing alkyl hydroperoxides produced from the alkyl radicals to produce alcohol.

Metal-inorganic frameworks (“MIFs”) having enhanced adsorption capabilities to hydrogen, CO, CO.sub.2, hydrocarbons, and a variety of other guest molecules are disclosed. All linkers in the MIFs contain metal complexes, comprising metal atoms and inorganic or organic ligands, instead of only organic ligands as linkers in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Compared to their MOF counterparts, MIFs with carbon-free or carbon-deficient chemical structure are expected to possess enhanced thermal stability, higher catalytic activity, and higher gas affinity and selectivity.

Disclosed herein is the use of manganese, iron, cobalt, or nickel complexes containing tridentate pyridine di-imine ligands as hydrosilylation catalysts. These complexes are effective for efficiently catalyzing hydrosilylation reactions, as well as offering improved selectivity and yield over existing catalyst systems.