A method of preparing catalyst particles (the “preparation method”) is disclosed. The preparation method comprises combining a Ru(0) complex and a carrier fluid to form a mixture and heating the mixture at an elevated temperature to nucleate the Ru(0) complex and give the catalyst particles in the carrier fluid. The preparation method optionally comprises isolating the catalyst particles from the carrier fluid. A method of preparing an organosilicon compound via dehydrogenative silylation with the catalyst particles (the “synthesis method”) is also disclosed. The synthesis method comprises reacting (A) an organohydridochlorosilane compound and (B) an alkene compound in the presence of (C) a catalyst, thereby preparing the organosilicon compound. The catalyst (C) of the synthesis method comprises the catalyst particles prepared by the preparation method.

Methods of preparing primary phosphine products using one or more precursor cyclophosphanes, hydrogen, and one or more Lewis acid catalysts. In some embodiments, a cyclophosphane precursor and at least one Lewis acid are dissolved in a solvent to provide a solution. The solution is treated with hydrogen, and optionally heated, to cause a reaction that produces a primary phosphine © product. The primary phosphine product may be isolated from the Lewis acid(s) and optionally purified. In some embodiments, a method may include synthesizing the cyclophosphane precursor prior to mixing the cyclophosphane precursor and the Lewis acid(s).

Compound of formula 4 or formula 5 ##STR00001##
wherein
L is a neutral ligand, preferably a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic carbene (NHC) such as carbene containing at least two nitrogen atoms, a cyclic aminoalkyl carbene (CAAC) or a bicyclic aminoalkyl carbene (BICAAC);
R.sup.1, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 are, independently, H, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkyl, C.sub.5-9 cycloalkyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkoxy, optionally bearing one or more halogen atoms, respectively; or aryl, optionally substituted with one or more of unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkyl, C.sub.5-9 cycloalkyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, heteroaryl, carboxyl, cyano, nitro, amido, aminosulfonyl, N-heteroarylsulfonyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkylsulfinyl, arylsulfinyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkylthio, arylthio, sulfonamide, halogen or N(R.sup.y)(R.sup.z), wherein R.sup.y and R.sup.z are independently selected from H and C.sub.1-20 alkyl:
R.sup.2 is H, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkyl.

Catalyst systems suitable for tetramerizing ethylene to form 1-octene may include a catalyst having a structure according to Formula (VI) or Formula (VII). In Formulas (VI) and (VII), X is a halogen, a (C.sub.2-C.sub.30) carboxylate, acetylacetonate, or a (C.sub.1-C.sub.30) hydrocarbyl; L.sub.1 is a neutral coordinating ligand; n is an integer from 0 to 6; Y is a (C.sub.6-C.sub.20)fluorine-substituted aryl, a (C.sub.6-C.sub.20)fluorine-substituted aryloxy, or a (C.sub.1-C.sub.20)fluorine-substituted alkoxy; and L∩L is a bidentate chelating ligand. The catalyst system may also include an aluminum containing agent which includes a reaction product of an organoaluminum compound and an antifouling compound. The antifouling compound may include one or more quaternary salts.

Gold (I) complexes that can absorb light in the near-UV and/or visible regions and methods of making and using thereof are described. These gold (I) complexes have photochemical reactivities, such as strong absorption of near-UV and/or visible light, quenching rate constants ≥3.5×10.sup.5 s.sup.−1, etc., that allow them to catalyze photoredox reactions, such as homocoupling of organic halides (e.g. alkyl halides and aryl halides), alkylation of 2-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, cyclization of indoles, reductive dehalogenation of aryl halides, and/or C—H bonds cleavage, under near-UV and/or visible light. The product of a photo-induced organic reaction catalyzed by the gold (I) complexes described herein can have a yield that is higher than the yield of the same product formed from the same reaction under the same reaction conditions, using the same loading or a higher loading of [Au.sub.2(μ-dppm).sub.2](Cl).sub.2, [Ru(bpy).sub.3](Cl).sub.2, and/or [fac-Ir(ppy).sub.3] compared to the loading of the one or more gold (I) complex(es).

A method of depolymerizing a biopolymer in a biomass is presented, the method comprising the step of contacting the biopolymer with a reaction system comprising at least one catalyst, at least one electron source, and at least one solvent. A second method of depolymerizing a biopolymer in a biomass is presented, the method comprising the step of contacting the biopolymer with an electrochemical cell comprising at least one catalyst, at least one solvent, at least one electrolyte, an anode, and a cathode. A third method of depolymerizing a biopolymer is presented, the method comprising the steps of providing a biopolymer; adding a photoredox-active functional group to the biopolymer to form a modified biopolymer; and irradiating the modified biopolymer with light in the presence of a reaction mixture; said mixture comprising a photoredox catalyst.

The invention relates to oligomerization of olefins, such as ethylene, to higher olefins, such as a mixture of 1-hexene and 1-octene, using a catalyst system that comprises a) a source of chromium b) one or more activators and c) a phosphacycle-containing ligating compound. Additionally, the invention relates to a phosphacycle-containing ligating compound and a process for making said compound.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for Rh(I) catalysts, methods of making alkenyl substituted arenes (e.g., allyl arene, vinyl arene, and the like), methods of making alkyl substituted arenes, and the like.

The invention relates to oligomerization of olefins, such as ethylene, to higher olefins, such as a mixture of 1-hexene and 1-octene, using a catalyst system that comprises a) a source of chromium b) one or more activators and c) a phosphacycle-containing ligating compound. Additionally, the invention relates to a phosphacycle-containing ligating compound and a process for making said compound.

The invention relates to oligomerization of olefins, such as ethylene, to higher olefins, such as a mixture of 1-hexene and 1-octene, using a catalyst system that comprises a) a source of chromium b) one or more activators and c) a phosphacycle-containing ligating compound. Additionally, the invention relates to a phosphacycle-containing ligating compound and a process for making said compound.