A process for the carbonylation of epoxides in the presence of catalyst systems, wherein the carbonylation takes place in the presence of carbon monoxide, and wherein the catalyst system contains a molybdenum-based compound. Carbonylation products as well as carbonylation derivatives and to the use of the claimed catalyst systems for the carbonylation of epoxides are also provided.

Nitrogen heterocyclic carbine ligands and ruthenium catalysts thereof, a preparation method therefor and an application thereof are provided. The structures of the nitrogen heterocyclic carbine ligands are represented by formulas Ia and Ib, respectively, and the corresponding ruthenium catalyst structures are represented by IIa and IIb, respectively. After simultaneously introducing large-steric hindrance and electron-rich groups into the described nitrogen heterocyclic carbine ligand structures, the catalytic activity, stability and application range of the ruthenium complex catalysts thereof are significantly improved.

##STR00001##

[Problem] To provide a novel artificial protein catalyst that enables the protection of a catalyst from substances in vivo and has potential usefulness in therapeutic in vivo synthetic chemistry.

[Solution] Provided is a complex of a protein and a catalyst selected from a metal catalyst or organic catalyst. In the complex according to the present invention, the protein is a protein having a hydrophobic pocket in the three-dimensional structure thereof, and the catalyst is housed in the hydrophobic pocket so that the catalyst is not or substantially not exposed to a hydrophilic environment.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to a method of oxidizing sulfur-containing compounds. The method involves contacting a sulfur-containing compound with a helmet phthalocyaninato-type catalyst in the presence of an oxidant. The present invention also provides a method of removing undesired sulfur-containing compounds from a fluid, such as natural gas, crude oil or an aqueous waste stream.

The present invention relates to a heteroatom ligand, an oligomerization catalyst containing the same, and a method for preparing an oligomer by using the same. Specifically, the present invention relates to a heteroatom ligand having a silsesquioxane derivative, an oligomerization catalyst containing the same, and a method for preparing an oligomer by using the same.

A method for separating a homogeneous catalyst from a solution includes forming a host-guest compound between a first isomer of the catalyst and inclusion compound in the solution and isolating the host-guest compound from the solution. The catalyst may be released from the inclusion compound by converting the first isomer of the catalyst to a second isomer of the catalyst.

A chemical reaction is catalyzed in an organic solvent using a water soluble N-heterocyclic carbene homogeneous catalyst to form a reaction mixture. An aqueous phase in the reaction mixture. A solvent in which the catalyst is insoluble is added to the reaction mixture, causing the catalyst to migrate to the aqueous phase to form a catalyst-laden aqueous phase. The catalyst is extracted from the catalyst-laden aqueous phase.

A method for separating a homogeneous catalyst from a solution includes forming a host-guest compound between a first isomer of the catalyst and inclusion compound in the solution and isolating the host-guest compound from the solution. The catalyst may be released from the inclusion compound by converting the first isomer of the catalyst to a second isomer of the catalyst.

A chemical reaction is catalyzed in an organic solvent using a water soluble N-heterocyclic carbene homogeneous catalyst to form a reaction mixture. An aqueous phase in the reaction mixture. A solvent in which the catalyst is insoluble is added to the reaction mixture, causing the catalyst to migrate to the aqueous phase to form a catalyst-laden aqueous phase. The catalyst is extracted from the catalyst-laden aqueous phase.

A method for separating a homogeneous catalyst from a solution includes forming a host-guest compound between a first isomer of the catalyst and inclusion compound in the solution and isolating the host-guest compound from the solution. The catalyst may be released from the inclusion compound by converting the first isomer of the catalyst to a second isomer of the catalyst.