The present invention provides a catalyst containing a Brønsted acid as a novel means capable of producing an amide compound by highly stereoselectively and/or highly efficiently causing an amidation reaction in a variety of substrates having a carboxylic ester group and an amino group.

The present invention relates to a composition, comprising a palladium compound which is a palladium salt or a palladium complex or a mixture thereof, and a polycyclic compound of Formula (I), (II) or (III):

The present invention provides a route for synthesizing monofunctional thiuram compounds that is safe, environmentally friendly, and cost effective. This method specifically involves synthesizing a monofunctional thiuram by (1) reacting a tetraorganylthiuram disulfide with an organyl mercaptan to produce the monofunctional thiuram and a dithiocarbamate metal salt or a dithiocarbamate metalloid salt under basic conditions, (2) separating the monofunctional thiuram in an organic phase from the dithiocarbamate metal salt or the dithiocarbamate metalloid salt in an aqueous phase, and (3) recovering the monofunctional thiuram from the aqueous phase. The monofunctional thiuram compounds made in accordance with this invention are of particular value as accelerators for use in the vulcanization of rubber. The use of these monofunctional thiuram compounds as accelerators provides good cure rates and as well as good scorch safety.

The present invention relates to an enhanced catalytic nickel oxide sheet having an organic part which includes non-stoichiometric nickel oxides dispersed in an organic matrix, wherein the catalytic sheet is supported on a substrate. The invention also relates to a method for obtaining the catalytic film and to its uses as an electrode in electrocatalysis of water or in photocatalysis.

According to one embodiment, a reduction catalyst includes a current collector including a metal layer; and organic molecules including a quaternary nitrogen cation, which are bonded to the metal layer. The organic molecules are represented by any of the following general formulae I to V.

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The present invention provides a route for synthesizing monofunctional thiuram compounds that is safe, environmentally friendly, and cost effective. This method specifically involves synthesizing a monofunctional thiuram by (1) reacting a tetraorganylthiuram disulfide with an organyl mercaptan to produce the monofunctional thiuram and a dithiocarbamate metal salt or a dithiocarbamate metalloid salt under basic conditions, (2) separating the monofunctional thiuram in an organic phase from the dithiocarbamate metal salt or the dithiocarbamate metalloid salt in an aqueous phase, and (3) recovering the monofunctional thiuram from the aqueous phase. The monofunctional thiuram compounds made in accordance with this invention are of particular value as accelerators for use in the vulcanization of rubber. The use of these monofunctional thiuram compounds as accelerators provides good cure rates and as well as good scorch safety.

A method for producing a heterogeneous catalyst for use of synthesizing cyclic carbonates by reacting an epoxide and carbon dioxide in the presence of the catalyst. A method for making a catalyst that includes forming a catalyst precursor then reacting the catalyst precursor with a tertiary phosphine.

The present invention concerns a catalyst system in particular a catalyst system comprising Palladium (Pd), a zwitterion and/or an acid-functionalized ionic liquid, and one or more phosphine ligands, wherein the Pd catalyst can be provided by a complex precursor, such as Pd(CH.sub.3COO).sub.2, PdCl.sub.2, Pd(CH.sub.3COCHCOCH.sub.3), Pd(CF.sub.3COO).sub.2, Pd(PPh.sub.3).sub.4 or Pd.sub.2(dibenzylideneacetone).sub.3. Such catalyst systems can be used for e.g. alkoxycarbonylation reactions, carboxylation reactions, and/or in a co-polymerization reaction, e.g. in the production of methyl propionate and/or propanoic acid, optionally in processes forming methyl methacrylate and/or methacrylic acid. Catalyst systems according to the invention are suitable for reactions forming separable product and catalyst phases and supported ionic liquid phase SILP applications.

An object of a first aspect of the present invention is to provide a radical generating catalyst that can generate (produce) radicals under mild conditions. In order to achieve the above object, a first radical generating catalyst according to the first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it includes ammonium and/or a salt thereof. A second radical generating catalyst according to the first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it includes an organic compound having Lewis acidic properties and/or Brønsted acidic properties.

Provided herein are methods for producing α,β-unsaturated ketones from the condensation of methyl ketones in the presence of an amine catalyst. Such amine catalysts may be supported, for example, on a silica-alumina support. Such amine catalysts may be used in the presence of an additional acid. The α,β-unsaturated ketones may be produced by dimerization and/or timerization of the methyl ketones. Such α,β-unsaturated ketones may be suitable for use in producing fuels, gasoline additives, and/or lubricants, or precursors thereof. The methyl ketones may be obtained from renewable sources, such as by the fermentation of biomass.