Methods for preparing conjugated dienes are described. An α,β-unsaturated E olefin intermediate may be prepared via cross-metathesis using a catalyst comprising a transition metal (e.g., ruthenium), a first carbene ligand (e.g., a substituted indenylidene) and an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand (e.g., an imidazolidinylidene). The catalyst further includes a phenylphosphine ligand, a tri(isopropoxy)phosphine ligand, a dimethylsulfoxide ligand, an acetonitrile ligand, or a pyridine ligand. Following the cross metathesis-step, the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde intermediate may be converted to the conjugated diene product via reaction with a phosphonium ylide. Products obtained via the methods of the disclosure include (7E,9Z)-dodeca-7,9-dien-1-yl acetate, a pheromone produced by Lobesia botrana (European grapevine moth), and other insect pheromones.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention encompass compositions encompassing a latent catalyst and a compound capable of generating a Bronsted acid along with one or more monomers which undergo ring open metathesis polymerization (ROMP) when said composition is exposed to a suitable radiation to form a substantially transparent film. The monomers employed therein have a range of refractive index from 1.4 to 1.6 and thus these compositions can be tailored to form transparent films of varied refractive indices. The composition of this invention also features low dielectric constant (low k in the range of from about 2.2 to 3). Accordingly, compositions of this invention are useful in various opto-electronic applications, including as coatings, encapsulants, fillers, leveling agents, among others.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention encompass compositions encompassing a latent catalyst and a compound capable of generating a Bronsted along with one or more monomers which undergo ring open metathesis polymerization (ROMP) when said composition is exposed to a suitable radiation to form a substantially transparent film. The monomers employed therein have a range of refractive index from 1.4 to 1.6 and thus these compositions can be tailored to form transparent films of varied refractive indices. The composition of this invention also feature low dielectric constant (low k in the range of from about 2.2 to 3). Accordingly, compositions of this invention are useful in various opto-electronic applications, including as coatings, encapsulants, fillers, leveling agents, among others.

Methods for preparing conjugated dienes are described. An ?,?-unsaturated E olefin intermediate may be prepared via cross-metathesis using a catalyst comprising a transition metal (e.g., ruthenium), a first carbene ligand (e.g., a substituted indenylidene) and an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand (e.g., an imidazolidinylidene). The catalyst further includes a phenylphosphine ligand, a tri(isopropoxy)phosphine ligand, a dimethylsulfoxide ligand, an acetonitrile ligand, or a pyridine ligand. Following the cross metathesis-step, the ?,?-unsaturated aldehyde intermediate may be converted to the conjugated diene product via reaction with a phosphonium ylide. Products obtained via the methods of the disclosure include (7E,9Z)-dodeca-7,9-dien-1-yl acetate, a pheromone produced by Lobesia botrana (European grapevine moth), and other insect pheromones.

A supported hydroformylation catalyst and an application method thereof, and a method for synthesizing a 4-acetyloxy-2-methyl-2-butenal are provided. A structure expression of the supported hydroformylation catalyst is Rh@PN/AC, Rh of which represents an active center of the catalyst and PN/AC of which represents carriers of the catalyst including an AC carrier and a PN carrier. The AC carrier in the PN/AC is an activated carbon and the PN carrier in the PN/AC is a phosphine-nitrogen (PN) organic ligand with one structural formula selected from the group consisting of structural formulas I-IV. The catalyst is capable of achieving catalytic cycling of precious metal and phosphine ligand and has high activity and C.sub.2 selectivity.