A light-absorbing material includes a compound represented by the formula (1) below. In the formula (1), L.sup.1 to L.sup.3 are each independently represented by the formula (2) or (3) below:

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A method for preparing alpha-methylstyrene according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes dehydrating a dimethylbenzyl alcohol solution in a reactor under an acid catalyst to prepare alpha-methylstyrene, where a reaction product after the dehydration reaction comprises a first reaction product including a first alpha-methylstyrene; and a second reaction product including vapor (H.sub.2O), a second alpha-methylstyrene and unreacted materials; and separating the second alpha-methylstyrene and the unreacted materials comprised in the second reaction product and recirculating the second alpha-methylstyrene and the unreacted materials to the reactor, a temperature inside the reactor during the dehydration reaction is 135° C. or higher, and a content of the acid catalyst is from 100 ppm to 1,500 ppm based on a total weight of dimethylbenzyl alcohol of the dimethylbenzyl alcohol solution.

A method for preparing alpha-methylstyrene according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes dehydrating a dimethylbenzyl alcohol solution in a reactor under an acid catalyst to prepare alpha-methylstyrene, where a reaction product after the dehydration reaction comprises a first reaction product including a first alpha-methylstyrene; and a second reaction product including vapor (H.sub.2O), a second alpha-methylstyrene and unreacted materials; and separating the second alpha-methylstyrene and the unreacted materials comprised in the second reaction product and recirculating the second alpha-methylstyrene and the unreacted materials to the reactor, a temperature inside the reactor during the dehydration reaction is 135° C. or higher, and a content of the acid catalyst is from 100 ppm to 1,500 ppm based on a total weight of dimethylbenzyl alcohol of the dimethylbenzyl alcohol solution.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method for making substituted compounds with specific and selectable regiochemistry. Also disclosed are compounds made by the method. The method may comprise contacting a compound having a formula I

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with a compound according to formula II

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in the presence of a Lewis acid to form a phenol compound according to formula III and/or a benzofuranone compound according to formula IV

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Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method for making substituted compounds with specific and selectable regiochemistry. Also disclosed are compounds made by the method. The method may comprise contacting a compound having a formula I

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with a compound according to formula II

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in the presence of a Lewis acid to form a phenol compound according to formula III and/or a benzofuranone compound according to formula IV

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A process for the dehydrogenation of alkyl-containing compounds comprises reacting an alkyl-containing compound and a Group VI nitrosyl complex characterized as a transition metal complex having the composition Cp′M(NO)(R1)(R2), wherein Cp′ is selected from certain substituted and unsubstituted η.sup.5-cyclopentadienyl groups; M is W or Mo; and R1 and R2 are independently selected from CH.sub.2C(CH.sub.3).sub.3; CH.sub.2Si(CH.sub.3).sub.3; CH.sub.2(C.sub.6H.sub.5); CH.sub.3; hydrogen; and η.sup.3-allyl; provided that if R1 is hydrogen, R2 is η.sup.3-allyl; under conditions such that the alkyl-containing compound is converted to an olefin, and in particular embodiments, a terminal olefin. The dehydrogenation can be carried out using a neat and/or undried alkyl-containing compound and/or may be conducted under air, and does not require a sacrificial olefin to drive the reaction, thereby increasing convenience and decreasing cost in comparison with some other dehydrogenation processes.

A process for the dehydrogenation of alkyl-containing compounds comprises reacting an alkyl-containing compound and a Group VI nitrosyl complex characterized as a transition metal complex having the composition Cp′M(NO)(R1)(R2), wherein Cp′ is selected from certain substituted and unsubstituted η.sup.5-cyclopentadienyl groups; M is W or Mo; and R1 and R2 are independently selected from CH.sub.2C(CH.sub.3).sub.3; CH.sub.2Si(CH.sub.3).sub.3; CH.sub.2(C.sub.6H.sub.5); CH.sub.3; hydrogen; and η.sup.3-allyl; provided that if R1 is hydrogen, R2 is η.sup.3-allyl; under conditions such that the alkyl-containing compound is converted to an olefin, and in particular embodiments, a terminal olefin. The dehydrogenation can be carried out using a neat and/or undried alkyl-containing compound and/or may be conducted under air, and does not require a sacrificial olefin to drive the reaction, thereby increasing convenience and decreasing cost in comparison with some other dehydrogenation processes.

Provided is a method for producing (alkyl)arene compounds represented by Formulae 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3 by the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of alkyl halide compounds and arene compounds using organic phosphine compounds as a catalyst. ##STR00001##

Provided is a method for producing (alkyl)arene compounds represented by Formulae 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3 by the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of alkyl halide compounds and arene compounds using organic phosphine compounds as a catalyst. ##STR00001##

Provided is a method for producing (alkyl)arene compounds represented by Formulae 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3 by the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of alkyl halide compounds and arene compounds using organic phosphine compounds as a catalyst. ##STR00001##