Pyrrole compounds are produced by contacting a furan compound, a solid acid catalyst, and water to form a reaction mixture containing a γ-dicarbonyl compound, and then contacting the γ-dicarbonyl compound with ammonia or an ammonium salt to form a reaction product mixture containing the pyrrole compound. A representative pyrrole compound that can be synthesized using these processes is 2,5-dimethylpyrrole.

Pyrrole compounds are produced by contacting a furan compound, a solid acid catalyst, and water to form a reaction mixture containing a γ-dicarbonyl compound, and then contacting the γ-dicarbonyl compound with ammonia or an ammonium salt to form a reaction product mixture containing the pyrrole compound. A representative pyrrole compound that can be synthesized using these processes is 2,5-dimethylpyrrole.

Disclosed is a process for preparing a product of formula I: wherein the reaction is catalyzed both by thiamine or a thiamine salt and by ascorbic acid in a form which is free or salified or an organic acid salt of an alkaline metal, preferably sodium acetate, potassium tartrate, sodium succinate, or a reductone, preferably 2-hydroxypropanedial or 2,3-dihydroxycyclopent-2-ene-1-one in an organic solvent.

Disclosed is a process for preparing a product of formula I: wherein the reaction is catalyzed both by thiamine or a thiamine salt and by ascorbic acid in a form which is free or salified or an organic acid salt of an alkaline metal, preferably sodium acetate, potassium tartrate, sodium succinate, or a reductone, preferably 2-hydroxypropanedial or 2,3-dihydroxycyclopent-2-ene-1-one in an organic solvent.

To provide a cobalt complex which is liquid at room temperature, useful for producing a cobalt-containing thin film under conditions without using an oxidizing gas.

A cobalt complex represented by the following formula (1):

L.sup.1-Co-L.sup.2  (1)

wherein L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 represent a unidentate amide ligand of the following formula (A), a bidentate amide ligand of the following formula (B) or a hetero atom-containing ligand of the following formula (C):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group or a tri(C.sub.1-6 alkyl)silyl group, and the wave line represents a binding site to the cobalt atom;

##STR00002##

wherein R.sup.3 represents a tri(C.sub.1-6 alkyl)silyl group, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 represent a C.sub.1-4 alkyl group, and X represents a C.sub.1-6 alkylene group;

##STR00003##

wherein R.sup.6 and R.sup.8 represent a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group, R.sup.7 represents a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-4 alkyl group, Y represents an oxygen atom or NR.sup.9, Z represents an oxygen atom or NR.sup.10, and R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 independently represent a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group.

To provide a cobalt complex which is liquid at room temperature, useful for producing a cobalt-containing thin film under conditions without using an oxidizing gas. A cobalt complex represented by the following formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 represent a unidentate amide ligand of the following formula (A), a bidentate amide ligand of the following formula (B) or a hetero atom-containing ligand of the following formula (C): ##STR00002##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group or a tri(C.sub.1-6 alkyl)silyl group, and the wave line represents a binding site to the cobalt atom; ##STR00003##
wherein R.sup.3 represents a tri(C.sub.1-6 alkyl)silyl group, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 represent a C.sub.1-4 alkyl group, and X represents a C.sub.1-6 alkylene group; ##STR00004##
wherein R.sup.6 and R.sup.8 represent a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group, R.sup.7 represents a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-4 alkyl group, Y represents an oxygen atom or NR.sup.9, Z represents an oxygen atom or NR.sup.10, and R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 independently represent a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group.

The present invention relates to: a method for converting a hydroxyl group of an alcohol; and a catalyst which makes the method possible. A method for converting a hydroxyl group of an alcohol according to the present invention is characterized by producing a compound represented by CH(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)Nu (wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and Nu are as defined below) by reacting an alcohol represented by CH(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)OH (wherein each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group, or the like) and a compound having an active proton, which is represented by H-Nu (wherein Nu represents a group represented by —CHX.sup.1-EWG.sup.1 or —NR.sup.3R.sup.4; X.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or the like; EWG.sup.1 represents an electron-withdrawing group; and each of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group, or the like), with each other in the presence of a complex of a group 7-11 metal of the periodic table and at least one solid base that is selected from the group consisting of layered double hydroxides, composite oxides and calcium hydroxide.

The present invention relates to: a method for converting a hydroxyl group of an alcohol; and a catalyst which makes the method possible. A method for converting a hydroxyl group of an alcohol according to the present invention is characterized by producing a compound represented by CH(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)Nu (wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and Nu are as defined below) by reacting an alcohol represented by CH(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)OH (wherein each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group, or the like) and a compound having an active proton, which is represented by H-Nu (wherein Nu represents a group represented by —CHX.sup.1-EWG.sup.1 or —NR.sup.3R.sup.4; X.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or the like; EWG.sup.1 represents an electron-withdrawing group; and each of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group, or the like), with each other in the presence of a complex of a group 7-11 metal of the periodic table and at least one solid base that is selected from the group consisting of layered double hydroxides, composite oxides and calcium hydroxide.

Pyrrole compounds are produced by contacting a furan compound, a solid acid catalyst, and water to form a reaction mixture containing a γ-dicarbonyl compound, and then contacting the γ-dicarbonyl compound with ammonia or an ammonium salt to form a reaction product mixture containing the pyrrole compound. A representative pyrrole compound that can be synthesized using these processes is 2,5-dimethylpyrrole.

Pyrrole compounds are produced by contacting a furan compound, a solid acid catalyst, and water to form a reaction mixture containing a γ-dicarbonyl compound, and then contacting the γ-dicarbonyl compound with ammonia or an ammonium salt to form a reaction product mixture containing the pyrrole compound. A representative pyrrole compound that can be synthesized using these processes is 2,5-dimethylpyrrole.