Provided is a process for the preparation of certain 1,4-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives. The new synthetic procedure involves treating 1,4-dimethylene cyclohexane with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a transition metal catalyst to afford an oxo-substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]octane species. This intermediate structure can then be further derivatized. The processes of this disclosure thus affords a novel and simplified means for the commercial production of a wide variety of bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives.

Provided is a process for the preparation of certain 1,4-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives. The new synthetic procedure involves treating 1,4-dimethylene cyclohexane with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a transition metal catalyst to afford an oxo-substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]octane species. This intermediate structure can then be further derivatized. The processes of this disclosure thus affords a novel and simplified means for the commercial production of a wide variety of bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives.

Provided is a process for the preparation of certain 1,4-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives. The new synthetic procedure involves treating 1,4-dimethylene cyclohexane with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a transition metal catalyst to afford an oxo-substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]octane species. This intermediate structure can then be further derivatized. The processes of this disclosure thus affords a novel and simplified means for the commercial production of a wide variety of bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives.

A process for the production of ethylene glycol from CO.sub.2, including the steps of: i) reducing CO.sub.2 to CO; ii) reacting the CO produced in step i) with an amine to form an oxamide or an oxamate or with an alcohol to form an oxalate; and iii) reducing the oxamide, oxamate or oxalate formed in step ii) to form ethylene glycol. Also, a process for the production of an oxamide, oxamate or oxalate and a process for the production of polyethylene terephthalate.

A process for the production of ethylene glycol from CO.sub.2, including the steps of: i) reducing CO.sub.2 to CO; ii) reacting the CO produced in step i) with an amine to form an oxamide or an oxamate or with an alcohol to form an oxalate; and iii) reducing the oxamide, oxamate or oxalate formed in step ii) to form ethylene glycol. Also, a process for the production of an oxamide, oxamate or oxalate and a process for the production of polyethylene terephthalate.

A process for the production of ethylene glycol from CO.sub.2, including the steps of: i) reducing CO.sub.2 to CO; ii) reacting the CO produced in step i) with an amine to form an oxamide or an oxamate or with an alcohol to form an oxalate; and iii) reducing the oxamide, oxamate or oxalate formed in step ii) to form ethylene glycol. Also, a process for the production of an oxamide, oxamate or oxalate and a process for the production of polyethylene terephthalate.

In one aspect, the present invention encompasses integrated processes for the conversion of epoxides to acrylic acid derivatives and polyesters. In certain embodiments, the methods of the present invention comprise the steps of: providing a feedstock stream comprising an epoxide and carbon monoxide; contacting the feedstock stream with a metal carbonyl in a first reaction zone to effect conversion of at least a portion of the provided epoxide to a beta lactone; directing the effluent from the first reaction zone to a second reaction zone where the beta lactone is subjected to conditions that convert it to a compound selected from the group consisting of: an alpha beta unsaturated acid, an alpha beta unsaturated ester, an alpha beta unsaturated amide, and an optionally substituted polypropiolactone polymer; and isolating a final product comprising the alpha-beta unsaturated carboxylic acid, the alpha-beta unsaturated ester, the alpha-beta unsaturated amide or the polypropiolactone.

In one aspect, the present invention encompasses integrated processes for the conversion of epoxides to acrylic acid derivatives and polyesters. In certain embodiments, the methods of the present invention comprise the steps of: providing a feedstock stream comprising an epoxide and carbon monoxide; contacting the feedstock stream with a metal carbonyl in a first reaction zone to effect conversion of at least a portion of the provided epoxide to a beta lactone; directing the effluent from the first reaction zone to a second reaction zone where the beta lactone is subjected to conditions that convert it to a compound selected from the group consisting of: an alpha beta unsaturated acid, an alpha beta unsaturated ester, an alpha beta unsaturated amide, and an optionally substituted polypropiolactone polymer; and isolating a final product comprising the alpha-beta unsaturated carboxylic acid, the alpha-beta unsaturated ester, the alpha-beta unsaturated amide or the polypropiolactone.

A catalytic process for synthesizing an ester compound, and a catalytic process for synthesizing an amide compound, wherein a solid-supported palladium catalyst is used to catalyze an alkoxycarbonylation reaction of an aryl halide to form the ester compound, or to catalyze an aminocarbonylation reaction of an aryl halide to form the amide compound. Various embodiments of each of the processes are also provided.

A catalytic process for synthesizing an ester compound, and a catalytic process for synthesizing an amide compound, wherein a solid-supported palladium catalyst is used to catalyze an alkoxycarbonylation reaction of an aryl halide to form the ester compound, or to catalyze an aminocarbonylation reaction of an aryl halide to form the amide compound. Various embodiments of each of the processes are also provided.