Abstract: A method of manufacturing a polyurethane compound comprises mixing together a polyol, a polyisocyanate compound and a catalyst and allowing the mixture to cure to form a polyurethane, and is characterized in that the catalyst is a neutral complex of a metal selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, Al, Fe, Bi or Sn and a multidentate organic ligand having: a) a number of anionic donor sites=x; b) a number of neutral donor sites, capable of forming a co-ordinate bond with the metal, =y; c) where x+y=from 5 to 8; d) x is from 2 to 4; e) the ligand molecule is of a size and conformation to enable each of the anionic donor sites and neutral donor sites to form a bond with the same metal atom.

Abstract: The invention comprises an adhesion promoter for a printing ink and a printing ink comprising the adhesion promoter. The adhesion promoter comprises the product of reacting together (a) a solution of a polymer or synthetic resin (b) a sulphonic acid or a derivative of a sulphonic acid, and (c) a metal compound selected from one or more of the group consisting of a metal halide, metal alkoxide, metal halo-alkoxide or a condensed metal alkoxide, wherein the metal is selected from titanium or zirconium.

Abstract: The invention comprises a catalyst compound of formula Zr(L)(A1)(A2)(A3) where L represents a ketoamide ligand, A1, A2 & A3 may be the same or different and each represent a ligand derived from a compound selected from the group consisting of:—an alcohol, a polyol, an alkyl acetoacetate, a diketone, a ketoamide, a carboxylic acid or ester thereof, an alkanolamine, a phosphoric acid ester and a sulphonic acid or ester thereof. The compound may be made by the reaction of a zirconium alkoxide or haloalkoxide with a ketoamide. The compound is useful as a catalyst for the reaction of a polyisocyanate with a hydroxyl-containing compound, e.g. for the manufacture of polyurethanes or composite cellulosic materials such as fibre-boards.

Abstract: The invention provides a polyurethane catalyst composition comprising a compound of titanium, zirconium or hafnium and a co-catalyst which is a compound effective as a polyisocyanate trimerisation catalyst.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of carrying out a Lewis-acid catalysed organic reaction in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst comprising a metal-organic compound having the following formula: M(HO(CR1R2)z)a(O(CR1R2)z)bY—(CR3R4)?-Y((CR1R2)zO)c((CR1R2)zOH)d.nR5OH (Formula I) in which: M is a metal atom, preferably titanium, zirconium, hafnium or iron (III) Y is selected from P and N, but Ss very preferably N; each R1, R2, R3 and R4 is independently selected from H, alkyl, aryl, substituted alkyl or substituted aryl, R5 is hydrogen, an alkyl group, a hydroxy-functionalised alkyl group, a polyoxyalkylmoiety, R6O or R7COO where R6 and R7 may each represent H, alkyl, aryl or alkyl-aryl; d and a are each O or 1, b and c are each 1 or 2, b+c=the valency of M, a+b+c+d=4, each z is independently 1, 2, 3 or 4; x represents the least number of C atoms between the Y atoms and is 2 or 3 and n is a number in the range from 0 to 4.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a polyurethane compound comprises mixing together a polyol, a polyisocyanate compound and a catalyst and allowing the mixture to cure to form a polyurethane, and is characterised in that the catalyst is a neutral complex of a metal selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, Al, Fe, Bi or Sn and a multidentate organic ligand having: a) a number of anionic donor sites=x; b) a number of neutral donor sites, capable of forming a co-ordinate bond with the metal, =y; c) where x+y=from 5 to 8; d) x is from 2 to 4; e) the ligand molecule is of a size and conformation to enable each of the anionic donor sites and neutral donor sites to form a bond with the same metal atom.

Abstract: The invention comprises an adhesion promoter for a printing ink and a printing ink comprising the adhesion promoter. The adhesion promoter comprises the product of reacting together (a) a solution of a polymer or synthetic resin (b) a sulphonic acid or a derivative of a sulphonic acid, and (c) a metal compound selected from one or more of the group consisting of a metal halide, metal alkoxide, metal halo-alkoxide or a condensed metal alkoxide, wherein the metal is selected from titanium or zirconium.

Abstract: The invention comprises a catalyst compound of formula Zr(L)(A1)(A2)(A3) where L represents a ketoamide ligand, A1, A2 & A3 may be the same or different and each represent a ligand derived from a compound selected from the group consisting of:—an alcohol, a polyol, an alkyl acetoacetate, a diketone, a ketoamide, a carboxylic acid or ester thereof, an alkanolamine, a phosphoric acid ester and a sulphonic acid or ester thereof. The compound may be made by the reaction of a zirconium alkoxide or haloalkoxide with a ketoamide. The compound is useful as a catalyst for the reaction of a polyisocyanate with a hydroxyl-containing compound, e.g. for the manufacture of polyurethanes or composite cellulosic materials such as fibre-boards.