Abstract: Disclosed are methods or processes of synthesizing building blocks and feedstocks for producing a broader range of polymers, including renewable polymers, from renewable resources such as CO2. In a process of manufacturing a renewable feedstock for polymer production, a CO2 derived lactone is prepared and processed to form the renewable feedstock. The process may include alkoxycarbonylation of the CO2 derived lactone to form a diester and hydrogenation of the diester.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods or processes of synthesizing building blocks and feedstocks for producing a broader range of polymers, including renewable polymers, from renewable resources such as CO2. In a process of manufacturing a renewable feedstock for polymer production, a CO2 derived lactone is prepared and processed to form the renewable feedstock. The process may include alkoxycarbonylation of the CO2 derived lactone to form a diester and hydrogenation of the diester.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of forming delta-lactone compounds by reaction of a diene with carbon dioxide in the presence of Pd and a phosphine ligand.

Abstract: The metal-catalyzed alkoxycarbonylation of a lactone is a method of alkoxycarbonylating a ?-lactone, specifically 3-ethylidene-6-vinyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one. The method includes combining the ?-lactone with an alcohol in an organic solvent in the presence of a catalyst system that includes palladium or a salt thereof to form a reaction mixture, which is heated to 110-130° C. at a pressure of 20-50 bar for between 3-5 hours under flow of carbon monoxide gas. The product of the reaction is a substituted 2-octendioate diester. The alcohol may be methyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, 2-ethylhexanol, isobutyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, or phenol. The solvent may be toluene, acetonitrile, or tetrahydrofuran. The method may include adding an acid to the reaction mixture, which may be dilute (about 5 mol %) sulfuric or p-toluenesulfonic acid. The catalyst system may also include a phosphine ligand.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of forming delta-lactone compounds by reaction of a diene with carbon dioxide in the presence of Pd and a phosphine ligand.

Abstract: The metal-catalyzed alkoxycarbonylation of a lactone is a method of alkoxycarbonylating a ?-lactone, specifically 3-ethylidene-6-vinyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one. The method includes combining the ?-lactone with an alcohol in an organic solvent in the presence of a catalyst system that includes palladium or a salt thereof to form a reaction mixture, which is heated to 110-130° C. at a pressure of 20-50 bar for between 3-5 hours under flow of carbon monoxide gas. The product of the reaction is a substituted 2-octendioate diester. The alcohol may be methyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, 2-ethylhexanol, isobutyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, or phenol. The solvent may be toluene, acetonitrile, or tetrahydrofuran. The method may include adding an acid to the reaction mixture, which may be dilute (about 5 mol %) sulfuric or p-toluenesulfonic acid. The catalyst system may also include a phosphine ligand.