Abstract: The inventions disclosed herein are catalyst systems comprising a complex having one of the formulas LMX1X2 and LML′ and an activating cocatalyst, and use of the catalyst system in polymerizing olefinic monomers. In either of the foregoing formulas, L is a chelating ligand containing sulfur donors; M is a transition metal selected from either copper, silver, gold, manganese, iron, cobalt, palladium or nickel; X1 and X2 are independently selected from either halides, hydride, triflate, acetate, borate, alkyl, alkoxyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkoxyl, aryl, thiolate, carbon monoxide, cyanate or olefins; and L′ is a bidentate ligand selected from either dithiolene, dithiolate, diphosphine, bisimine, bispyridine, phenanthroline, oxolate, catecholate, thiolatoamide, thiolatoimine or thiolatophosphine.

Abstract: The present invention is for a transition metal-free catalyst system for synthesizing high molecular weight, linear polymers. The system comprises a catalyst composition having: (a) a neutral compound having the formula AlR3, wherein R is an alkyl or hydride group; (b) a Lewis acid or Lewis acid derivative cocatalyst different from the neutral compound, wherein the cocatalyst reacts with the neutral compound to form an initiator; and (c) an activity-enhancing modifier, wherein the modifier reacts with the initiator to form the catalyst composition. The instant invention is also directed to a method for polymerizing at least one olefinic monomer comprising the step of contacting a feed containing the olefinic monomer under polymerization conditions with the transition metal-free catalyst composition.

Abstract: An antioxidant which comprises a primary aliphatic hydroxyl group linked to an organic backbone such that upon oxidation a hydroperoxyl moiety capable of boosting the efficacy of free radical scavengers and hydroperoxide decomposer type antioxidants is generated in situ. The antioxidant is preferably a high hydroxyl polyol ester having a hydroxyl number ranging from about 30 to about 180 which ester is the reaction product of polyol and an acid which is at least fifty percent branched carboxylic acid, wherein the unconverted hydroxyl group is reacted with a facile leaving group, thereby producing free —CH2OH groups upon hydrolysis or oxidation.

Abstract: The invention is a method and catalyst for selectively and efficiently producing short chain linear &agr;-olefins. The method includes contacting olefinic monomers under oligomerization conditions with the catalyst composition which comprises a composition prepared in situ by reacting a nickel compound selected from the group consisting of halides, hydrides, triflates, acetates, borates, C1, through C12 alkyl, C1 through C12 alkoxy, C3 through C12 cycloalkyl, C3 through C12 cycloalkoxy, aryl, thiolates, carbon monoxide, cyanate, olefins including diolefins and cycloolefins, and any other moiety into which a monomer can insert and mixtures thereof, with an amine ligand wherein said ligand is a nitrogen-containing ligand having one or more nitrogen atoms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variety of uses for novel carbon monoxide containing polymers. More specifically, the invention employs the use of low molecular weight polymers containing carbon monoxide for use as adhesive additives and as fluids (e.g., solvents and synthetic base stocks).

Abstract: A novel supported ionic liquid moiety which may further comprise immobilized ionic fluids and catalytic material is described. A method for making the composition is also described.

Abstract: The invention is related to non-linear olefin-carbon monoxide copolymer composition which is derived from an olefin feedstream and a synthesis gas feedstream. The invention is also related to a method for preparing olefin-carbon monoxide copolymers by heating an olefin feed and a synthesis gas feed in the presence of a free radical polymerization initiator. More particularly, the synthesis gas feed comprises predominantly carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The copolymers of the invention are useful as polyvinyl chloride plasticizers.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel metal complex which, when used with an activating cocatalyst, provides a novel catalyst composition. The invention also provides a polymerization method which utilizes the catalyst composition to produce polymers and copolymers containing polar monomer groups. More specifically, the invention comprises a composition comprising the formula LMXZn wherein X is selected from the group consisting of halides, hydride, triflate, acetates, borates, C1 through C12 alkyl, C1 through C12 alkoxy, C3 through C12 cycloalkyl, C3 through C12 cycloalkoxy, aryl, thiolates, carbon monoxide, cyanate, olefins, and any other moiety into which a monomer can insert. M is selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, and Au. L is a nitrogen-containing bidentate ligand having more than two nitrogen atoms. Z is a neutral coordinating ligand and n equals 0, 1, or 2.

Abstract: The present invention provides for microporous ceramic materials having a surface area in excess of 50 m2/gm and an open microporous cell structure wherein the micropores have a mean width of less than 20 Angstroms and wherein said microporous structure comprises a volume of greater than about 0.015 cm3/gm of the ceramic. The invention also provides for a preceramic composite intermediate composition comprising a mixture of a ceramic precursor and finely divided particles comprising a non-silicon containing ceramic, carbon, or an inorganic compound having a decomposition temperature in excess of 400° C., whose pyrolysis product in inert atmosphere or in an ammonia atmosphere at temperatures of up to less than about 1100° C. gives rise to the microporous ceramics of the invention. Also provided is a process for the preparation of the microporous ceramics of the invention involving pyrolysis of the ceramic intermediate under controlled conditions of heating up to temperatures of less than 1100° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variety of uses for novel carbon monoxide containing polymers. More specifically, the invention employs the use of low molecular weight polymers containing carbon monoxide for use as adhesive additives and as fluids (e.g., solvents and synthetic base stocks).

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for forming aldol condensation products, comprising reacting at least one aldehyde starting material in the presence of an ionic liquid medium and a basic catalyst at a temperature range of from about −20° C. to about 300° C. and at a pressure range of from about 1 atm to about 1000 atm for a sufficient time to form the aldol condensation products. The invention is also directed to a method for forming aldol condensation products, comprising reacting at least one aldehyde starting material in the presence of a basic ionic liquid medium at the same parameters specified above. The advantage of the instant invention is the increased selectivity and productivity of the resulting aldol condensation products formed in ionic liquid media, along with the ability to recycle the ionic liquid for use in producing additional aldol condensation products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming carbon monoxide-containing polymers from multi-component syngas feeds and at least one vinyl comonomer. Feeds useful in the practice of the invention comprise ethylene in an amount ranging from about 5 to about 40 mole %, carbon monoxide is an amount ranging from about 1 to about 40 mole %, hydrogen in an amount ranging from about 4 to about 55 mole %, carbon dioxide in an amount ranging from about 3 to about 10 mole %, and methane in an amount ranging from about 4 to about 85 mole %. The feed may also include acetylene in an amount ranging up to about 10 mole %. The feed may contain at least one free radical-polymerizable vinyl comonomer, or a cofeed containing such a comonomer can be used.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards the formation of polymers and copolymers using late transition metal polymerization catalyst complexes which are formed in situ. In the first process step of the instant invention, a composition having the formula MXZn is simultaneously contacted with a ligand and an activating cocatalyst.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards a composition comprising the formula LMX(X′)n wherein n equals 0 or 1; X and X′ are independently selected from the group consisting of halides, hydride, triflate, acetates, borates, C1 through C12 alkyl, C1 through C12 alkoxy, C3 through C12 cycloalkyl, C3 through C12 cycloalkoxy, aryl, thiolates, carbon monoxide, cyanate, olefins, and any other moiety into which a monomer can insert; M is selected from the group consisting of nickel, palladium, and platinum and L is a nitrogen-containing bidentate ligand with more than two nitrogen atoms. The composition possesses a tetrahedral or pseudo-tetrahedral structure. The invention also provides a method for using the composition in conjunction with an activating cocatalyst to form short chain &agr;-olefins.

Abstract: The invention relates to a copolymer composition useful as wax crystal modifiers and flow improvers. The compositions are copolymers of a C6 to C250 straight-chain or branched dialkyl filmarate and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, C3 to C30 &agr;-olefin, ethylene, styrene, and vinyl acetate.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards substantially linear copolymers formed using a metal complex having the formula LMX1X2. L is a bidentate nitrogen-containing ligand with more than 2 nitrogens. M is copper, silver, or gold. X1 and X2 are independently selected from the group consisting of halogens, hydride, triflate, acetate, trifluoroacetate, perfluorotetraphenylborate, tetrafluoroborate, C1 through C12 alkyl, C1 through C12 alkoxy, C3 through C12 cycloalkyl, C3 through C12 cycloalkoxy, aryl, and any other moiety into which a monomer can insert. Such metal complexes have a tetrahedral or pseudo-tetrahedral structure and may be used with an activating cocatalyst. The invention is derived from polymers and copolymers using such catalyst compositions, especially copolymers having segments formed from olefinic monomers and monomers having at least one hydrocarbyl polar functional group.

Abstract: The present invention is a two-component catalyst system comprising (a) an alkyl magnesium (MgR2) component and (b) a Lewis acid component. The catalyst system is used for catalyzing the oligomerization and polymerization of ethylene and/or &agr;-olefins to form homopolymers and copolymers. The products range from highly linear, high molecular weight, solid polymers to highly branched, lower molecular weight oils.

Abstract: Graft copolymers having cationic units pendant to the backbone chain are disclosed. These polymers are prepared by reacting a polymer containing halogenated para-methylstyrene units in the chain, e.g., a brominated copolymer of isobutylene and para-methylstyrene, with an anionically polymerized polymer made using an organolithium initiator compound having the formula R1 R2 Z R3—Li where R1 and R2 are alkyl radicals, R3 is a direct link or an organic radical and Z is nitrogen or phosphorous. Reaction of the anionically polymerized polymer having an R1 R2 Z R3— end group with the halogenated polymer leads to graft polymers coupled by a quaternary ammonium or phosphonium groups.

Abstract: A method for continuous monitoring the presence of entrained catalyst in a regenerator flue gas stream of a fluidized catalytic cracking unit is provided. The method has the following steps: (a) passing the regenerator gas stream through a separation system to remove a portion of the catalyst fines and to create a cleaner regenerator gas stream; (b) collecting a sample portion of the cleaner regenerator gas stream and directing the sample portion of the cleaner regenerator gas stream through an inertial separating device to separate entrained catalyst from the sample portion of the cleaner regenerator gas stream; (c) collecting any separated catalyst from the inertial separating device; and (d) monitoring the efficiency of the separation system by analyzing at least the amount of the collected separated catalyst or the particle size of the collected separated catalyst.