Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to rocket fuels comprising metal hydrides and poly-dicyclopentadiene (“poly-DCPD”). Although poly-DCPD also has physical and chemical properties that are compatible with being used as a rocket fuel in its own right, its primary function is as a binder for the metal hydride. Illustrative examples of metal hydrides include but are not limited to as aluminum hydrides, lithium hydrides, and lithium aluminum hydrides.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the discovery that the solubility of metal complexes may be readily manipulated by the addition of one or more solubility-enhancing compounds. This manipulation of the solubilities allows for the preparation of suitable samples for precise quantitative analysis and for the facile purification of the desired products from the reaction mixture containing one or more metal complexes. In one embodiment of the invention, the relative solubilities between two solutions are manipulated so as cause the metal complex found in a first solution to transfer to a second solution that is generally immiscible with the first solution. The metal complex is thus separated from the reaction mixture which comprises the first solution by the removal of the second solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to functionalized molecular sieves that are useful as shape-selective adsorbents and catalysts. The inventive molecular sieves have a crystalline framework and include micropores of substantially uniform size and shape formed therein. These micropores contain one or more accessible organic moieties that are linked to the crystalline framework by a carbon-silicon ond. Shape selectivity of the inventive molecular sieves may be modulated by varying the size and shape of the micropores (which is a function of the particular molecular sieve being synthesized) and the organic moiety incoporated therein.

Abstract: A reinforced polyolefin article is provided which includes a sized reinforcement material incorporated in the article. The article may be prepared by polymerizing a cyclic olefin monomer in the presence of the sizing agent and a metathesis polymerization catalyst which includes ruthenium or osmium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the synthesis of highly active ruthenium and osmium carbene metathesis catalyst in good yield from readily available starting materials. The catalysts that may be synthesized are of the general formula wherein: M is ruthenium or osmium; X and X1 are independently any anionic ligand; L and L1 are any neutral electron donor ligand; and, R and R1 are each hydrogen or one of the following substituent groups: C2-C20 alkenyl, C2-C20 alkynyl, C1-C20 alkyl, aryl, C1-C20 carboxylate, C1-C20 alkoxy, C2-C20 alkenyloxy, C2-C20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C2-C20 alkoxycarbonyl, C1-C20 alkylthio, C1-C20 alkylsulfonyl and C1-C20 alkylsulfinyl. Optionally, the substituent group may be substituted with one or more groups selected from C1-C5 alkyl, halogen, C1-C5 alkoxy, and aryl. When the substitute aryl group is phenyl, it may be further substituted witn one or more groups selected from a halogen, a C1-C5 alkyl, or a C1-C5 alkoxy.

Abstract: A method for the cross-metathesis of terminal olefins is disclosed. The method describes making disubstituted internal olefin products by contacting a first terminal olefin with another first terminal olefin to form a dimer and then contacting the dimer with a second terminal olefin in the presence of a catalyst having the formula where M may be Os or Ru, R and R1 may be the same or different and may be hydrogen or a substitutent group selected from C1-C20 alkyl, C2-C20 alkenyl,C2-C20 alkynyl, aryl, C1-C20 carboxylate, C1-C20 alkoxy, C2-C20 alkenyloxy, C2-C20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C2-C20 alkoxycarbonyl, C1-C20 alkylthio, C1-C20 alkylsulfonyl, and C1-C20 alkylsulfinyl. X and X1 may be the same or different and may be any anionic ligand. L and L1 may be the same or different and may be any neutral electron donor.

Abstract: Activation of ruthenium based catalyst compounds with acid to improve reaction rates and yields of olefin metathesis reactions, including ROMP, RCM, ADMET and cross-metathesis reactions is disclosed. The ruthenium catalyst compounds are ruthenium carbene complexes of the general formula AxLyXzRu═CHR′ where x=0, 1 or 2, y=0, 1 or 2, and z=1 or 2 and where R′ is hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or aryl, L is any neutral electron donor, X is any anionic ligand, and A is a ligand having a covalent structure connecting a neutral electron donor and an anionic ligand. The use of acid with these catalysts allows for reactions with a wide range of olefins in a variety of solvents, including acid-initiated RIM processes and living ROMP reactions of water-soluble monomers in water.

Abstract: Ruthenium and osmium carbene compounds that are stable in the presence of a variety of functional groups and can be used to catalyze olefin metathesis reactions on unstrained cyclic and acyclic olefins are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of making the carbene compounds. The carbene compounds are of the formula where M is Os or Ru; R1 is hydrogen; R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, and substituted or unsubstituted aryl; X and X1 are independently selected from any anionic ligand; and L and L1 are independently selected from any neutral electron donor. The ruthenium and osmium carbene compounds of the present invention may be synthesized using diazo compounds, by neutral electron donor ligand exchange, by cross metathesis, using acetylene, using cumulated olefins, and in a one-pot method using diazo compounds and neutral electron donors.