Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing methanol from a methane source by oxidizing methane under conditions sufficient to a mixture of methanol and formaldehyde while minimizing the formation of formic acid and carbon dioxide. The oxidation step is followed by treatment step in which formaldehyde is converted into methanol and formic acid which itself can further be converted into methanol via catalytic hydrogenation of intermediately formed methyl formate.

Abstract: (Benzenesulfonyl)difluoromethyl anion, in situ generated from difluoromethyl phenyl sulfone and a base, was found to easily undergo nucleophilic substitution reactions (SN2) with primary alkyl halides, elemental halogens, and perfluoroalkyl halides with good selectivity. The formed (benzenesufonyl)difluoromethylalkanes are useful intermediates for the facile preparation of 1,1-difluoro-1-alkenes and difluoromethylalkanes.

Abstract: A liquid organic, fuel cell is provided which employs a solid electrolyte membrane. An organic fuel, such as a methanol/water mixture, is circulated past an anode of a cell while oxygen or air is circulated past a cathode of the cell. The cell solid electrolyte membrane is preferably fabricated from Nafion™. Additionally, a method for improving the performance of carbon electrode structures for use in organic fuel cells is provided wherein a high surface-area carbon particle/Teflon™-binder structure is immersed within a Nafion™/methanol bath to impregnate the electrode with Nafion™. A method for fabricating an anode for use in a organic fuel cell is described wherein metal alloys are deposited onto the electrode in an electro-deposition solution containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. A fuel additive containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid for use with fuel cells employing a sulfuric acid electrolyte is also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel, convenient and efficient method for trifluoromethylation of substrate compounds is disclosed. Particularly, alkoxide and hydroxide induced nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of carbonyl compounds, disulfides and other electrophiles, using phenyl trifluoromethyl sulfone PhSO2CF3 (or sulfoxide PhSOCF3) is disclosed. A method of both symmetrical and unsymmetrical anti-2,2-difluoropropan-1,3-diols with high diastereoselectivity (up to 94% de) is disclosed using difluoromethyl phenyl sulfone. This unusual type of high diastereoselectivity was obtained via an intramolecular charge-charge repulsion effect rather than the traditional steric control (based on the Cram's rule). Thus, difluoromethyl phenyl sulfone can be used as a novel difluoromethylene dianion species (“?CF2?”), which can couple two electrophiles (such as diphenyl disulfide or non-enolizable aldehydes) to give new difluoromethylenated products.

Abstract: A method of alkylating aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons with olefins using solid hydrogen fluoride-equivalent catalysts is described. Preferred catalysts comprise solid polymeric onium polyhydrogen fluoride complexes.

Abstract: (Benzenesulfonyl)difluoromethyl anion, in situ generated from difluoromethyl phenyl sulfone and a base, was found to easily undergo nucleophilic substitution reactions (SN2) with primary alkyl halides, elemental halogens, and perfluoroalkyl halides with good selectivity. The formed (benzenesufonyl)difluoromethylalkanes are useful intermediates for the facile preparation of 1,1-difluoro-1-alkenes and difluorometbylalkanes. Thus, difluoromethyl phenyl sulfone acts as both “CF2?” and “CF2H?” synthons.

Abstract: Coating materials for coating the electrodes of a fuel cell are disclosed. In one embodiment, the coating materials comprise perfluoroalkanesulfonic acids having the general formula F3C—(CF2)n—SO3H, wherein n ranges from 8 to 17. In another embodiment, the coating materials comprise perfluoroalkanesulfonimides having the general formula CnF2n+1SO2NHO2SF2m+1Cm, wherein the sum of m and n ranges from 8 to 17. These long chain sulfonic acids and imides impart improved electrode performance and decrease polarization.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a convenient method of synthesizing radiolabeled ?-trifluoromethyl ketones by a fluorination reaction. The present invention also relates to imaging agents and markers for identifying cell proliferation, or viral infection. The markers and imaging agents including the radiolabeled ?-trifluoromethyl ketones that are prepared by the present method.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a convenient method of synthesizing radiolabeled ?-trifluoromethyl ketones by a fluorination reaction. The present invention also relates to imaging agents and markers for identifying cell proliferation, or viral infection. The markers and imaging agents including the radiolabeled ?-trifluoromethyl ketones that are prepared by the present method.

Abstract: A liquid organic, fuel cell is provided which employs a solid electrolyte membrane. An organic fuel, such as a methanol/water mixture, is circulated past an anode of a cell while oxygen or air is circulated past a cathode of the cell. The cell solid electrolyte membrane is preferably fabricated from Nafion™. Additionally, a method for improving the performance of carbon electrode structures for use in organic fuel cells is provided wherein a high surface-area carbon particle/Teflon™ binder structure is immersed within a Nafion™/methanol bath to impregnate the electrode with Nafion™. A method for fabricating an anode for use in a organic fuel cell is described wherein metal alloys are deposited onto the electrode in an electro-deposition solution containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. A fuel additive containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid for use with fuel cells employing a sulfuric acid electrolyte is also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel, convenient and efficient method for trifluoromethylation of substrate compounds is disclosed. Particularly, alkoxide and hydroxide induced nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of carbonyl compounds, disulfides and other electrophiles, using phenyl trifluoromethyl sulfone PhSO2CF3 (or sulfoxide PhSOCF3) is disclosed. A method of both symmetrical and unsymmetrical anti-2,2-difluoropropan-1,3-diols with high diastereoselectivity (up to 94% de) is disclosed using difluoromethyl phenyl sulfone. This unusual type of high diastereoselectivity was obtained via an intramolecular charge-charge repulsion effect rather than the traditional steric control (based on the Cram's rule). Thus, difluoromethyl phenyl sulfone can be used as a novel difluoromethylene dianion species (“−CF2−”), which can couple two electrophiles (such as diphenyl disulfide or non-enolizable aldehydes) to give new difluoromethylenated products.

Abstract: A liquid organic, fuel cell is provided which employs a solid electrolyte membrane. An organic fuel, such as a methanol/water mixture, is circulated past an anode of a cell while oxygen or air is circulated past a cathode of the cell. The cell solid electrolyte membrane is preferably fabricated from Nafion™. Additionally, a method for improving the performance of carbon electrode structures for use in organic fuel cells is provided wherein a high surface-area carbon particle/Teflon™-binder structure is immersed within a Nafion™/methanol bath to impregnate the electrode with Nafion™. A method for fabricating an anode for use in a organic fuel cell is described wherein metal alloys are deposited onto the electrode in an electro-deposition solution containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. A fuel additive containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid for use with fuel cells employing a sulfuric acid electrolyte is also disclosed.

Abstract: An efficient method is disclosed for the preparation of trifluoromethyl- and difluoromethylsilanes using magnesium metal mediated reductive tri- and difluoromethylation of chlorosilanes with tri- and difluoromethyl sulfides, sulfoxides, and sulfones. One byproduct of the process is diphenyl disulfide. Since phenyl trifluoromethyl sulfone, sulfoxide and sulfide are readily prepared from readily available trifluoromethane and diphenyl disulfide, the method can be considered “pseudo-catalytic” for the preparation of (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane from environmentally benign trifluoromethane.

Abstract: A method of alkylating aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons with olefins using solid hydrogen fluoride-equivalent catalysts is described. Preferred catalysts comprise solid polymeric onium polyhydrogen fluoride complexes.

Abstract: A liquid organic, fuel cell is provided which employs a solid electrolyte membrane. An organic fuel, such as a methanol/water mixture, is circulated past an anode of a cell while oxygen or air is circulated past a cathode of the cell. The cell solid electrolyte membrane is preferably fabricated from Nafion™. Additionally, a method for improving the performance of carbon electrode structures for use in organic fuel cells is provided wherein a high surface-area carbon particle/Teflon™-binder structure is immersed within a Nafion™/methanol bath to impregnate the electrode with Nafion™. A method for fabricating an anode for use in a organic fuel cell is described wherein metal alloys are deposited onto the electrode in an electro-deposition solution containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. A fuel additive containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid for use with fuel cells employing a sulfuric acid electrolyte is also disclosed.

Abstract: Solid polymeric onium poly(hydrogen fluoride) complexes disclosed herein can be used for alkylating aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons with olefins. These solid polymeric complexes can be formed by a process of contacting a source of hydrogen fluoride with a homopolymer or copolymer containing in at least one repeat unit, a nitrogen, phosphorus, or sulfur atom, capable of forming an onium fluoride moiety upon reaction or complexation with the hydrogen fluoride source.

Abstract: A catalyst ink for a fuel cell including a catalytic material and poly(vinylidene fluoride). The ink may be applied to a substrate to form an electrode, or bonded with other electrode layers to form a membrane electrode assembly (MEA).

Abstract: An efficient method is disclosed for the preparation of trifluoromethyl- and difluoromethylsilanes using magnesium metal mediated reductive tri- and difluoromethylation of chlorosilanes with tri- and difluoromethyl sulfides, sulfoxides, and sulfones. One byproduct of the process is diphenyl disulfide. Since phenyl trifluoromethyl sulfone, sulfoxide and sulfide are readily prepared from readily available trifluoromethane and diphenyl disulfide, the method can be considered “pseudo-catalytic” for the preparation of (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane from environmentally benign trifluoromethane.

Abstract: A method of alkylating aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons with olefins using solid hydrogen fluoride-equivalent catalysts is described. Preferred catalysts comprise solid polymeric onium polyhydrogen fluoride complexes.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane composed of polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSA) crosslinked within a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) matrix is provided. This membrane exhibits low methanol crossover which translates to higher fuel and fuel cell efficiencies. A fuel cell comprising a PSSA-PVDF membrane is also provided. Further, methods of decreasing the fuel crossover rate, enhancing fuel cell efficiency, and enhancing electrical performance of a fuel cell are provided.