Abstract: A porous coordinatively unsaturated metal complex comprises metal complex units. Each metal complex unit includes a first metal and an organic ligand. The metal complex units are connected one another through a second metal (a connecting metal). The porous coordinatively unsaturated metal complex has voids formed by the connection. Voids have a size of 10 ? or more. The first metal is rendered to a coordinatively unsaturated state in the metal complex unit. With this arrangement, not only low-molecular weight compounds but also general compounds can be introduced as substrates. Further, the porous coordinatively unsaturated metal complex has high catalytic activity or high molecule retainability.

Abstract: A porous coordinatively unsaturated metal complex comprises metal complex units. Each metal complex unit includes a first metal and an organic ligand. The metal complex units are connected one another through a second metal (a connecting metal). The porous coordinatively unsaturated metal complex has voids formed by the connection. Voids have a size of 10 Å or more. The first metal is rendered to a coordinatively unsaturated state in the metal complex unit. With this arrangement, not only low-molecular weight compounds but also general compounds can be introduced as substrates. Further, the porous coordinatively unsaturated metal complex has high catalytic activity or high molecule retainability.

Abstract: In a producing method of alcohols such as cyclohexanedimethanol, a benzyl ester is obtained, for example, by the reaction between a benzyl compound and carboxylic acid in the presence of oxygen and a catalyst including palladium, gold ultra fine particles, and at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of Group IIA, IIIA, VIA, IIB, VB, and VIII of the periodic table, and alkali metal. The alcohols are produced by hydrogenating a benzene ring of the benzyl ester and then hydrolyzing the resultant esters. Alternatively, the benzyl ester is hydrolyzed to produce benzyl alcohols, and a benzene ring of the benzyl alcohols is hydrogenated to produce the alcohols.

Abstract: (Acyloxyalkyl)aromatic carboxylic acids are produced by partial oxidation of alkyl substituted aromatic compounds which are represented by the following General Formula (1) CHR1R2—Ar—(R3)n  (1) (where Ar is an aromatic ring of two or greater valency, R1 is a hydrogen atom or alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 3, R2 is a hydrogen atom, alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 3, or —OCOR5 group, R3 is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 4, —COOH group, —CHO group, —CH2R4 group, or —COOR group, n is an integer of 1 to 5, R4 is a halogen atom, —OH group, or —OCOR5 group, and R5 is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 4), and carboxylic acids in the presence of oxygen using a catalyst including an element which belongs to Group VIII of the periodic table. (Hydroxyalkyl)alicyclic carboxylic acids are produced by carrying out hydrogenation and hydrolysis using the (acyloxyalkyl)carboxylic acids as a starting material.

Abstract: An oxidation catalyst according to the present invention is prepared, for example, by heat processing a gold compound at 150° C. to 80° C., yielding ultrafine gold particles, which are then mixed with a palladium compound and a compound containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of alkaline metals and the elements of Groups IIA, IIIA, VIA, IIB, VB, and VIII of the Periodic Table. By an oxidation reaction between a benzyl compound such as p-xylene and a carboxylic acid such as acetic acid in the presence of oxygen and the oxidation catalyst prepared as above, a benzyl ester such as p-methylbenzyl acetate or p-xylylene diacetate can be produced. Consequently, it is possible to provide an oxidation catalyst suitable for use in industrially producing the foregoing benzyl esters, a method of preparing the foregoing oxidation catalyst, and a method of producing the foregoing benzyl esters efficiently and at low cost.