Abstract: The present invention provides an improved hydrogenation processes wherein heat is efficiently managed so that catalyst productivity is optimized. More particularly, in the processes of the present invention, a nonaqueous solvent is added to a reactant to provide a nonaqueous solvent/reactant mixture that can act as a heat sink and absorb at least a portion of the heat generated within the reactor. Desirably, a reaction product, or a solvent with a minimal number of hydroxyl groups, is utilized so that the formation of unwanted byproducts can be minimized.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved hydrogenation processes wherein heat is efficiently managed so that catalyst productivity is optimized. More particularly, in the processes of the present invention, a nonaqueous solvent is added to a reactant to provide a nonaqueous solvent/reactant mixture that can act as a heat sink and absorb at least a portion of the heat generated within the reactor. Desirably, a reaction product, or a solvent with a minimal number of hydroxyl groups, is utilized so that the formation of unwanted byproducts can be minimized.

Abstract: A cross-metathesis process for preparing an ?,?-functionalized olefin, such as methyl 9-decenoate, and an ?-olefin having three or more carbon atoms, such as 1-decene.

Abstract: Integrated processes of preparing industrial chemicals starting from seed oil feedstock compositions containing one or more unsaturated fatty acids or unsaturated fatty acid esters, which are essentially free of metathesis catalyst poisons, particularly hydroperoxides; metathesis of the feedstock composition with a lower olefin, such as ethylene, to form a reduced chain olefin, preferably, a reduced chain ?-olefin, and a reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester, preferably, a reduced chain ?,?-unsaturated acid or ester. The reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester may be (trans)esterified to form a polyester polyolefin, which may be epoxidized to form a polyester polyepoxide. The reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester may be hydroformylated with reduction to produce an ?,?-hydroxy acid or ?,?-hydroxy ester, which may be (trans)esterified with a polyol to form an ?,?-polyester polyol.

Abstract: A process of stabilizing an olefin metathesis product mixture, preferably, against double bond isomerization and thermal and chemical degradation. The process involves (a) contacting an olefin metathesis product mixture comprising one or more olefins produced in a metathesis process, a metathesis catalyst comprising a catalytic metal and one or more ligands, optionally, one or more metathesis catalyst degradation products, and optionally, one or more metals derived from sources other than the catalyst or catalyst degradation product(s), with an adsorbent, more preferably carbon; or alternatively, (b) subjecting the olefin metathesis product mixture to a two-step distillation, preferably, including short path wiped-film evaporation. A stabilized olefin metathesis product mixture to a two-step distillation, preferably, including short path wiped-film evaporation.

Abstract: Integrated processes of preparing industrial chemicals starting from seed oil feedstock compositions containing one or more unsaturated fatty acids or unsaturated fatty acid esters, which are essentially free of metathesis catalyst poisons, particularly hydroperoxides; metathesis of the feedstock composition with a lower olefin, such as ethylene, to form a reduced chain olefin, preferably, a reduced chain ?-olefin, and a reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester, preferably, a reduced chain ?,?-unsaturated acid or ester. The reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester may be (trans)esterified to form a polyester polyolefin, which may be epoxidized to form a polyester polyepoxide. The reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester may be hydroformylated with reduction to produce an ?,?-hydroxy acid or ?,?-hydroxy ester, which may be (trans)esterified with a polyol to form an ?,?polyester polyol.

Abstract: A cross-metathesis process for preparing an ?,?-functionalized olefin, such as methyl 9-decenoate, and an ?-olefin having three or more carbon atoms, such as 1-decene.

Abstract: A process for separating a homogeneous metathesis catalyst and, optionally, one or more homogeneous metathesis catalyst degradation products from a metathesis reaction mixture containing in addition to said metathesis catalyst and said metathesis catalyst degradation product(s), one or more olefin metathesis products, one or more unconverted reactant olefins, and optionally, a solvent. The process involves contacting the metathesis reaction mixture with a nanofiltration membrane, such as a polyimide nanofiltration membrane, so as to recover a permeate containing a substantial portion of the olefin reaction products, the unconverted reactant olefins, and optional solvent, and a retentate containing the metathesis catalyst, and optionally, metathesis catalyst degradation product(s). In another aspect, this invention pertains to a continuous metathesis reaction-catalyst separation process, preferably, conducted in a nanofiltration membrane reactor.

Abstract: A process of preparing an unsaturated alcohol (olefin alcohol), such as, a homo-allylic mono-alcohol or homo-allylic polyol, involving protecting a hydroxy-substituted unsaturated fatty acid or fatty acid ester, such as methyl ricinoleate, derived from a seed oil, to form a hydroxy-protected unsaturated fatty acid or fatty acid ester; homo-metathesizing or cross-metathesizing the hydroxy-protected unsaturated fatty acid or fatty acid ester to produce a product mixture containing a hydroxy-protected unsaturated metathesis product; and deprotecting the hydroxy-protected unsaturated metathesis product under conditions sufficient to prepare the unsaturated alcohol. Preferably, methyl ricinoleate is converted by cross-metathesis or homo-metathesis into the homo-allylic mono-alcohol 1-decene-4-ol or the homo-allylic polyol 9-octadecene-7,12-diol, respectively.

Abstract: An olefin metathesis process involving contacting an unsaturated fatty acid ester or unsaturated fatty acid, such as methyloleate or oleic acid, with a lower olefin, preferably ethylene, in the presence of a metathesis catalyst so as to prepare a first product olefin, preferably, a reduced chain ?-olefin, such as methyl-9-decenoate or 9-decenoic acid, respectively. The metathesis catalyst contains ruthenium or osmium and a chelating ligand, preferably, a chelating ligand containing a carbene moiety and a second donor moiety of a Group 15 or 16 element Optionally, the catalyst can be supported on a catalyst support, such as, a cross-linked polymeric resin.

Abstract: A process of stabilizing an olefin metathesis product mixture, preferably, against double bond isomerization and thermal and chemical degradation. The process involves (a) contacting an olefin metathesis product mixture comprising one or more olefins produced in a metathesis process, a metathesis catalyst comprising a catalytic metal and one or more ligands, optionally, one or more metathesis catalyst degradation products, and optionally, one or more metals derived from sources other than the catalyst or catalyst degradation product(s), with an adsorbent, more preferably carbon; or alternatively, (b) subjecting the olefin metathesis product mixture to a two-step distillation, preferably, including short path wiped-film evaporation. A stabilized olefin metathesis product mixture is disclosed containing one or more olefins obtained in a metathesis process and having a total concentration of metal(s) of less than about 30 parts per million by weight.

Abstract: Integrated processes of preparing industrial chemicals starting from seed oil feedstock compositions containing one or more unsaturated fatty acids or unsaturated fatty acid esters, which are essentially free of metathesis catalyst poisons, particularly hydroperoxides; metathesis of the feedstock composition with a lower olefin, such as ethylene, to form a reduced chain olefin, preferably, a reduced chain ?-olefin, and a reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester, preferably, a reduced chain ?,?-unsaturated acid or ester. The reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester may be (trans)esterified to form a polyester polyolefin, which may be epoxidized to form a polyester polyepoxide. The reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester may be hydroformylated with reduction to produce an ?,?-hydroxy acid or ?,?-hydroxy ester, which may be (trans)esterified with a polyol to form an ?,?polyester polyol.

Abstract: A process of preparing an unsaturated alcohol (olefin alcohol), such as, a homo-allylic mono-alcohol or homo-allylic polyol, involving protecting a hydroxy-substituted unsaturated fatty acid or fatty acid ester, such as methyl ricinoleate, derived from a seed oil, to form a hydroxy-protected unsaturated fatty acid or fatty acid ester; homo-metathesizing or cross-metathesizing the hydroxy-protected unsaturated fatty acid or fatty acid ester to produce a product mixture containing a hydroxy-protected unsaturated metathesis product; and deprotecting the hydroxy-protected unsaturated metathesis product under conditions sufficient to prepare the unsaturated alcohol. Preferably, methyl ricinoleate is converted by cross-metathesis or homo-metathesis into the homo-allylic mono-alcohol 1-decene-4-ol or the homo-allylic polyol 9-octadecene-7,12-diol, respectively.

Abstract: An olefin metathesis process involving contacting an unsaturated fatty acid ester or unsaturated fatty acid, such as methyloleate or oleic acid, with a lower olefin, preferably ethylene, in the presence of a metathesis catalyst so as to prepare a first product olefin, preferably, a reduced chain ?-olefin, such as methyl-9-decenoate or 9-decenoic acid, respectively. The metathesis catalyst contains ruthenium or osmium and a chelating ligand, preferably, a chelating ligand containing a carbene moiety and a second donor moiety of a Group 15 or 16 element Optionally, the catalyst can be supported on a catalyst support, such as, a cross-linked polymeric resin.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an improved method of oxidizing substituted aromatic compounds (such as p xylene) to their corresponding aromatic acids (such as terephthalic acid). The improvement involves carrying out the oxidation reaction in an aqueous medium, wherein the aqueous medium contains at least 30 percent water, preferably up to 30 percent surfactant and preferably a low molecular weight material containing a hydrophilic end group as a co-surfactant. The reaction is carried out at a pH of less than 3.0.

Abstract: Novel substantially random functionalized interpolymers and processes for making them are disclosed. The novel interpolymers include those prepared from ethylene and vinyl aromatic monomers such as ethylene-styrene interpolymers which are then functionalized with a variety of electrophilic and nucleophilic reagents.

Abstract: Novel substantially random functionalized interpolymers and processes for making them are disclosed. The novel interpolymers include those prepared from ethylene and vinyl aromatic monomers such as ethylene-styrene interpolymers which are then functionalized with a variety of electrophilic and nucleophilic reagents.

Abstract: Novel substantially random functionalized interpolymers and processes for making them are disclosed. The novel interpolymers include those prepared from ethylene and vinyl aromatic monomers such as ethylene-styrene interpolymers which are then functionalized with a variety of electrophilic and nucleophilic reagents.

Abstract: A process of catalytically reacting a 3-18 carbon mono-olefin such as cyclohexene with an arylhydroxide such as phenol in the liquid phase forming an ortho-alkylated arylhydroxide which is subsequently catalytically dehydrogentated to form an ortho-alkenylarylhydroxide or ortho-arylarylhydroxide such as ortho-phenylphenol.

Abstract: A composition comprising a copper(I) impregnated aluminosilicate zeolite wherein the zeolite is selected from faujasites, L and .OMEGA., and wherein the zeolite has a silica to bulk alumina molar ratio between about 12 and about 50 and a silica to framework alumina molar ratio of at least about 15. The catalyst preparation involves in the following order: drying the selected zeolite, impregnating the dried zeolite with a copper(II) salt, calcining the copper(II)-impregnated zeolite, and reducing the copper(II) to copper(I). The composition is useful as a catalyst for the cyclodimerization of 1,3-butadiene to 4-vinylcyclohexene.