Abstract: A catalyst suitable for use in an esterification reaction comprises the reaction product of a compound of titanium, zirconium or hafnium, a 2hydroxy carboxylic acid and a quaternary ammonium compound selected from the group consisting of tetraethylammonium hydroxide and tetramethylammonium hydroxide, optionally with an alcohol or water.

Abstract: The invention provides a compound suitable for use as a catalyst for ring opening polymerisation reactions for example for the polymerisation of lactones, lactides etc, the catalyst comprising the reaction product of (i) an alkoxide, halide, condensed alkoxide, amide, condensed amide, mixed halo-alkoxide or, mixed halo-amide, sulphonic acid derivative, sulphonamide, silanol or silylamide of titanium zirconium, hafnium or aluminium or a mixture thereof, and (ii) a complexing compound selected from the list comprising oximes, hydroxy-Schiff bases, 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives, 10-hydroxybenzo-[h]-quinoline derivatives, hydrazones and substituted phenols.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprises the reaction product of an alkoxide or condensed alkoxide of a metal M, selected from titanium, zirconium, hafnium, aluminium, or a lanthanide, an alcohol containing at least two hydroxyl groups, a 2-hydroxy carboxylic acid and a base, wherein the molar ratio of base to 2-hydroxy carboxylic acid is in the range 0.01-0.79:1. The composition is useful as a catalyst for esterification reactions, especially for the production of polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate.

Abstract: An organometallic composition, suitable for use in curing polyisocyanate compositions, comprises a complex of at least one metal selected from iron, cobalt and aluminium and at least one ?-dicarbonyl compound wherein when the metal is iron (II) or cobalt (II) the molar ration of ?-dicarbonyl compound to metal is in the range from 2.1:1 to 10:1, and when the metal is aluminium (III), iron (III) or cobalt (III) the molar ration of ?-dicarbonyl compound to metal is in the range from 3.1:1 to 10:1. A polyisocyanate composition containing the claimed organometallic composition and a process for binding lignocellulosic material is also described and claimed.