Abstract: A homopolymer of 1,4-benzodioxepin-3-cyclohexyl-2,5-dione with a Tg of 120° C. Copolymers are also described. The polymers are useful for surgical and other applications where biodegradability is important.

Abstract: A process for producing a ring-substituted arene borane which comprises reacting a ring-substituted arene with an HB organic compound in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of an iridium or rhodium complex with three or more substituents, excluding hydrogen, bonded to the iridium or rhodium and a phosphorus organic ligand, which is at least in part bonded to the iridium or rhodium, to form the ring-substituted arene borane. Also provided are catalytic compounds for catalyzing the process comprising an iridium or rhodium complex with three or substituents, excluding hydrogen, bonded to the iridium or rhodium and optionally, a phosphorus organic ligand, which is at least in part bonded to the iridium or rhodium.

Abstract: A process for producing organic substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic compounds including biaryl and biheteroaryl compounds in a two-step reaction. In the first step, the aromatic or heteroaromatic compound is borylated in a reaction comprising a borane or diborane reagent (any boron reagent where the boron reagent contains a B—H, B—B or B—Si bond) and an iridium or rhodium catalytic complex. In the second step, a metal catalyst catalyzes the formation of the organic substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic compound from the borylated compound and an electrophile such as an aryl or organic halide, triflate (OSO2CF3), or nonaflate (OSO2C4F9). The steps in the process can be performed in a single reaction vessel or in separate reaction vessels. The present invention also provides a process for synthesis of complex polyphenylenes starting from halogenated aromatic compounds.

Abstract: A process is described for synthesizing aminoarylboronic esters of the general formula wherein R, R2, and R3 are each an alkyl, aryl, vinyl, alkoxy, carboxylic esters, amides, or halogen; Ar is any variety of phenyl, naphthyl, anthracyl, heteroaryl; and R1 is alkyl, hydrogen, or aryl. The aminoarylboronic esters are produced via the metal-catalyzed coupling of arylboronic esters of the general formula wherein R and R1 are any non-interfering group and X is chloro, bromo, iodo, triflates, or nonaflates to amines (primary and secondary). In particular, a process is described for the synthesis of the aminoarylboronic esters via a step-wise or tandem process in which one catalytic event is a metal-catalyzed borylation and the other catalytic event is a metal-catalyzed amination.

Abstract: A process for producing a ring-substituted arene borane which comprises reacting a ring-substituted arene with an HB organic compound in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of an iridium or rhodium complex with three or more substituents, excluding hydrogen, bonded to the iridium or rhodium and a phosphorus organic ligand, which is at least in part bonded to the iridium or rhodium, to form the ring-substituted arene borane. Also provided are catalytic compounds for catalyzing the process comprising an iridium or rhodium complex with three or substituents, excluding hydrogen, bonded to the iridium or rhodium and optionally, a phosphorus organic ligand, which is at least in part bonded to the iridium or rhodium.

Abstract: A process for producing organic substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic compounds including biaryl and biheteroaryl compounds in a two-step reaction. In the first step, the aromatic or heteroaromatic compound is borylated in a reaction comprising a borane or diborane reagent (any boron reagent where the boron reagent contains a B—H, B—B or B—Si bond) and an iridium or rhodium catalytic complex. In the second step, a metal catalyst catalyzes the formation of the organic substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic compound from the borylated compound and an electrophile such as an aryl or organic halide, triflate (OSO2CF3), or nonaflate (OSO2C4F9). The steps in the process can be performed in a single reaction vessel or in separate reaction vessels. The present invention also provides a process for synthesis of complex polyphenylenes starting from halogenated aromatic compounds.

Abstract: A process to synthesize substituted phenols such as those of the general formula RR′R″Ar(OH) wherein R, R′, and R″ are each independently hydrogen or any group which does not interfere in the process for synthesizing the substituted phenol including, but not limited to, halo, alkyl, alkoxy, carboxylic ester, amine, amide; and Ar is any variety of aryl or hetroaryl by means of oxidation of substituted arylboronic esters is described. In particular, a metal-catalyzed C—H activation/borylation reaction is described, which when followed by direct oxidation in a single or separate reaction vessel affords phenols without the need for any intermediate manipulations. More particularly, a process wherein Ir-catalyzed borylation of arenes using pinacolborane (HBPin) followed by oxidation of the intermediate arylboronic ester by OXONE is described.

Abstract: A process to synthesize substituted phenols such as those of the general formula RR′R″Ar(OH) wherein R, R′, and R″ are each independently hydrogen or any group which does not interfere in the process for synthesizing the substituted phenol including, but not limited to, halo, alkyl, alkoxy, carboxylic ester, amine, amide; and Ar is any variety of aryl or hetroaryl by means of oxidation of substituted arylboronic esters is described. In particular, a metal-catalyzed C—H activation/borylation reaction is described, which when followed by direct oxidation in a single or separate reaction vessel affords phenols without the need for any intermediate manipulations. More particularly, a process wherein Ir-catalyzed borylation of arenes using pinacolborane (HBPin) followed by oxidation of the intermediate arylboronic ester by OXONE is described.

Abstract: A process is described for synthesizing aminoarylboronic esters of the general formula 1

Abstract: A process for producing a ring-substituted arene borane which comprises reacting a ring-substituted arene with an HB organic compound in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of an iridium or rhodium complex with three or more substituents, excluding hydrogen, bonded to the iridium or rhodium and a phosphorus organic ligand, which is at least in part bonded to the iridium or rhodium, to form the ring-substituted arene borane. Also provided are catalytic compounds for catalyzing the process comprising an iridium or rhodium complex with three or substituents, excluding hydrogen, bonded to the iridium or rhodium and optionally, a phosphorus organic ligand, which is at least in part bonded to the iridium or rhodium.

Abstract: A process for producing organic substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic compounds including biaryl and biheteroaryl compounds in a two-step reaction. In the first step, the aromatic or heteroaromatic compound is borylated in a reaction comprising a borane or diborane reagent (any boron reagent where the boron reagent contains a B—H, B—B or B—Si bond) and an iridium or rhodium catalytic complex. In the second step, a metal catalyst catalyzes the formation of the organic substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic compound from the borylated compound and an electrophile such as an aryl or organic halide, triflate (OSO2CF3), or nonaflate (OSO2C4F9). The steps in the process can be performed in a single reaction vessel or in separate reaction vessels. The present invention also provides a process for synthesis of complex polyphenylenes starting from halogenated aromatic compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the direct synthesis of high melting polymers made from dimeric cyclic esters. In particular, the present invention provides a process for synthesis of polylactic acid (PLA) from racemic materials such as racemic lactide and polymandelide from mandelide. The process further provides racemic metal organic ligand catalysts such as racemic salbinap that catalyzes the polymerization of racemic dimeric cyclic ester monomers to a polylactide stereocomplex. Polymandelide and mixed dimeric cyclic esters are also prepared in the presence of low amounts of water.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the direct synthesis of high melting polymers made from dimeric cyclic esters. In particular, the present invention provides a process for synthesis of polylactic acid (PLA) from racemic materials such as racemic lactide and polymandelide from mandelide. The process further provides racemic metal organic ligand catalysts such as racemic salbinap that catalyzes the polymerization of racemic dimeric cyclic ester monomers to a polylactide stereocomplex. Polymandelide and mixed dimeric cyclic esters are also prepared in the presence of low amounts of water.