Abstract: Catalytic process for preparing an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid salt, comprising reacting an alkene and carbon dioxide in the presence of a carboxylation catalyst and releasing the ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid salt with a base, the carboxylation catalyst being a transition metal complex, which comprises a structurally constrained bidentate P,X ligand, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of P, N, O, and carbene, the P and X atom are separated by 2 to 4 bridging atoms, and wherein the bridging atoms are part of at least one 5- to 7-membered cyclic substructure. A further catalytic processes for preparing ?,?ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives from CO2 and an alkene is provided.

Abstract: An insulating material that tends not to hydrolyze is used to thereby provide a heat pump apparatus having long-term reliability. An electric motor of a compressor is fixed to a sealed container and includes a stator around which a winding wire is wound through intermediation of an insulating material, and a rotor surrounded by the stator. The insulating material is a wholly aromatic liquid crystal polyester (LCP) having a molecular main chain constituted by a monomer including p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHB) as an essential monomer and a monomer solely including benzene-ring as another monomer via an ester bond. The refrigerating machine oil has a saturated water content of 2% or less at 40 degrees C., a relative humidity of 80%, for 24 Hr. To suppress the explosive decomposition reaction of ethylene-based fluorohydrocarbon, a flame retardant is used to generate chemical species that complement active radicals that cause the decomposition reaction.

Abstract: Catalytic process for preparing an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid salt, comprising reacting an alkene and carbon dioxide in the presence of a carboxylation catalyst and releasing the ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid salt with a base, the carboxylation catalyst being a transition metal complex, which comprises a structurally constrained bidentate P,X ligand, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of P, N, O, and carbene, the P and X atom are separated by 2 to 4 bridging atoms, and wherein the bridging atoms are part of at least one 5- to 7-membered cyclic substructure. A further catalytic processes for preparing ?-?ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives from CO2 and an alkene is provided.

Abstract: An insulating material that tends not to hydrolyze is used to thereby provide a heat pump apparatus having long-term reliability. An electric motor of a compressor is fixed to a sealed container and includes a stator around which a winding wire is wound through intermediation of an insulating material, and a rotor surrounded by the stator. The insulating material is a wholly aromatic liquid crystal polyester (LCP) having a molecular main chain constituted by a monomer including p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHB) as an essential monomer and a monomer solely including benzene-ring as another monomer via an ester bond. The refrigerating machine oil has a saturated water content of 2% or less at 40 degrees C., a relative humidity of 80%, for 24 Hr. To suppress the explosive decomposition reaction of ethylene-based fluorohydrocarbon, a flame retardant is used to generate chemical species that complement active radicals that cause the decomposition reaction.

Abstract: In a process for preparing an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, a) a transition metal-alkene complex is reacted with CO2 to give a metallalactone, b) the metallalactone is reacted with a base to give an adduct of the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of the ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid with the transition metal complex, and c) the adduct is reacted with an alkene to release the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of the ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and regenerate the transition metal-alkene complex. The base is selected from alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxides and alkali metal or alkaline earth metal superbases. The alkene is, for example, ethene. The transition metal complex comprises, for example, nickel and a bidentate P,P, P,N, P,O or P,carbene ligand, such as 1,2-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)ethane.