Abstract: Hydrogenation-dehydrogenation of suitable feedstock is provided wherein such feedstock is subjected to hydrogenation-dehydrogenation conditions in the presence of a catalytic amount of a solid containing, at least in part, a synthetic amorphous solid prepared by hydrolyzing and polymerizing in the presence of water a silane having the formula R(Si)X.sub.3, wherein R is a nonhydrolyzable organic group, X is a hydrolyzable group and (Si) is selected from the group consisting of ##STR1## and calcining the polymerized product, said silane being admixed with a second compound, R'.sub.n MY.sub.m, wherein R' is selected from the group consisting of the same groups as R, Y is selected from the group consisting of the same groups as X and oxygen, M is at least one member selected from the group consisting of the elements of Groups IIIA, IVA, VA, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB and VIII of the Periodic Table, m is any number greater than 0 and up to 8 and n is from 0 to any number less than 8.

Abstract: Optically active compounds are prepared from optically inactive unsaturated hydrocarbons by reacting at least one unsaturated hydrocarbon in the presence of a catalyst prepared by combining a nickel compound, a Lewis acid and an optically active phosphine of the general formulaPR'R"R"'in which R', R" and R"' are hydrocarbon radicals, thereby forming optically active compounds having chiral centers formed by the carbon-to-carbon linkages. The optically active compounds can be polymerized to provide optically active polymers.