A kind of difunctional catalystalkyl ester sulfonate copper, which not only has the catalytic center but also has the hydrogen precursor structurewas synthesized for the first time. It has been used for catalytic aquathermolysis of super heavy oils both in the laboratory and field. The laboratory experimental results show that, although its viscosity is about 1.81 × 10 5 mPa•s at 70 °C, the viscosity of heavy oil could be reduced by 90.72% using 0.3 wt % catalyst at 240 °C for 24 h, with 10.12% in conversion of heavy content to light content. To evaluate the catalyst's high performance, the structure and group compositions of the oil were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), elemental analysis (EL), gel permeation chromatrography (GPC), 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H-NMR), and gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC−MS). It is found that the catalyst can not only enhance the viscosity reduction of heavy oil, but also remove some heteroatoms from its molecules, finally make the flow properties better and the quality upgrading. In field tests of the F10223 well of the Xinjiang Oilfield, the preliminary result has also proved the evident effects of the catalyst. Additionally, in view of the environmentally friendly and low toxicity of the catalyst, it will be beneficial for supporting a vast array of environmental, health, and safety (HSE) standards and is likely to have some good application prospects.

Two efficient viscosity reducers with the same ligand and different catalytic centers (Cu 2+ and Fe 3+ ) were prepared and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and then used in catalytic aquathermolysis of six heavy oils. After that, Shengli extra-heavy oil (1.8 × 10 5 mPa s at 50 °C) was selected as the research object for an in-depth study of the same and different influences on the aquathermolysis of heavy oil catalyzed by the two catalytic ions. The compositions and structure of oil sample before and after reaction were analyzed by elemental analysis (EL), 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR), gel permeation chromatrography (GPC), and gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC−MS). The corresponding structural parameters were calculated on the basis of the improved Brown−Ladner methods. The compared results showed that the two catalytic ions mainly acted on the asphaltene of oil sample. In addition, the former mainly caused the depolymerization and cleavage of some bridge bonds of the macromolecular ring system, whereas the latter primarily led to the isomerization of side chains and ring-opening of heterocyclic rings. The former could be more suitable to catalyze the aquathermolysis of the heavy oil with high asphaltene than the latter for application.

A highly efficient Ag(I)-catalyzed atroposelective desymmetrization of N-(2-t-butylphenyl)maleimide via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of in situ generated azomethine ylides has been established successfully, affording a facile access to a series of biologically important and enantioenriched octahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole derivatives in generally high yields (up to 99%) with excellent levels of diastereo-/enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee, >20:1 dr). Subsequent transformations led to fascinating 2H-pyrrole and polysubstituted pyrrole compounds without loss of stereoselectivity. The absolute configuration of the generated chiral axis has been unambiguously identified as (M) through single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Furthermore, on the basis of the comprehensive experimental results and the absolute configuration of one of the cycloadducts, the origin of the stereoselectivity was proposed to be attributed to the steric congestion imposed by the bulky PPh2 group of the chiral ligand and the tert-butyl group of N-(2-t-butylphenyl)maleimide. The possible hydrogen bond interaction between the NH2 group of the chiral ligand and one of the carbonyl groups of N-(2-t-butylphenyl)maleimide is considered to facilitate stabilizing the transition state.

An efficient kinetic resolution of readily available racemic cyclopentene-1,3-diones has been developed via a Ag(I)-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides. This methodology shows good functional-group tolerance, delivering an array of synthetically valuable cyclopentene-1,3-diones with excellent stereoselectivity and generally high resolution efficiency ( s = 48-226) accompanied by the biologically important fused pyrrolidine derivatives. Notably, this strategy allows facile access to the key intermediates for the synthesis of (+)-madindolines A and B.

A highly enantioselective desymmetrization of prochiral cyclopentenediones via Ag(I)-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylide has been developed successfully. The methodology performs well over a broad scope of substrates, which provides facile access to a series of highly functionalized bicyclic pyrrolidine/cyclopentane derivatives in good to high yields with excellent stereoselectivities.