A catalyst for synthesis of lactic acid and it derivatives is provided. The catalyst includes SnY2.mH2O and at least one of NH4X or quaternary ammonium salts, wherein X and Y are selected from F—, Cl—, Br—, I—, CH3SO3—, C6H5SO3—, CH3C6H4SO3— or CN—, m represents an integer of 1 to 15. A method for synthesis of lactic acid and it derivatives with the above catalyst is also provided. By using the above catalyst and method, it is capable of converting carbohydrate-containing raw material to lactic acid and its derivatives directly in a more efficient and economical way.

This disclosure relates to a method for preparing alkyl lactate with high yield and high selectivity, comprising the step of reacting glycerol with water or alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. In addition, the present invention provides a method for efficiently preparing lactamide using the alkyl lactate.

A catalytic process for dehydration of an aliphatic C2-C6 alcohol to its corresponding olefin is disclosed. The process continuously flows through a reaction zone a liquid phase containing an aliphatic C2-C6 alcohol to contact a non-volatile acid catalyst at a reaction temperature and pressure to at least partially convert the aliphatic C2-C6 alcohol in the liquid phase to its corresponding olefin. The reaction pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure and the reaction temperature is above the boiling point of the olefin at reaction pressure, but below the critical temperature of the alcohol, and the olefin product is substantially in the gaseous phase. After the contacting step, the olefin containing gaseous phase is separated from the liquid phase. The invention also relates to catalytic processes such as a hydrolysis of an olefin to an alcohol, an esterification, a transesterification, a polymerization, an aldol condensation or an ester hydrolysis.

The present invention relates to a process of production of a compound, which is useful as an intermediate (building block) in organic synthesis, especially in the synthesis of vitamin A or β-carotene and derivatives thereof, e.g. canthaxanthin, astaxanthin or zeaxanthin.

The invention relates to fatty acid acylated salicylate derivatives; compositions comprising an effective amount of a fatty acid acylated salicylate derivative; and methods for treating or preventing an inflammatory disorder comprising the administration of an effective amount of a fatty acid acylated salicylate derivative.

A composition of matter comprising an interpenetrating polymer network of a combination of a silanol-containing polysiloxane phase and a silylated triglyceride oil phase. The two phases are mixed and covalently bound to each other via siloxane crosslinks. A method for producing interpenetrating polymer networks. The method comprises providing triglycerides from oils or fats and reacting the triglycerides with a reactive silane to form a silylated triglyceride oil. The silylated triglyceride oil and a silanol terminated polysiloxane are emulsified with water in a predetermined ratio. Thereafter, crosslinking agents are added and the water is removed from the emulsions providing siloxane crosslinks between the two intimately mixed immiscible phases.

The present disclosure discloses a silicon-sulfur polymer, a solid electrolyte comprising the silicon-sulfur polymer, and a corresponding solid-state lithium-ion battery. The silicon-sulfur polymer of the present disclosure is a polymer compound comprising both an inorganic backbone-chain structure and an organic side-chain structure, and has the characteristics of both the organic polymer and the inorganic polymer as well as many unique properties. Therefore, the solid electrolyte formed by the silicon-sulfur polymer and the solid-state lithium-ion battery thereof have many good characteristics including a good lithium-ion-conduction capability, better thermal endurance, a wider range of operating temperatures, and better thermostability.

The present invention describes chemical systems and methods for silylating aromatic organic substrates, said system comprising a mixture of (a) at least one organosilane and (b) at least one strong base, said system being substantially free of a transition-metal compound, and said methods comprising contacting a quantity of the organic substrate with a mixture of (a) at least one organosilane and (b) at least one strong base, under conditions sufficient to silylate the aromatic substrate; wherein said system is substantially free of a transition-metal compound.

The present invention features monocyclic cyanoenone compositions and methods for using the same in the treatment of diseases such as cancer, inflammatory diseases and neurodegenerative diseases.

Phosphoranimide-metal catalysts are disclosed. The catalysts comprise first row transition metals such as nickel, cobalt or iron. The hydrocarbon-soluble catalysts have a metal to anionic phosphoranimide ratio of 1:1, and have no inactive bulk phase and no dative ancillary ligands. The electronic state of the clusters can be adjusted to optimize catalytic activity for a range of commercially important reductive transformations, including hydrodesulfurization. A method of synthesis of these catalysts by anionic metathesis of a halide substituted precursor followed by oxidation is also disclosed.

A porous ceramic matrix contains a plurality of ceramic particles adhered to each other, and a plurality of channels defined by surfaces of neighboring ceramic particles, the channels each having an average diameter of 0.5-2.5 μm. Preferred ceramics also have a porosity of 25.0-40.0%, a Darcy's Permeability of 1.57-34.8×10−14 m2, and a mechanical strength of 25-64 MPa. Also disclosed is a method of preparing such a porous ceramic matrix, comprising providing a pellet containing ceramic particles that are coated with a monomer, a catalyst, and a binder; polymerizing the monomer in the solid state by heating, then carbonizing and sintering the pellet.

A process to prepared bridged bis(indenyl)ligands, comprising the step of reacting a 2-indenylpinacolyl borane compound with a bromosubstituted compound in the presence of a Pd catalyst and a base to form the corresponding bridged bis(indenyl) ligand. The process may further comprise the step of reacting a 2-bromo indene compound with pinacolborane in the presence of a Pd catalyst and a base to form the corresponding 2-indenylpinacolylborane compound. These bridged bis(indenyl)ligands may suitably be used in the preparation of metallocene complexes, such as 2,2'-bis(2-indenyl)biphenyl ZrCl2 and 1,2-bis(2-indenyl)benzene ZrCl2. These metallocene complexes may be used for the polymerization, optionally in the presence of a cocatalyst, of one or more α-olefins, preferably for the polymerization of ethylene.

Disclosed are effective and simple adsorbents and methods of using the adsorbents for removing metal impurities generated during storage, transportation and supply of organometallic compounds. The disclosed adsorbents and methods provide for the easy and effective removal of the metallic impurities or compounds generated from decomposition of the organometallic compound during its transportation, storage, and supply. Namely, the disclosed adsorbents and methods permit the stable supply of a high purity organometallic compound desired in the semiconductor and photovoltaic cell.

The present invention relates to a method for producing inorganic oxide particles, comprising at least the following steps of: coagulating a dispersion obtained by carrying out the hydrolysis reaction and the polycodensation reaction of a metal alkoxide in the presence of a basic catalyst; filtering the dispersion to obtain particles; anddrying the particles, whereinthe step of coagulating the dispersion is carried out by adding a coagulant comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, ammonium carbonate, ammonium hydrogen carbonate and ammonium carbamate to the dispersion. The inorganic oxide particles obtained by the method of the present invention have high purity and are excellent in flowability.

A surface modifying composition comprises an amphiphilic compound which is non-cellulose based, the amphiphilic compound including a covalently linked ionic moiety with the following formula: where M=metal oxide or binary metal oxide, Ai is selected from compounds with surface energy greater than or equal to 25 dynes cm−1, A2 is selected from compounds with surface energy greater than or equal to 12 dynes cm−1, A3 is selected from compounds having more than one reactive functional group, x=NH2, NHR' or NR'2 (R'=methyl, ethyl, propyl or isopropyl), y=COOH, SO3H or PO3H, and R=H or halogen; and where one of the A1-x, A2, or A3-y may be replaced by a second O—R.

Provided by the present invention is a method for efficient oxidation of alcohols by using, as a catalyst for dehydrogenation oxidation, a ruthenium complex which can be easily produced and easily handled and is obtainable at a relatively low cost. The invention relates to a method of producing a compound having a carbonyl group by dehydrogenation oxidation of alcohols by using as a catalyst the ruthenium carbonyl complex represented by the following general formula (1) RuXY(CO)(L) (1) (in the general formula (1), X and Y may be the same or different from each other and represent an anionic ligand, and L represents a tridentate aminodiphosphine ligand).

The present application relates to compositions comprising at least one siloxane and at least one superplasticizer based on polycarboxylate ethers or sulphonates of lignin, melamine or naphthalene or of resins thereof, and to the use of such compositions as or in building-product mixtures or building products, especially mortar mixtures or concrete mixtures. Preferably the siloxane is a branched siloxane containing at least one “T” unit and containing at least two different polyoxyalkylene moieties.

A method of removing at least a portion of a silicon oxide material is disclosed. The silicon oxide is removed by exposing a semiconductor structure comprising a substrate and the silicon oxide to an ammonium fluoride chemical treatment and a subsequent plasma treatment, both of which may be effected in the same vacuum chamber of a processing apparatus. The ammonium fluoride chemical treatment converts the silicon oxide to a solid reaction product in a self-limiting reaction, the solid reaction product then being volatilized by the plasma treatment. The plasma treatment includes a plasma having an ion bombardment energy of less than or equal to approximately 20 eV. An ammonium fluoride chemical treatment including an alkylated ammonia derivative and hydrogen fluoride is also disclosed.

The invention provides a process for the synthesis of a polycarbonate, the process comprising the step of reacting carbon dioxide with at least one epoxide in the presence of a catalyst of formula (I) and a chain transfer agent. The invention also provides a polymerization system for the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and at least one epoxide comprising a catalyst of formula (I) and a chain transfer agent, polycarbonates produced by the inventive process, a block copolymer comprising a polycarbonate produced by the inventive process, and a method of producing the block copolymer. The invention also relates to novel catalysts of formula (III).

An electroluminescent display comprising semiconductor nanocrystals, wherein the semiconductor nanocrystals are selected to emit light at a predetermined wavelength and are disposed in a predetermined pattern. In certain embodiments, semiconductor nanocrystals that emit light at different predetermined wavelengths are disposed in the display to create a predetermined multi-color pattern.

Disclosed herein are methods for recovering diphosphite-containing compounds from mixtures comprising organic mononitriles and organic dinitriles, using liquid-liquid extraction. Also disclosed are treatments to enhance extractability of the diphosphite-containing compounds.

An efficient process for synthesizing phosphaplatins in large quantities is disclosed by adding platinum complex to a concentrated pyrophosphate solution at pH from between about 6.0 to 8.5. After stirring, the temperature and pH are lowered to precipitate out desired phosphaplatins. Particularly, the disclosed processes reduce the need to use large volumes of starting materials, and shorten the reaction time. In addition, disclosed is a process for recycling un-reacted materials from a first phosphaplatins synthesis.

A method of making amino-mercapto functional organopolysiloxanes is disclosed by reacting (A) a dialkoxydialkylsilane, (B) an amino functional alkoxy silane, and (C) a mercapto functional alkoxy silane, via a condensation reaction. The amino-mercapto functional organopolysiloxanes products are useful in textile and fabric treatments.

A modified polysiloxane compound is represented by following Formula (1), in which R1 to R9 represent hydrocarbon groups selected from linear alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, branched chain alkyl groups having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, and cyclic alkyl groups having 3 to 6 carbon atoms; p and q represent average numbers of siloxane units indicated in parentheses, where p is a number of 1 or more and q is a number of 2 or more; and “A” represents a group selected from a group represented by following Formula (2), a group represented by following Formula (3), and hydrogen atom. The modified polysiloxane compound has at least a siloxane unit wherein “A” is the group represented by following Formula (2), and a siloxane unit wherein “A” is the group represented by following Formula (3).

Asymmetric aryl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (ArPoss) compounds synthesized by the “corner-capping” of phenyl7Si7O9(OH)3 with aryl trichlorosilanes are described. The ArPoss compounds have the chemical structure: wherein Ph is phenyl and wherein R is selected from the group consisting of: and mixtures thereof.

A combination of a substrate selected from silicon, silicon carbide or a metal and a grapheme precursor having the following properties: (a) an aromatic structure that forms the basis of the graphene structure, said aromatic structure being selected from the group consisting of: benzene, naphthalene, pyrene, anthracene, chrysene, coronene, and phenanthrene, or a cyclic or acyclic structures which can be converted to aromatic structures and (b) functional groups that can react with each other to form additional aromatic structures.

The present invention relates to organometallic compounds useful in the treatment of metastasis. The organometallic compounds comprise a ligand that is covalently bound to a bioactive compound, which is an inhibitor of a resistance pathway or a derivative thereof. Preferably, the organometallic compounds are half-sandwich (“piano-stool”) compounds. The compounds of the present invention offer a high variability with respect to the bioactive compound and to the nature of the ligand bound to a central transition metal.

A new functionalized polyhedral octavinylsilsesquioxanes having the general formula 1, in which R1 denotes: (1) any aryl group other than a non-substituted phenyl or a phenyl substituted in position four with a halogen or the groups-trimethylsilylethynyl, 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3-dioxaborolane-2-yl, 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl, 3',5'-bis(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl or benzo[d][1,3]-dioxol-5-yl; (2) any heteroaryl group; or (3) groups including coupled aromatic rings. Additionally, a method to obtain new and known functionalized polyhedral octavinylsilsesquioxanes having the general formula 1, by the silylating coupling of octavinylsilsesquioxane with olefins in the presence of a ruthenium complex catalyst.

The present invention provides methods of making stereo-enriched ansa-metallocene compounds using an unchelated amine compound. Generally, these methods result in a rac:meso isomer selectivity of the stereo-enriched ansa-metallocene compound of greater than 4:1.

The invention relates to a method for producing monocarboxy-functionalized dialkylphosphinic acids, esters, and salts, characterized in that a) a phosphinic acid source (I) is reacted with olefins (IV) in the presence of a catalyst A to obtain an alkylphosphonous acid, the salt or ester (II) thereof, and b) the obtained alkylphosphonous acid, the salt or ester (II) thereof is reacted with an oxidizing agent or with an oxidizing agent and water or with oxygen and water in the presence of a catalyst B to obtain the alkylphosphonic acid derivative (III), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 are identical or different from each other and independently represent, inter alia, H, C1-C18-alkyl, C6-C18-aryl, C6-C18-aralkyl, C6-C18-alkylaryl, X and Y are identical or different from each other and independently represent H, C1-C18-alkyl, C6-C18-aryl, C6-C18-aralkyl, C6-C18-alkylaryl, Mg, Ca, Al, Sb, Sn, Ge, Ti, Fe, Zr, Zn, Ce, Bi, Sr, Mn, Cu, Ni, Li, Na, K and/or a protonated nitrogenous base, and catalysts A and B are transition metals and/or transition metal compounds and/or catalyst systems composed of a transition metal and/or a transition metal compound and at least one ligand.

Provided are a coating composition for low refractive layer including fluorine-containing compound of the following Chemical Formula 1, an anti-reflection film using the same, and a polarizer and an image display device including the same, wherein the fluorine-containing compound of the following Chemical Formula 1 has a low refractive index of 1.28 to 1.40, thereby making it possible to easily adjust a refractive index of the anti-reflection film and be usefully used as a coating material of the anti-reflection film having an excellent mechanical property such as durability, or the like.

Nickel(II) compositions for use in manufacturing nickel metal (Ni(0)) compositions, and specifically to methods of making basic nickel carbonates used to produce nickel metal compositions are disclosed. By varying the molar ratios of carbonates and bicarbonates to nickel salts, the methods provide basic nickel carbonates that produce superior nickel metal-containing solids that are well-suited to forming nickel-ligand complexes with phosphorus-containing ligands. The phosphorus-containing ligands can be monodentate or bidentate phosphorus-containing ligands.

The present invention relates to a stable mixture comprising surface-modified particles which are obtained by reacting metal oxide or semimetal oxide particles with at least one compound selected from among silicon-comprising compounds bearing at least one metaloxy radical and optionally further alkoxy and/or hydroxy radical(s) and at least one solvent, at least one surface-active substance or a mixture thereof, a process for producing the mixture, the use of these particles in systems in which they are brought into contact with at least one solvent, where the mass ratio of solvent to modified particle is greater than 500, and also the use of these particles in agglomeration-deagglomeration cycles.

A silane compound having a secondary amino group protected with a specific silyl group is useful as silane coupling agent, resin additive, textile treating agent, surface treating agent, paint additive, and adhesive.

A dual end glycerol (meth)acrylate-modified silicone having formula (I): R1Me2SiO(R22SiO)aSiMe2R1 is novel. R1 is a mixture of 70-95 mol % of a group having formula (i) and 30-5 mol % of a group having formula (ii) wherein R3 is H or methyl, R2 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group which may be halogenated, Me stands for methyl, and a is an integer of 10-300.

A method for forming a cobalt-containing thin film by a vapor deposition process is provided. The method comprises using at least one precursor corresponding in structure to Formula (I); wherein R1 and R2 are independently C2-C8-alkyl; x is zero, 1 or 2; and y is zero or 1; wherein both x and y can not be zero simultaneously.

Mixtures of silicon-containing coupling reagents comprising (mercaptoorganyl)alkylpolyethersilanes containing silanol groups and (mercaptoorganyl)alkylpolyethersilanes free of silanol groups in a weight ratio of from 5:95 to 95:5. The mixtures can be prepared by transesterification and hydrolysis. The mixtures can be used in rubber mixtures.

Disclosed are novel ruthenium compounds of formula (Ia) and (Ib): wherein R1 and the moiety are defined herein. Also disclosed is a process for using these novel ruthenium compounds as catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation of ketones with high reactivities and excellent selectivities.

A process for producing a cyclic silane compound, in which a chained polysilane is subjected to pyrolysis in the presence of an oxide of a transition metal belonging to Group 8 or Group 11 of the periodic table; and a process for producing a cyclic carbosilane compound, that includes subjecting a chained polysilane to pyrolysis in the presence of a simple substance of a metal selected from the group consisting of transition metal elements and elements belonging to Groups 12 to 15 of the periodic table, or a compound thereof.

The invention provides a silane compound that includes a hydrophobic group and a silane ester group linked by a hydrophilic group for use as a surface treatment to an inorganic material, such as a pigment, the silane including a hydrophobic group and a silane ester group linked by a hydrophilic group. The invention includes a coated particle including an inorganic material coated with the silane compound(s) and methods of improving the wettability and/or dispersibility of an inorganic material such as a pigment, wherein the method comprises depositing the silane compounds on the surface of a pigment.

Compounds of the formula where R1 each individually is identical or different and is a hydrocarbon radical, R2 each individually is hydrogen or a methyl radical, n is an integer from 6 to 11, and m is 0 or 1, with the proviso that the sum of the number of carbon atoms in the three radicals R1 in the compound of the formula (I) is 6 to 24, can be admixed with curable polymer compositions to form products with hydrophilic surfaces, or can be applied to surfaces to render them hydrophilic.

The present invention relates to a process for recovery of homogeneous metal hydride catalyst from a reactor stream as catalyst suitable for recycle to a reactor comprising the steps of: removing a stream from a reactor, said stream comprising the homogeneous metal hydride catalyst; contacting the stream with a solid acidic absorbent under process conditions which allow at least some of the metal to become bound to the absorbent; subjecting the metal bound to the absorbent, under process conditions which allow desorption of the metal, to a fluid stripping medium comprising hydrogen and solvent; and recovering the active metal hydride catalyst.

Methods to make R13P═N—TiCl3 and (1-R2-Indenyl)Ti(N═PR13)Cl2, where R1 is independently selected from C1-30 hydrocarbyl radical which is unsubstituted or further substituted by one or more halogen atom, a C1-8 alkoxy radical, a C6-10 aryl radical, a C6-10 aryloxy radical, an amido radical, a silyl radical, and a germanyl radical; P is phosphorus; N is nitrogen (and bonds to the metal M); R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or an unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group, wherein substituents for the alkyl, aryl or benzyl group are selected from alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylaryl, arylalkyl and halide substituents. The method to make R13P═N—TiCl3 combines a titanium species TiCl3(OR) where R is an alkyl or aromatic group, with a trimethylsilyl phosphinimide compound R13P═N—SiMe3 in the presence of solvent, to give the titanium complex R13P═N—TiCl3. The method to make (1-R2-Indenyl)Ti(N═PR13)Cl2 consists of deprotonating 1-R2-indene with an appropriate base, followed by reaction with R13P═N—TiCl3.

Substrates, surfaces, assemblies, kits, compositions, and methods are provided for forming touch screens and other appliance surfaces exhibiting good hydrophobicity, oleophobicity, and abrasion resistance. Methods are provided for increasing a population density of hydroxyl groups on a touch surface of a touch screen substrate without affecting the compressive strength of the back surface. The treated touch surface of the substrate can then be coated with a coating that includes an organo-metallic and/or silane, for example, a fluorosilane such as a perfluoropolyether alkoxysilane. A substrate can retain its compressive resistance to breakage by impact applied to the touch surface while minimizing any decrease in compressive strength against impact against the touch surface. Examples of such substrates include touch screens for mobile and desktop electronic devices, components of 3D display devices, and components for electrowetting display devices.

The invention relates to a method for producing mono-aminofunctionalized dialkylphosphinic acids and esters and salts thereof by means of acrylnitriles, characterized in that a) a phosphinic acid source (I) is reacted with olefins (IV) to yield an alkylphosphonic acid, salt or ester (II) thereof in the presence of a catalyst A, b) the thus obtained alkylphosphonic acid, salt or ester (II) thereof is reacted with an acrylnitrile of formula (V) to yield a mono-functionalized dialkylphosphinic acid derivative (VI) in the presence of a catalyst B, and c) the thus obtained mono-functionalized dialkylphosphinic acid derivative (VI) is reacted to yield a mono-aminofunctionalized dialkylphosphinic acid derivative (III) in the presence of a catalyst C or a reduction agent, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 are the same or different and stand independently of each other, among other things, for H, C1-C18 alkyl, C6-C18 aryl, C6-C18 aralkyl, C6-C18 alkylaryl and X stands for H, C1-C18 alkyl, C6-C18 aryl, C6-C18 aralkyl, C6-C18 alkylaryl, Mg, Ca, Al, Sb, Sn, Ge, Ti, Fe, Zr, Zn, Ce, Bi, Sr, Mn, Cu, Ni, Li, Na, K and/or a protonized nitrogen base, and Y stands for a mineral acid, a carboxylic acid, a Lewis acid or an organic acid, n=an integer or fractional number of 0 to 4 and the catalysts A and C are formed by transition metals, transition metal compounds and/or catalyst systems composed of a transition metal and/or a transition metal compound and at least one ligand, and catalyst B is formed by compounds forming peroxides, peroxo compounds, azo compounds, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, alkali hydrides, alkaline earth hydrides and/or alkali alcoholates and alkaline earth alcoholates.

A method of preparing organohalosilanes comprising combining an organohalide having the formula RX (I), wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and X is fluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo, with a contact mass comprising at least 2% (w/w) of a palladium suicide of the formula PdxSiy (II), wherein x is an integer from 1 to 5 and y is 1 to 8, or a platinum suicide of formula PtzSi (III), wherein z is 1 or 2, in a reactor at a temperature from 250 to 700° C. to form an organohalosilane.

Apparatus and methods are provided for forming and processing multiphasic systems. In one embodiment, the invention provides a process for the manufacture of an epoxide, including reacting an olefinically unsaturated compound with an oxidant in the presence of a buffer component and a water-soluble manganese complex disposed in an aqueous phase having a first pH level in a first multiphasic system, adjusting the pH of the aqueous phase to a second pH level less than the first pH level, isolating at least a portion of the aqueous phase from the first multiphasic system, adjusting the pH of the at least a portion of the aqueous phase to a third pH level greater than the second pH level, and introducing the at least a portion of the aqueous phase into a second multiphasic system.

The present invention relates to photochromic materials that include one or more indeno-fused naphthopyrans that have particular groups at the 7, 11, and 13 positions thereof, and at the position alpha to the oxygen of the pyran ring thereof. With some embodiments, hydrogen or an alkoxy group is bonded to the 7 position, an optionally substituted phenyl is bonded to the 11 position, two alkyl groups are bonded to the 13 position, and two optionally substituted phenyl groups are bonded to the position alpha to the oxygen of the pyran ring of the indeno-fused naphthopyran compound. The 13 position of the indeno-fused naphthopyrans is free of ether groups in which an ether oxygen is bonded to the 13 position, and hydroxyl. The present invention also relates to photochromic articles and compositions that include such indeno-fused naphthopyrans.

The present invention is directed to multiple a-lipoic acid-containing hydrophobic compounds (mALAs) capable of acting as scavengers of free radicals, metals and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Methods of synthesizing novel antioxidant mALAs, spontaneous emulsification or nanoprecipitaion thereof to produce antioxidant nanospheres and their use in preventing or treating diseases or conditions caused by oxidative stress and other free radical mediated conditions are also described. Another aspect of this invention is the use of these antioxidant nanospheres for the preparation of antioxidant particulate delivery system of therapeutic agents.

The invention provide a silica nanoparticle comprising a non-porous matrix of silicon-oxygen bonds, wherein the matrix comprises organic agents conjugated to silicon or oxygen atoms in the matrix, the organic agents are conjugated to the matrix through linker L groups, wherein the linker L comprises, for example, an ester, urea, thiourea, or thio ether group, and wherein the diameter of the nanoparticle is about 15 nm to about 200 nm. The invention also provides novel methods of making and using the silica nanoparticles described herein.