A process for preparing a dienynal compound of the following general formula (2):
CH.sub.2═CHC≡CCH═CH(CH.sub.2).sub.nCHO  (2), wherein n represents an integer of 0 to 11, the process comprising a step of hydrolyzing a dialkoxyalkadienyne compound of the following general formula (1):
CH.sub.2═CHC≡CCH═CH(CH.sub.2).sub.nCH(OR.sup.1)(OR.sup.2)  (1) wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent, independently of each other, a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 8, more preferably 1 to 4, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be bonded to each other to form a divalent hydrocarbon group, R.sup.1-R.sup.2, having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and n represents an integer of 0 to 11, to obtain the dienynal compound (2). ##STR00001##

A process for recovering methacrolein and methanol from methacrolein dimethyl acetal. The method comprises a step of contacting a mixture comprising methyl methacrylate and methacrolein dimethyl acetal with a strong acid ion exchange resin in the presence of water. The mixture comprises no more than 0.2 wt % sodium methacrylate.

The present disclosure provides, inter alia, methods for preparing formaldehyde from carbon dioxide using bis(silyl)acetals, methods for incorporating carbon derived from carbon dioxide into a complex organic molecule derived from formaldehyde using bis(silyl)acetals, and methods for generating an isotopologue of a complex organic molecule derived from formaldehyde using bis(silyl)acetals.

[Problem] The present invention provides an industrially-preferable, cost-efficient, low-cost production method for 4-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one (a compound represented by formula (I)) useful as a medicine, an agricultural chemical, or a raw material or intermediate of a medicine, an agricultural chemical, or the like. [Solution] According to the present invention, this compound represented by formula (I) is produced by subjecting an easily available compound represented by formula (II) (tri-O-acetyl-D-glucal) to a heating reaction in pressurized water.

Electrochemical cells and photoelectrochemical cells for the reduction of furfurals are provided. Also provided are methods of using the cells to carry out the reduction reactions. Using the cells and methods, furfurals can be converted into furan alcohols or linear ketones.

Disclosed are a nitrogen-doped hierarchical-porous carbon-loaded nano-Pd catalyst and a preparation method thereof. The preparation method includes preparing nitrogen-doped hierarchical-porous carbon, mixing the nitrogen-doped hierarchical-porous carbon with water, adjusting a pH value of the mixed solution to be alkaline, mixing the mixed solution with a Pd metal precursor aqueous solution, and then adding a reducing agent to obtain the nitrogen-doped hierarchical-porous carbon-loaded nano-Pd catalyst after reduction. The prepared nitrogen-doped hierarchical-porous carbon-loaded nano-Pd catalyst includes a nitrogen-doped porous carbon material carrier with hierarchical pores and Pd metal nanoparticles loaded in the hierarchical pores of the carrier. The Pd metal nanoparticles have a size of 2˜14 nm and a regular polyhedron shape. The nitrogen-doped hierarchical-porous carbon-loaded nano-Pd catalyst has excellent catalytic performance, especially has ultra-high conversion rate, selectivity and cycle stability in the selective hydrogenation reaction of unsaturated ketones, and is a key to open a new synthetic route of vitamin E.

Disclosed herein are carbon doped tin disulphide (C—SnS.sub.2) and other SnS.sub.2 composites as visible light photocatalyst for CO.sub.2 reduction to solar fuels. The in situ carbon doped SnS.sub.2 photocatalyst provide higher efficiency than the undoped pure SnS.sub.2. Also disclosed herein are methods for preparing the catalysts.

Disclosed herein are carbon doped tin disulphide (C—SnS.sub.2) and other SnS.sub.2 composites as visible light photocatalyst for CO.sub.2 reduction to solar fuels. The in situ carbon doped SnS.sub.2 photocatalyst provide higher efficiency than the undoped pure SnS.sub.2. Also disclosed herein are methods for preparing the catalysts.

The present invention relates to a method for the purification of natural vanillin, comprising a step involving the stripping of a liquid flow F2 containing natural vanillin. The invention also relates to the natural vanillin that can be obtained using the method of the invention, as well as a device for purifying natural vanillin.

Disclosed are a process for abating 3-cyclohexenone from a feed mixture comprising 3-cylclohexenone and cyclohexanone, comprising a hydrogenation step of contacting the feed mixture with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under hydrogenation conditions to obtain a hydrogenated mixture, cyclohexanone-containing products comprising 3-cyclohexenone and/or 2-cyclohexenone at low concentrations, and compositions of matter useful for making such cyclohexanone-containing products, particularly by using such processes.