An object of the present invention is to enable the synthesis of various fluorine-containing compounds having an organic group at both terminals of their tetrafluoroethylene structure (—CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2—). The present invention provides a fluorine-containing complex compound including a fluorine-containing organic metal compound represented by formula (1a):
R.sup.1—CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2-M.sup.1  (1a)
wherein M.sup.1 is a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, nickel, iron, cobalt, and tin; and R.sup.1 represents an organic group, and at least one ligand selected from the group consisting of pyridine ring-containing compounds and phosphines.

A continuous flow process for the preparation of one or more esters of lactic acid and 2-hydroxy-3-butenoic acid or α-hydroxy methionine analogues from a sugar in the presence of a solid Lewis acid catalyst and a solvent comprising an organic solvent and water. The invention provides a means for stabilizing a Lewis acid catalyst for use in a continuous reaction process wherein the water is present in an amount of up to or equal to 10 vol. % of the organic solvent.

A continuous flow process for the preparation of one or more esters of lactic acid and 2-hydroxy-3-butenoic acid or α-hydroxy methionine analogues from a sugar in the presence of a solid Lewis acid catalyst and a solvent comprising an organic solvent and water. The invention provides a means for stabilizing a Lewis acid catalyst for use in a continuous reaction process wherein the water is present in an amount of up to or equal to 10 vol. % of the organic solvent.

A process for the production of organic chemicals and fuels from lignin in the presence of a molybdenum or tungsten based catalyst, comprising mixing the lignin with the catalyst and a solvent in a sealed reactor, introducing an inert gas or hydrogen to the reactor to replace oxygen therein, and heating the sealed reactor to perform a depolymerization reaction at a reaction temperature of above 200° C. to obtain liquid products, which include aromatic compounds, esters, alcohols, monophenols and benzyl alcohols.

A process for the production of organic chemicals and fuels from lignin in the presence of a molybdenum or tungsten based catalyst, comprising mixing the lignin with the catalyst and a solvent in a sealed reactor, introducing an inert gas or hydrogen to the reactor to replace oxygen therein, and heating the sealed reactor to perform a depolymerization reaction at a reaction temperature of above 200° C. to obtain liquid products, which include aromatic compounds, esters, alcohols, monophenols and benzyl alcohols.

The present invention relates to novel Ruthenium complexes of formulae A1-A4 and their use, inter alia, for (1) dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols to esters; (2) hydrogenation of esters to alcohols (including hydrogenation of cyclic esters (lactones) or cyclic di-esters (di-lactones), or polyesters); (3) preparing amides from alcohols and amines—(including the preparation of polyamides (e.g., polypeptides) by reacting dialcohols and diamines and/or polymerization of amino alcohols and/or forming cyclic dipeptides from p-aminoalcohols; (4) hydrogenation of amides (including cyclic dipeptides, polypeptides and polyamides) to alcohols and amines; (5) hydrogenation of organic carbonates (including polycarbonates) to alcohols or hydrogenation of carbamates (including polycarbamates) or urea derivatives to alcohols and amines; (6) dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols to ketones; (7) amidation of esters (i.e., synthesis of amides from esters and amines); (8) acylation of alcohols using esters; (9) coupling of alcohols with water and a base to form carboxylic acids; and (10) preparation of amino acids or their salts by coupling of amino alcohols with water and a base. The present, invention further relates to the use of certain known Ruthenium complexes for the preparation of amino acids or their salts from amino alcohols.

The present invention relates to novel Ruthenium complexes of formulae A1-A4 and their use, inter alia, for (1) dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols to esters; (2) hydrogenation of esters to alcohols (including hydrogenation of cyclic esters (lactones) or cyclic di-esters (di-lactones), or polyesters); (3) preparing amides from alcohols and amines—(including the preparation of polyamides (e.g., polypeptides) by reacting dialcohols and diamines and/or polymerization of amino alcohols and/or forming cyclic dipeptides from p-aminoalcohols; (4) hydrogenation of amides (including cyclic dipeptides, polypeptides and polyamides) to alcohols and amines; (5) hydrogenation of organic carbonates (including polycarbonates) to alcohols or hydrogenation of carbamates (including polycarbamates) or urea derivatives to alcohols and amines; (6) dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols to ketones; (7) amidation of esters (i.e., synthesis of amides from esters and amines); (8) acylation of alcohols using esters; (9) coupling of alcohols with water and a base to form carboxylic acids; and (10) preparation of amino acids or their salts by coupling of amino alcohols with water and a base. The present, invention further relates to the use of certain known Ruthenium complexes for the preparation of amino acids or their salts from amino alcohols.

The present invention provides a process for preparation of {(2E,4E,6E,8E)-9-(4-methoxy-2,3,6-trimethyl)phenyl-3,7-dimethyl-nona-2,4,6,8}tetraenoate, an acitretin intermediate of formula (VI) with trans isomer≧97%, comprising of reacting 3-formyl-crotonic acid butyl ester of formula (V), substantially free of impurities, with 5-(4-methoxy-2,3,6-trimethylphenyl)-3-methyl-penta-2,4-diene-1-triphenyl phosphonium bromide of formula (IV) and isolating resultant compound of formula (VI), treating the filtrate with iodine for isomerization of the undesired cis intermediate and finally obtaining acitretin (I), with desired trans isomer≧97%.

The present invention provides a process for preparation of {(2E,4E,6E,8E)-9-(4-methoxy-2,3,6-trimethyl)phenyl-3,7-dimethyl-nona-2,4,6,8}tetraenoate, an acitretin intermediate of formula (VI) with trans isomer≧97%, comprising of reacting 3-formyl-crotonic acid butyl ester of formula (V), substantially free of impurities, with 5-(4-methoxy-2,3,6-trimethylphenyl)-3-methyl-penta-2,4-diene-1-triphenyl phosphonium bromide of formula (IV) and isolating resultant compound of formula (VI), treating the filtrate with iodine for isomerization of the undesired cis intermediate and finally obtaining acitretin (I), with desired trans isomer≧97%.

The invention relates to a method for (I) producing a carboxylic ester of formula (I). Said method comprises the steps of: a) bringing an organosilane/borane of formula Si or B into contact with CO.sub.2, in the presence of a catalyst and an electrophilic compound of formula (III), the groups R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, Y, and M′ being as defined in claim 1; and optionally b) recovering the compound of formula (I) produced.

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