A process for recovering and using an organic/carboxylic acid or furanic molecule by means of making an ester of a free carboxylic acid or furanic molecule with an alcohol in carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) without the presence of any other acid catalyst at a reaction temperature and pressure that corresponds to supercritical, critical or near critical conditions for the alcohol and/or CO.sub.2 is described. The process can constitute part of a general process of refining carboxylic acids derived from a fermentation broth or use in the production of a variety of chemical compounds, such as C.sub.4 platform compounds or polymers.

Target compounds are synthesized simply, efficiently and selectively. More specifically, provided are a method for producing (2,4,4-trimethyl-1-cyclohexene)carbaldehyde, comprising the steps of: reacting the carbonyl group of 2,4,4-trimethyl-2-cyclohexenone (1) to obtain a 2,4,4-trimethyl-2-cyclohexenylidenemethyl ether compound (2) and hydrolyzing Compound (2) to obtain the (2,4,4-trimethyl-1-cyclohexene)carbaldehyde (3); a method for producing (2,4,4-trimethyl-1-cyclohexene)methanol, comprising a step of reducing Compound (3) to obtain the (2,4,4-trimethyl-1-cyclohexene)methanol (4); and a method for producing a (2,4,4-trimethyl-1-cyclohexenyl)methyl ester compound, comprising a step of esterifying Compound (4) to obtain the (2,4,4-trimethyl-1-cyclohexenyl)methyl ester compound (5). ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to methods of producing ingenol-3-angelate (I) from ingenol (II). ##STR00001## Furthermore, the invention relates to intermediates useful for the synthesis of ingenol-3-angelate (I) from ingenol (II) and to methods of producing said intermediates.

A method of making a benzyl cis-cyclohexane 1,2-dicarboxylate triester having the steps: a. forming a reaction mixture by reacting the following three components: i. a synthetic or biobased reagent selected from the group consisting of an alpha-hydroxyester and a beta-hydroxyester, ii. an anhydride selected from the group consisting of cis-hexahydrophthalic anhydride, 4-methylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride, and 3-methylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride, and iii. an alkylamine catalyst; and b. contacting benzyl chloride with the reaction mixture to yield a product that is free of phthalates and includes at least one benzyl cis-cyclohexane 1,2-dicarboxylate triester.

A method is disclosed of coupling and integrating natural gas recovery and separation along with chemical conversion. The method can comprise extracting at least one natural gas component. Non-limiting examples of the extracted component include ethane, propane, butanes, and pentanes. The method can also comprise contacting a natural gas stream with a catalyst under conditions that selectively convert at least one component into at least one product, such as ethylene, acetic acid, polyethylene, vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, and their derivatives, propylene, polypropylene, propylene oxide, propylene glycol, acrylates, acrolein, acrylic acid, butenes, butadiene, methacrolein, methacrylic acid, methacrylates, and their derivatives, which can then be separated from the remaining components. The method can further comprise integrating production of ethylene, acetic acid, and/or vinyl acetate with polymerization of ethylene-based polymers, such as polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, or polyvinyl alcohol.

The present invention relates to a process for providing a compound of formula (I): ##STR00001##
wherein Hal is a halogen, the process comprising the step of: reacting a compound of formula (II) ##STR00002##
wherein Hal is defined as above, with an alkali metal sulfite of the formula X.sub.2SO.sub.3 and an alkali metal hydroxide of the formula YOH, wherein X and Y are independently selected from an alkali metal.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing alkyl methacrylates and their conversion products which can be used in a multitude of chemical synthesis processes which can lead to a wide variety of different further processing products, and to an apparatus for performing this process.

A catalyst with a mixed zinc and aluminum oxide base having a spinel structure surstoichiometric in zinc, in which part of the Zn atoms are in the octahedral position, a process for preparation of the same and use of the same in a process for preparation of a compound of linear monocarboxylic acid alcohol esters with 6-26 carbon atoms from a vegetable or animal oil, neutral or acid, virgin or recycled, with monoalcohols of 1-18 carbon atoms allowing an ester that can be used as a motor fuel or a heating fuel and a pure glycerine to be obtained directly in one or more steps.

The present invention discloses a process for depolymerization of lignin to yield substituted phenolic monomers using Brnsted ionic liquid as catalyst under mild reaction conditions to obtain an overall yield of monomers up to 97%.

A catalyst is provided. The catalyst includes a carrier and a metal Pd. The carrier is represented by a formula: M.sub.xAl.sub.(1x)O.sub.(3x)/2, where M is an alkaline earth metal, and x is between 0.09 and 0.24. The metal Pd is loaded on the carrier. A method for manufacturing the catalyst and a method for manufacturing a hydrogenated bisphenol A or derivatives thereof using the catalyst are also provided.