Processes are disclosed for the synthesis of a cracked product or an end product, from a starting compound or substrate having a carbonyl functional group (CO), with hydroxy-substituted carbon atoms at alpha () and beta () positions, relative to the carbonyl functional group. According a particular embodiment, an -, -dihydroxy carboxylic acid or carboxylate is dehydrated to form a dicarbonyl intermediate by transformation of the -hydroxy group to a second carbonyl group and removal of the -hydroxy group. The dicarbonyl intermediate is cracked to form the cracked product, in which the first and second carbonyl groups are preserved. Either or both of (i) the cracked product and (ii) a second cracked product generated from cleavage of a carbon-carbon bond of the dicarbonyl intermediate, may be further converted (e.g., by hydrogenation) to one or more end products, which, like the cracked product(s), also having fewer carbon atoms relative to the dicarbonyl intermediate and substrate.

The present invention concerns a process to carry out an ester hydrolysis wherein the ester compound (c) is made from at least an alcohol (a) and a carboxylic acid (b), and wherein said alcohol (a) and said carboxylic acid (b) are forming a biphasic liquid system when mixed together; comprising at least a step of producing an ester compound (c)/water emulsion by using as stabilizing species amphiphilic solid particles of nanometric dimension and optionally a catalyst X.

The present invention concerns a process to carry out an ester hydrolysis wherein the ester compound (c) is made from at least an alcohol (a) and a carboxylic acid (b), and wherein said alcohol (a) and said carboxylic acid (b) are forming a biphasic liquid system when mixed together; comprising at least a step of producing an ester compound (c)/water emulsion by using as stabilizing species amphiphilic solid particles of nanometric dimension and optionally a catalyst X.

Processes are disclosed for the synthesis of a cracked product or an end product, from a starting compound or substrate having a carbonyl functional group (CO), with hydroxy-substituted carbon atoms at alpha () and beta () positions, relative to the carbonyl functional group. According a particular embodiment, an -, -dihydroxy carboxylic acid or carboxylate is dehydrated to form a dicarbonyl intermediate by transformation of the -hydroxy group to a second carbonyl group and removal of the -hydroxy group. The dicarbonyl intermediate is cracked to form the cracked product, in which the first and second carbonyl groups are preserved. Either or both of (i) the cracked product and (ii) a second cracked product generated from cleavage of a carbon-carbon bond of the dicarbonyl intermediate, may be further converted (e.g., by hydrogenation) to one or more end products, which, like the cracked product(s), also having fewer carbon atoms relative to the dicarbonyl intermediate and substrate.

Acrylic acid is produced by dehydrating glycerol over a first mixed metal oxide catalyst in the presence of oxygen and water to produce acrolein, and then oxidizing the acrolein over a second mixed metal oxide catalyst in the presence of oxygen and water to produce the acrylic acid. The first mixed metal oxide catalyst comprises oxides of tungsten and zirconium. The second mixed metal oxide catalyst comprises a solid catalyst having the empirical formula A.sub.aV.sub.bN.sub.cX.sub.dO.sub.e wherein A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mo and W, N is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Te and Se, and X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, Ti, Al, Zr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ni, Pt, Bi, B, In, Ce, As, Ge, Sn, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra, Hf, Pb, P, Pm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Au, Ag, Re, Pr, Zn, Ga, Pd, Ir, Nd, Y, Sm, Tb, Br, Cu, Sc, CI, F and I. A, V, N and X are present in such amounts that the atomic ratio of A:V:N:X is a:b:c:d wherein a=1, b=0.1 to 2, c=0.1 to 1, d=0.01 to 1 and e is dependent on the oxidation state of the other elements in the second mixed metal oxide catalyst.