A method for synthesizing xanthohumol (XN) from naringenin includes the steps of acylating hydroxyl groups of a naringenin flavone moiety to obtain an acylation product, a reaction of conversion of the flavone moiety into a chalcone moiety, and subjecting the chalcone compound to a reaction of hydrolysis of its ester groups, and next to a reaction of substitution of a prenyl moiety of the chalcone moiety to obtain xanthohumol. The xanthohumol produced by this method can be purified using crystallisation.

The invention provides a process for the selective hydrogenation of glycolaldehyde in a process stream comprising glycolaldehyde and one or more monosaccharide in a solvent, said process comprising contacting the process stream with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst composition at a temperature of no more than 150 C. and for a residence time of no more than 90 minutes.

The invention provides a process for the selective hydrogenation of glycolaldehyde in a process stream comprising glycolaldehyde and one or more monosaccharide in a solvent, said process comprising contacting the process stream with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst composition at a temperature of no more than 150 C. and for a residence time of no more than 90 minutes.

The invention provides a process for the selective hydrogenation of glycolaldehyde in a process stream comprising glycolaldehyde and one or more monosaccharide in a solvent, said process comprising contacting the process stream with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst composition at a temperature of no more than 150 C. and for a residence time of no more than 90 minutes.

There is provided a process for the partial condensation of an oxygenate mixture, the process comprising the steps of (a) providing a vapour phase oxygenate mixture obtained from fragmentation of an aqueous solution of carbohydrates; and (b) performing on the vapour phase oxygenate mixture a partial condensation to provide (i) a partial condensation condensate wherein the mass fraction of water in the partial condensation condensate is from 0.02 to 0.3 and wherein the mass ratio of glycolaldehyde to formaldehyde in the partial condensation condensate is increased relative to the mass ratio of glycolaldehyde to formaldehyde in the vapour phase oxygenate mixture; and (ii) a partial condensation vapour phase.

There is provided a process for the partial condensation of an oxygenate mixture, the process comprising the steps of (a) providing a vapour phase oxygenate mixture obtained from fragmentation of an aqueous solution of carbohydrates; and (b) performing on the vapour phase oxygenate mixture a partial condensation to provide (i) a partial condensation condensate wherein the mass fraction of water in the partial condensation condensate is from 0.02 to 0.3 and wherein the mass ratio of glycolaldehyde to formaldehyde in the partial condensation condensate is increased relative to the mass ratio of glycolaldehyde to formaldehyde in the vapour phase oxygenate mixture; and (ii) a partial condensation vapour phase.

A biphasic solvent system for converting biomass to prepare 2,5-hexanedione and a one-pot process for catalytically converting biomass to prepare 2,5-hexanedione with said biphasic solvent system are provided. The process includes the steps of contacting and reacting a biomass raw material with a hydrogenation catalyst using hydrogen gas as a hydrogen source in a heterogeneous system formed from an organic solvent, an inorganic salt and water to obtain 2,5-hexanedione. The hydrogenation catalyst includes a hydrogenation active component and a support. The support is selected from one or more of hydrophobic active carbon and graphene. The process can achieve efficient conversion of biomass without the participation of acid catalysts, and have a very high selectivity for the product 2,5-hexanedione.

A biphasic solvent system for converting biomass to prepare 2,5-hexanedione and a one-pot process for catalytically converting biomass to prepare 2,5-hexanedione with said biphasic solvent system are provided. The process includes the steps of contacting and reacting a biomass raw material with a hydrogenation catalyst using hydrogen gas as a hydrogen source in a heterogeneous system formed from an organic solvent, an inorganic salt and water to obtain 2,5-hexanedione. The hydrogenation catalyst includes a hydrogenation active component and a support. The support is selected from one or more of hydrophobic active carbon and graphene. The process can achieve efficient conversion of biomass without the participation of acid catalysts, and have a very high selectivity for the product 2,5-hexanedione.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing compounds having a 16-oxabicyclo[10.3.1]pentadecene skeleton, specifically 14-methyl-16-oxabicyclo[10.3.1]pentadecenes, and conversion products thereof.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing compounds having a 16-oxabicyclo[10.3.1]pentadecene skeleton, specifically 14-methyl-16-oxabicyclo[10.3.1]pentadecenes, and conversion products thereof.