One-step cyanide-catalyzed benzoin condensations for synthesizing shape persistent cyclobenzoin macrocycles. Selected dialdehydes, and cyanide salts are reacted in aqueous solvents to form such cyclobenzoin macrocycles.

Provided is a process for depolymerizing lignin, the process comprising exposing a liquid feed comprising lignin and a solvent to a metal-incorporated solid mesoporous silicate catalyst under conditions sufficient to depolymerize the lignin to produce one or more aromatic monomers.

Provided is a process for depolymerizing lignin, the process comprising exposing a liquid feed comprising lignin and a solvent to a metal-incorporated solid mesoporous silicate catalyst under conditions sufficient to depolymerize the lignin to produce one or more aromatic monomers.

A pharmaceutical composition can include: a marmelin analog compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier having the compound. The compound can be present in a therapeutically effective amount to treat or inhibit a disease state. The disease state can be cancer. The cancer can be selected from brain cancers, head and neck cancers, thyroid cancers, gastrointestinal cancers, esophageal cancers, stomach cancers, pancreatic cancers, liver cancers, colo-rectal cancers, lung cancers, kidney cancers, prostate cancers, bladder cancers, testicular cancers, breast cancers, ovarian cancers, cervical cancers, and melanomas. The carrier includes a cyclodextrin, which may form a complex with the compound. The compounds and compositions can be used to treat or inhibit progression of cancers. Colorectal, bladder, and prostate cancers are examples of some of the cancers that can be treated with the marmelin analog compounds.

A pharmaceutical composition can include: a marmelin analog compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier having the compound. The compound can be present in a therapeutically effective amount to treat or inhibit a disease state. The disease state can be cancer. The cancer can be selected from brain cancers, head and neck cancers, thyroid cancers, gastrointestinal cancers, esophageal cancers, stomach cancers, pancreatic cancers, liver cancers, colo-rectal cancers, lung cancers, kidney cancers, prostate cancers, bladder cancers, testicular cancers, breast cancers, ovarian cancers, cervical cancers, and melanomas. The carrier includes a cyclodextrin, which may form a complex with the compound. The compounds and compositions can be used to treat or inhibit progression of cancers. Colorectal, bladder, and prostate cancers are examples of some of the cancers that can be treated with the marmelin analog compounds.