The present invention relates to compounds effective in treating hepatotoxicity and fatty liver diseases and uses thereof. The present compound is represented by Formula (II), which has the formula: R.sub.1—O—X—(CH.sub.2).sub.m—X—O—R.sub.2, wherein: each X is —C(═O)—; R.sub.1 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.18 alkyl polyol: R.sub.2 is a saccharide group of formula (G).sub.p; G is a monosaccharide residue, where (i) at least one of the —OH groups in (G).sub.p is substituted by a halogen atom, and (ii) the saccharide group of formula (G).sub.p is linked to —O— through a —CH.sub.2 group; p is 1 or 2; and m is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.

The present invention relates to compounds effective in treating hepatotoxicity and fatty liver diseases and uses thereof. The present compound is represented by Formula (II), which has the formula: R.sub.1—O—X—(CH.sub.2).sub.m—X—O—R.sub.2, wherein: each X is —C(═O)—; R.sub.1 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.18 alkyl polyol: R.sub.2 is a saccharide group of formula (G).sub.p; G is a monosaccharide residue, where (i) at least one of the —OH groups in (G).sub.p is substituted by a halogen atom, and (ii) the saccharide group of formula (G).sub.p is linked to —O— through a —CH.sub.2 group; p is 1 or 2; and m is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.

Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of forming a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state, irradiating the hydrocarbon reactant and the supported chromium catalyst with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The supported chromium catalyst can be formed by heat treating a supported chromium precursor, contacting a chromium precursor with a solid support while heat treating, or heat treating a solid support and then contacting a chromium precursor with the solid support.

Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of forming a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state, irradiating the hydrocarbon reactant and the supported chromium catalyst with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The supported chromium catalyst can be formed by heat treating a supported chromium precursor, contacting a chromium precursor with a solid support while heat treating, or heat treating a solid support and then contacting a chromium precursor with the solid support.

Methods of producing a catalyst for oxidation of C.sub.2 hydrocarbons and methods of using the catalyst are disclosed. Molybdenum, vanadium, and niobium metal or metal containing compounds are used to form a slurry in water. After agitating the slurry for at least 15 minutes, palladium or a palladium containing compound is added to the slurry. After further agitation, a precipitate is collected, dried and calcined to obtain an active catalyst, with palladium primarily distributed on a surface of the catalyst. The active catalyst is capable of catalyzing the conversion of C.sub.2 hydrocarbons into acetic acid.

Methods of producing a catalyst for oxidation of C.sub.2 hydrocarbons and methods of using the catalyst are disclosed. Molybdenum, vanadium, and niobium metal or metal containing compounds are used to form a slurry in water. After agitating the slurry for at least 15 minutes, palladium or a palladium containing compound is added to the slurry. After further agitation, a precipitate is collected, dried and calcined to obtain an active catalyst, with palladium primarily distributed on a surface of the catalyst. The active catalyst is capable of catalyzing the conversion of C.sub.2 hydrocarbons into acetic acid.

A method for producing an oxide catalyst according to the present invention is a method for producing an oxide catalyst containing Mo, V, Sb, and Nb, the method including: a raw material preparation step of obtaining an aqueous mixed liquid containing Mo, V, Sb, and Nb; an aging step of subjecting the aqueous mixed liquid to aging at more than 30° C.; a drying step of drying the aqueous mixed liquid, thereby obtaining a dried powder; and a calcination step of calcining the dried powder, thereby obtaining the oxide catalyst, wherein, in the raw material preparation step and/or the aging step, precipitation of Nb is facilitated by performing at least one operation selected from the group consisting of the following (I) to (III): (I) in the raw material preparation step, the aqueous mixed liquid is prepared by mixing a Nb raw material liquid containing Nb with a MoVSb raw material liquid containing Mo, V, and Sb, wherein ammonia is added to at least one of the MoVSb raw material liquid, the Nb raw material liquid, and the aqueous mixed liquid such that a molar ratio in terms of NH.sub.3/Nb in the aqueous mixed liquid is adjusted to be 0.7 or more, and in the aging step, a temperature of the aqueous mixed liquid is adjusted to more than 50° C.; (II) in the aging step, a temperature of the aqueous mixed liquid is adjusted to more than 65° C.; and (III) in the raw material preparation step, the aqueous mixed liquid is prepared by mixing a Nb raw material liquid containing Nb with a MoVSb raw material liquid containing Mo, V, and Sb, wherein a molar ratio in terms of H.sub.2O.sub.2/Nb in the Nb raw material liquid is adjusted to less than 0.2, and in the aging step, a temperature of the aqueous mixed liquid is adjusted to more than 50° C.

A method for producing an oxide catalyst according to the present invention is a method for producing an oxide catalyst containing Mo, V, Sb, and Nb, the method including: a raw material preparation step of obtaining an aqueous mixed liquid containing Mo, V, Sb, and Nb; an aging step of subjecting the aqueous mixed liquid to aging at more than 30° C.; a drying step of drying the aqueous mixed liquid, thereby obtaining a dried powder; and a calcination step of calcining the dried powder, thereby obtaining the oxide catalyst, wherein, in the raw material preparation step and/or the aging step, precipitation of Nb is facilitated by performing at least one operation selected from the group consisting of the following (I) to (III): (I) in the raw material preparation step, the aqueous mixed liquid is prepared by mixing a Nb raw material liquid containing Nb with a MoVSb raw material liquid containing Mo, V, and Sb, wherein ammonia is added to at least one of the MoVSb raw material liquid, the Nb raw material liquid, and the aqueous mixed liquid such that a molar ratio in terms of NH.sub.3/Nb in the aqueous mixed liquid is adjusted to be 0.7 or more, and in the aging step, a temperature of the aqueous mixed liquid is adjusted to more than 50° C.; (II) in the aging step, a temperature of the aqueous mixed liquid is adjusted to more than 65° C.; and (III) in the raw material preparation step, the aqueous mixed liquid is prepared by mixing a Nb raw material liquid containing Nb with a MoVSb raw material liquid containing Mo, V, and Sb, wherein a molar ratio in terms of H.sub.2O.sub.2/Nb in the Nb raw material liquid is adjusted to less than 0.2, and in the aging step, a temperature of the aqueous mixed liquid is adjusted to more than 50° C.

A method for producing an oxide catalyst according to the present invention is a method for producing an oxide catalyst containing Mo, V, Sb, and Nb, the method including: a raw material preparation step of obtaining an aqueous mixed liquid containing Mo, V, Sb, and Nb; an aging step of subjecting the aqueous mixed liquid to aging at more than 30° C.; a drying step of drying the aqueous mixed liquid, thereby obtaining a dried powder; and a calcination step of calcining the dried powder, thereby obtaining the oxide catalyst, wherein, in the raw material preparation step and/or the aging step, precipitation of Nb is facilitated by performing at least one operation selected from the group consisting of the following (I) to (III): (I) in the raw material preparation step, the aqueous mixed liquid is prepared by mixing a Nb raw material liquid containing Nb with a MoVSb raw material liquid containing Mo, V, and Sb, wherein ammonia is added to at least one of the MoVSb raw material liquid, the Nb raw material liquid, and the aqueous mixed liquid such that a molar ratio in terms of NH.sub.3/Nb in the aqueous mixed liquid is adjusted to be 0.7 or more, and in the aging step, a temperature of the aqueous mixed liquid is adjusted to more than 50° C.; (II) in the aging step, a temperature of the aqueous mixed liquid is adjusted to more than 65° C.; and (III) in the raw material preparation step, the aqueous mixed liquid is prepared by mixing a Nb raw material liquid containing Nb with a MoVSb raw material liquid containing Mo, V, and Sb, wherein a molar ratio in terms of H.sub.2O.sub.2/Nb in the Nb raw material liquid is adjusted to less than 0.2, and in the aging step, a temperature of the aqueous mixed liquid is adjusted to more than 50° C.

Processes for converting an olefin reactant into a diol compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of contacting the olefin reactant and a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the diol compound. While being contacted, the olefin reactant and the supported chromium catalyst can be irradiated with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum. Optionally, these processes can further comprise a step of calcining at least a portion of the reduced chromium catalyst to regenerate the supported chromium catalyst.