The invention concerns a synthesis process of a compound of the following formula (I) or one of the salts thereof, ##STR00001## wherein R represents a COOH, CH.sub.2OH or CHO group, comprising the step according to which the but-3-ene-1,2-diol (BDO) is subjected to an oxidation in the presence of a catalyst, said catalyst comprising an active phase based on at least one noble metal selected from palladium, gold, silver, platinum, rhodium, osmium, ruthenium and iridium, and a support containing alkaline sites. The invention also concerns the application of this reaction to the preparation of bioavailable compounds of methionine used, in particular, in animal nutrition.

The invention concerns a synthesis process of a compound of the following formula (I) or one of the salts thereof, ##STR00001## wherein R represents a COOH, CH.sub.2OH or CHO group, comprising the step according to which the but-3-ene-1,2-diol (BDO) is subjected to an oxidation in the presence of a catalyst, said catalyst comprising an active phase based on at least one noble metal selected from palladium, gold, silver, platinum, rhodium, osmium, ruthenium and iridium, and a support containing alkaline sites. The invention also concerns the application of this reaction to the preparation of bioavailable compounds of methionine used, in particular, in animal nutrition.

The invention relates to a method for catalytically producing formic acid and regenerating the catalyst used in the process. A vanadyl ion, vandate ion, or polyoxometallate ion, which is used as the catalyst, of the general formula [PMo.sub.xV.sub.yO.sub.40].sup.n is brought into contact with an alpha hydroxyl aldehyde, an alpha hydroxy carboxylic acid, a carbohydrate, a glycoside, or a polymer, which contains a carbon chain and which comprises at least one OH group that is bound to the carbon chain as a substituent in a repeating manner and/or an O, N, or S atom contained in the carbon chain in a repeating manner, in a liquid solution (12) in a vessel (10) at a temperature above 70 C. and below 160 C., wherein 6x11, 1y6, 3<n<10, and x+y=12, where n, x, and y is each a whole number. The catalyst reduced in the process is returned to its starting state by oxidation. For this purpose, the solution (12) is brought into contact with a gas (18) which contains a volume percent of oxygen of at least 18% at a pressure of at least 2 bar and maximally 16 bar by means of a mixing device or via a liquid-non-permeable gas-permeable membrane. CO and/or CO.sub.2 resulting during the reaction and merging with the gas (18) is discharged in such a quantity that the volume percent of CO and CO.sub.2 combined does not exceed 80% in the gas (18).

The invention relates to a method for catalytically producing formic acid and regenerating the catalyst used in the process. A vanadyl ion, vandate ion, or polyoxometallate ion, which is used as the catalyst, of the general formula [PMo.sub.xV.sub.yO.sub.40].sup.n is brought into contact with an alpha hydroxyl aldehyde, an alpha hydroxy carboxylic acid, a carbohydrate, a glycoside, or a polymer, which contains a carbon chain and which comprises at least one OH group that is bound to the carbon chain as a substituent in a repeating manner and/or an O, N, or S atom contained in the carbon chain in a repeating manner, in a liquid solution (12) in a vessel (10) at a temperature above 70 C. and below 160 C., wherein 6x11, 1y6, 3<n<10, and x+y=12, where n, x, and y is each a whole number. The catalyst reduced in the process is returned to its starting state by oxidation. For this purpose, the solution (12) is brought into contact with a gas (18) which contains a volume percent of oxygen of at least 18% at a pressure of at least 2 bar and maximally 16 bar by means of a mixing device or via a liquid-non-permeable gas-permeable membrane. CO and/or CO.sub.2 resulting during the reaction and merging with the gas (18) is discharged in such a quantity that the volume percent of CO and CO.sub.2 combined does not exceed 80% in the gas (18).

The invention relates to a method for catalytically producing formic acid and regenerating the catalyst used in the process. A vanadyl ion, vandate ion, or polyoxometallate ion, which is used as the catalyst, of the general formula [PMo.sub.xV.sub.yO.sub.40].sup.n is brought into contact with an alpha hydroxyl aldehyde, an alpha hydroxy carboxylic acid, a carbohydrate, a glycoside, or a polymer, which contains a carbon chain and which comprises at least one OH group that is bound to the carbon chain as a substituent in a repeating manner and/or an O, N, or S atom contained in the carbon chain in a repeating manner, in a liquid solution (12) in a vessel (10) at a temperature above 70 C. and below 160 C., wherein 6x11, 1y6, 3<n<10, and x+y=12, where n, x, and y is each a whole number. The catalyst reduced in the process is returned to its starting state by oxidation. For this purpose, the solution (12) is brought into contact with a gas (18) which contains a volume percent of oxygen of at least 18% at a pressure of at least 2 bar and maximally 16 bar by means of a mixing device or via a liquid-non-permeable gas-permeable membrane. CO and/or CO.sub.2 resulting during the reaction and merging with the gas (18) is discharged in such a quantity that the volume percent of CO and CO.sub.2 combined does not exceed 80% in the gas (18).

The invention relates to a production method for an oxide capable of efficiently producing an oxide of an organic compound in the presence of raw materials for a Pt/Bi composite catalyst, and to a production method for a Pt/Bi composite catalyst capable of producing a catalyst that exhibits a high activity for dehydrogenation oxidation reaction of an organic compound even in the presence of an organic compound to be a raw material for an oxide. The oxide production method includes subjecting an organic compound having one primary hydroxy group to a dehydrogenative oxidation reaction in the presence of Pt supported by a carrier, a Bi ion source and water, under the condition such that the minimum value of the pH during the reaction is less than 7, thereby obtaining an oxide of the organic compound.

The invention relates to a production method for an oxide capable of efficiently producing an oxide of an organic compound in the presence of raw materials for a Pt/Bi composite catalyst, and to a production method for a Pt/Bi composite catalyst capable of producing a catalyst that exhibits a high activity for dehydrogenation oxidation reaction of an organic compound even in the presence of an organic compound to be a raw material for an oxide. The oxide production method includes subjecting an organic compound having one primary hydroxy group to a dehydrogenative oxidation reaction in the presence of Pt supported by a carrier, a Bi ion source and water, under the condition such that the minimum value of the pH during the reaction is less than 7, thereby obtaining an oxide of the organic compound.

The present invention concerns a process of oxidizing an alcohol for the production of its corresponding carbonyl compounds wherein the oxidation is performed with oxygen or gases containing oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least a gold compound and a copper compound. Said alcohol oxidation by gaseous oxidant can achieve a high yield and selectivity with minimized degradation products or waste organic solvents.

The present invention concerns a process of oxidizing an alcohol for the production of its corresponding carbonyl compounds wherein the oxidation is performed with oxygen or gases containing oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least a gold compound and a copper compound. Said alcohol oxidation by gaseous oxidant can achieve a high yield and selectivity with minimized degradation products or waste organic solvents.

A method is disclosed for the activation of transition-metal containing phyllosilicate structures and uses of the activated phyllosilicates. The process of activation either liberates a proton or an entire hydroxyl group from the structure, creating a material with a mixed-valence state that can oxidize alcohols to aldehydes and ketones.