A compound is provided of Formula (I), wherein R.sup.1 represents a C.sub.3 to C.sub.20 hydrocarbon group derived from an alcohol of formula R.sup.1OH, from a formate of formula R.sup.1OCH═O, or a cinnamyl aldehyde of Formula (II) wherein a compound of Formula I is capable of releasing a compound, when oxidized, selected from the group consisting of a fragrant alcohol of formula R.sup.1OH, a fragrant formate ester of formula R.sup.1OCH=0 and aryl aldehyde of Formula (III), wherein R.sup.2 is, independently, hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, optionally substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl group, C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkoxy group, or -0(C=0)CH(CH3).sub.2 wherein any two of R.sup.2 may form an optionally substituted 5 or 6 membered ring. The compounds are useful for example as a precursor for the prolonged delivery or release of fragrant compounds such as fragrant alcohols, fragrant aldehydes or fragrant formates. ##STR00001##

A compound is provided of Formula (I), wherein R.sup.1 represents a C.sub.3 to C.sub.20 hydrocarbon group derived from an alcohol of formula R.sup.1OH, from a formate of formula R.sup.1OCH═O, or a cinnamyl aldehyde of Formula (II) wherein a compound of Formula I is capable of releasing a compound, when oxidized, selected from the group consisting of a fragrant alcohol of formula R.sup.1OH, a fragrant formate ester of formula R.sup.1OCH=0 and aryl aldehyde of Formula (III), wherein R.sup.2 is, independently, hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, optionally substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl group, C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkoxy group, or -0(C=0)CH(CH3).sub.2 wherein any two of R.sup.2 may form an optionally substituted 5 or 6 membered ring. The compounds are useful for example as a precursor for the prolonged delivery or release of fragrant compounds such as fragrant alcohols, fragrant aldehydes or fragrant formates. ##STR00001##

A method for preparing methyl formate in which a raw material containing formaldehyde, methanol and/or dimethyl ether is introduced into a first reaction zone to come into contact with a catalyst A, and a component I is obtained by separation, the component I is introduced into a second reaction zone to come into contact with a catalyst B so as to obtain, by separation, methyl formate as a product, dimethyl ether that is returned to the first reaction zone and a component II that is returned to the second reaction zone, the catalysts have a long service life, the reaction conditions are mild, and the utilization rate of the raw material is high, thus enabling a continuous production for large-scale industrial application.

A method for preparing methyl formate in which a raw material containing formaldehyde, methanol and/or dimethyl ether is introduced into a first reaction zone to come into contact with a catalyst A, and a component I is obtained by separation, the component I is introduced into a second reaction zone to come into contact with a catalyst B so as to obtain, by separation, methyl formate as a product, dimethyl ether that is returned to the first reaction zone and a component II that is returned to the second reaction zone, the catalysts have a long service life, the reaction conditions are mild, and the utilization rate of the raw material is high, thus enabling a continuous production for large-scale industrial application.

A method for preparing methyl formate in which a raw material containing formaldehyde, methanol and/or dimethyl ether is introduced into a first reaction zone to come into contact with a catalyst A, and a component I is obtained by separation, the component I is introduced into a second reaction zone to come into contact with a catalyst B so as to obtain, by separation, methyl formate as a product, dimethyl ether that is returned to the first reaction zone and a component II that is returned to the second reaction zone, the catalysts have a long service life, the reaction conditions are mild, and the utilization rate of the raw material is high, thus enabling a continuous production for large-scale industrial application.

Method for preparing methyl formate and coproducing dimethyl ether by reacting a formaldehyde and methanol raw material (molar ratio range of 1:4 to 1:0.05) in a First Reaction Region at ranges from 50° C. to 100° C. with Catalyst A resulting in post-reaction material separated into Constituent I. Reacting Constituent I in a Second Reaction Region at ranges from 50° C. to 200° C. and from 0.1 MPa to 10 MPa with Catalyst B resulting in post-reaction material, which is separated into methyl formate, dimethyl ether and Constituent II. At least 1% of dimethyl ether is product, and recycling the rest to the First Reaction Region. Constituent II is recycled to the Second Reaction Region. Each component is gaseous phase and/or liquid phase, independently. The method shows long catalyst life, mild reaction condition, high utilization ratio of raw materials, continuous production and large scale industrial application potential.

Method for preparing methyl formate and coproducing dimethyl ether by reacting a formaldehyde and methanol raw material (molar ratio range of 1:4 to 1:0.05) in a First Reaction Region at ranges from 50° C. to 100° C. with Catalyst A resulting in post-reaction material separated into Constituent I. Reacting Constituent I in a Second Reaction Region at ranges from 50° C. to 200° C. and from 0.1 MPa to 10 MPa with Catalyst B resulting in post-reaction material, which is separated into methyl formate, dimethyl ether and Constituent II. At least 1% of dimethyl ether is product, and recycling the rest to the First Reaction Region. Constituent II is recycled to the Second Reaction Region. Each component is gaseous phase and/or liquid phase, independently. The method shows long catalyst life, mild reaction condition, high utilization ratio of raw materials, continuous production and large scale industrial application potential.

A method for generating a carboxylic acid from carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), the method includes (a) feeding a gas stream having the CO.sub.2 to a first reactor having a base (MOH) to produce bicarbonate (MHCO.sub.3) and (b) feeding the MHCO.sub.3 generated in the first reactor to a second reactor disposed downstream from the first reactor. The second reactor includes a catalyst. The method also includes (c) contacting the MHCO.sub.3 with hydrogen gas in the presence of the catalyst in the second reactor to produce formate (HCOOM) and (d) electrolysing an aqueous solution of a metal halide (MCl) in a chloro-alkali electrolysis reactor fluidly coupled to the first reactor, the second reactor, or both to produce at least a portion of the MOH, the hydrogen gas and Cl.sub.2. The portion of the MOH is used in step (a) and the carboxylic acid is formic acid (HCOOH).

A method for generating a carboxylic acid from carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), the method includes (a) feeding a gas stream having the CO.sub.2 to a first reactor having a base (MOH) to produce bicarbonate (MHCO.sub.3) and (b) feeding the MHCO.sub.3 generated in the first reactor to a second reactor disposed downstream from the first reactor. The second reactor includes a catalyst. The method also includes (c) contacting the MHCO.sub.3 with hydrogen gas in the presence of the catalyst in the second reactor to produce formate (HCOOM) and (d) electrolysing an aqueous solution of a metal halide (MCl) in a chloro-alkali electrolysis reactor fluidly coupled to the first reactor, the second reactor, or both to produce at least a portion of the MOH, the hydrogen gas and Cl.sub.2. The portion of the MOH is used in step (a) and the carboxylic acid is formic acid (HCOOH).

This invention relates to a method for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into ethyl esters of carboxylic acids. Said method consists of treating the biomass material with an oxidizing agent that is incorporated in an solution comprising one or more acids, one or more alcohols and water, and subsequently performing a catalytic reaction at a higher temperature using the same acidic solution into which a larger volume of alcohol is added, in such a way that the catalytic conversion occurs in a medium with a much higher concentration of alcohol, i.e. with a much higher alcohol-to-water wt ratio. Such a method results in relatively high yields of ethyl esters, such as ethyl esters of formic, acetic, and levulinic acids, while producing a low yield of dialkyl ethers, which are unwanted by-products. The concentration of the oxidizing agent in the pre-treatment step is preferably higher than 6.0 wt %. The oxidizing agent is preferably a Fenton or Fenton-type reagent, and most preferably hydrogen peroxide activated by Fe (II), and/or Ti (IV) ions. The alcohol is preferably ethanol, and when ethanol is used, diethyl ether is formed as the unwanted dialkyl ether by-product. Preferably, the biomass material is pelleted before treatment.