Aqueous compositions containing 6-undecanol-esters are useful in cosmetic aplications. Methods for producing 6-undecanol-esters are also provided.

The invention discloses a method for preparing maleate by selective catalytic oxidation of lignin. The method uses a heteropolyacid functionalized ionic liquid as a catalyst, and an aqueous alcohol solution as a reaction medium to achieve high-efficiency selective catalytic conversion and ring opening oxidation of biomass lignin at a reaction temperature of 110-160 C. and an oxygen pressure of 0.5-1.0 MPa for 1-6 h. The selectivity of maleate is higher than 47.83%. The yield and selectivity of a single chemical derived from the depolymerization of lignin in the present invention are much higher than the prior art, and the ionic liquid catalyst exhibits outstanding advantages such as availability of recovery and recycling through simple temperature adjustment; the reaction conditions of the present invention are mild, and the process is green and safe, easy to operate, and available forbatch and continuous production. The invention provides a new green way for preparing bulk chemicals like maleate from reproducible raw materials such as lignin.

The invention discloses a method for preparing maleate by selective catalytic oxidation of lignin. The method uses a heteropolyacid functionalized ionic liquid as a catalyst, and an aqueous alcohol solution as a reaction medium to achieve high-efficiency selective catalytic conversion and ring opening oxidation of biomass lignin at a reaction temperature of 110-160 C. and an oxygen pressure of 0.5-1.0 MPa for 1-6 h. The selectivity of maleate is higher than 47.83%. The yield and selectivity of a single chemical derived from the depolymerization of lignin in the present invention are much higher than the prior art, and the ionic liquid catalyst exhibits outstanding advantages such as availability of recovery and recycling through simple temperature adjustment; the reaction conditions of the present invention are mild, and the process is green and safe, easy to operate, and available forbatch and continuous production. The invention provides a new green way for preparing bulk chemicals like maleate from reproducible raw materials such as lignin.

A process for recovering product dialkyl succinate, dialkyl maleate or dialkyl succinate and dialkyl maleate from an overhead stream from an esterification reaction column, said overhead stream comprising as a major component alkanol and water and as a minor component the product dialkyl succinate, dialkyl maleate or dialkyl succinate and dialkyl maleate which forms an azeotrope with the water, wherein said process comprises washing the overhead stream with butanol.

A process for recovering product dialkyl succinate, dialkyl maleate or dialkyl succinate and dialkyl maleate from an overhead stream from an esterification reaction column, said overhead stream comprising as a major component alkanol and water and as a minor component the product dialkyl succinate, dialkyl maleate or dialkyl succinate and dialkyl maleate which forms an azeotrope with the water, wherein said process comprises washing the overhead stream with butanol.

The invention provides a method of producing acrylic acid. The method includes contacting fumaric acid with a sufficient amount of ethylene in the presence of a cross-metathesis transformation catalyst to produce about two moles of acrylic acid per mole of fumaric acid. Also provided is an acrylate ester. The method includes contacting fumarate diester with a sufficient amount of ethylene in the presence of a cross-metathesis transformation catalyst to produce about two moles of acrylate ester per mole of fumarate diester. An integrated process for process for producing acrylic acid or acrylate ester is provided which couples bioproduction of fumaric acid with metathesis transformation. An acrylic acid and an acrylate ester production also is provided.

The invention provides a method of producing acrylic acid. The method includes contacting fumaric acid with a sufficient amount of ethylene in the presence of a cross-metathesis transformation catalyst to produce about two moles of acrylic acid per mole of fumaric acid. Also provided is an acrylate ester. The method includes contacting fumarate diester with a sufficient amount of ethylene in the presence of a cross-metathesis transformation catalyst to produce about two moles of acrylate ester per mole of fumarate diester. An integrated process for process for producing acrylic acid or acrylate ester is provided which couples bioproduction of fumaric acid with metathesis transformation. An acrylic acid and an acrylate ester production also is provided.

Disclosed embodiments relate to improved methods for the synthesis of activated fumarate intermediates and their use in chemical synthesis. Disclosed embodiments describe the synthesis of activated fumarate esters including those derived from activating groups including: 4-nitrophenyl, diphenylphophoryl azide, pivaloyl chloride, chlorosulfonyl isocyanate, p-nitrophenol, MEF, trifluoroacetyl and chlorine, for example, ethyl fumaroyl chloride and the subsequent use of the activated ester in situ. Further embodiments describe the improved synthesis of substituted aminoalkyl-diketopiperazines from unisolated and unpurified intermediates allowing for improved yields and reactor throughput.

Disclosed embodiments relate to improved methods for the synthesis of activated fumarate intermediates and their use in chemical synthesis. Disclosed embodiments describe the synthesis of activated fumarate esters including those derived from activating groups including: 4-nitrophenyl, diphenylphophoryl azide, pivaloyl chloride, chlorosulfonyl isocyanate, p-nitrophenol, MEF, trifluoroacetyl and chlorine, for example, ethyl fumaroyl chloride and the subsequent use of the activated ester in situ. Further embodiments describe the improved synthesis of substituted aminoalkyl-diketopiperazines from unisolated and unpurified intermediates allowing for improved yields and reactor throughput.

Disclosed embodiments relate to improved methods for the synthesis of activated fumarate intermediates and their use in chemical synthesis. Disclosed embodiments describe the synthesis of activated fumarate esters including those derived from activating groups including: 4-nitrophenyl, diphenylphophoryl azide, pivaloyl chloride, chlorosulfonyl isocyanate, p-nitrophenol, MEF, trifluoroacetyl and chlorine, for example, ethyl fumaroyl chloride and the subsequent use of the activated ester in situ. Further embodiments describe the improved synthesis of substituted aminoalkyl-diketopiperazines from unisolated and unpurified intermediates allowing for improved yields and reactor throughput.