Various embodiments disclosed relate to a method of oxidizing sulfur-containing compounds. The method involves contacting a sulfur-containing compound with a helmet phthalocyaninato-type catalyst in the presence of an oxidant. The present invention also provides a method of removing undesired sulfur-containing compounds from a fluid, such as natural gas, crude oil or an aqueous waste stream.

The present disclosure provides processes for preparing an alpha-hydroxy ester from the corresponding alpha-hydroxy acid by transesterification. Also provided are alpha-hydroxy esters prepared according to processes disclosed herein and compositions comprising the alpha-hydroxy esters.

The present disclosure provides processes for preparing an alpha-hydroxy ester from the corresponding alpha-hydroxy acid by transesterification. Also provided are alpha-hydroxy esters prepared according to processes disclosed herein and compositions comprising the alpha-hydroxy esters.