A process for the production of ethylene glycol from CO.sub.2, including the steps of: i) reducing CO.sub.2 to CO; ii) reacting the CO produced in step i) with an amine to form an oxamide or an oxamate or with an alcohol to form an oxalate; and iii) reducing the oxamide, oxamate or oxalate formed in step ii) to form ethylene glycol. Also, a process for the production of an oxamide, oxamate or oxalate and a process for the production of polyethylene terephthalate.

A process for the production of ethylene glycol from CO.sub.2, including the steps of: i) reducing CO.sub.2 to CO; ii) reacting the CO produced in step i) with an amine to form an oxamide or an oxamate or with an alcohol to form an oxalate; and iii) reducing the oxamide, oxamate or oxalate formed in step ii) to form ethylene glycol. Also, a process for the production of an oxamide, oxamate or oxalate and a process for the production of polyethylene terephthalate.

The present invention provides a method of preparing oxalic acid (H.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4), the method at least comprising the steps of: (a) providing a metal formate (HCO.sub.2M) containing stream, wherein the metal (M) of the metal formate (HCO.sub.2M) is a monovalent metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Cs, Rb and a mixture thereof; (b) heating the metal formate (HCO.sub.2M) containing stream thereby obtaining a metal oxalate (M.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4) containing stream; (c) subjecting the metal oxalate (M.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4) containing stream to electrodialysis, thereby obtaining at least oxalic acid (M.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4) and a metal hydroxide (MOH).

The present invention provides a method of preparing oxalic acid (H.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4), the method at least comprising the steps of: (a) providing a metal formate (HCO.sub.2M) containing stream, wherein the metal (M) of the metal formate (HCO.sub.2M) is a monovalent metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Cs, Rb and a mixture thereof; (b) heating the metal formate (HCO.sub.2M) containing stream thereby obtaining a metal oxalate (M.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4) containing stream; (c) subjecting the metal oxalate (M.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4) containing stream to electrodialysis, thereby obtaining at least oxalic acid (M.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4) and a metal hydroxide (MOH).

The present invention provides a method of preparing oxalic acid (H.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4), the method at least comprising the steps of: (a) providing a metal formate (HCO.sub.2M) containing stream, wherein the metal (M) of the metal formate (HCO.sub.2M) is a monovalent metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Cs, Rb and a mixture thereof; (b) heating the metal formate (HCO.sub.2M) containing stream thereby obtaining a metal oxalate (M.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4) containing stream; (c) subjecting the metal oxalate (M.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4) containing stream to electrodialysis, thereby obtaining at least oxalic acid (M.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4) and a metal hydroxide (MOH).

Disclosed is a method of producing an estolide having high structural stability, including: a) preparing a fatty acid mixture from biomass-derived oil; b) separating the fatty acid mixture into a C16 fatty acid and a C18 fatty acid; c) converting the C18 fatty acid into a C18 or C17 linear internal olefin; and d) subjecting the C18 or C17 linear internal olefin and the C16 fatty acid to an estolide reaction, thus obtaining an estolide.

Disclosed is a method of producing an estolide having high structural stability, including: a) preparing a fatty acid mixture from biomass-derived oil; b) separating the fatty acid mixture into a C16 fatty acid and a C18 fatty acid; c) converting the C18 fatty acid into a C18 or C17 linear internal olefin; and d) subjecting the C18 or C17 linear internal olefin and the C16 fatty acid to an estolide reaction, thus obtaining an estolide.

Disclosed is a method of producing an estolide having high structural stability, including: a) preparing a fatty acid mixture from biomass-derived oil; b) separating the fatty acid mixture into a C16 fatty acid and a C18 fatty acid; c) converting the C18 fatty acid into a C18 or C17 linear internal olefin; and d) subjecting the C18 or C17 linear internal olefin and the C16 fatty acid to an estolide reaction, thus obtaining an estolide.

The use of a metal complex containing a ruthenium ion or an osmium ion, and a tridentate aminodicarbene ligand, the tridentate aminodicarbene ligand having one secondary amino group and two specific heterocyclic carbene groups sandwiching the amino group, enables hydrogenation reduction of carbonyl compounds, such as ketones, carboxylic acid esters, lactones, carboxylic acid amides, and lactams, and imine compounds under relatively mild conditions to produce corresponding alcohols, amines, and the like in a high yield with high catalytic efficiency. The metal complex is obtained by a method comprising steps of reacting a specific metal compound with a specific aminodicarbene precursor and subsequently reacting a specific compound. Reduction of a carbonyl compound or an imine compound in the presence of this metal complex using a hydrogen donor makes it possible to reduce the carbonyl compound or imine compound by hydrogenation.

The use of a metal complex containing a ruthenium ion or an osmium ion, and a tridentate aminodicarbene ligand, the tridentate aminodicarbene ligand having one secondary amino group and two specific heterocyclic carbene groups sandwiching the amino group, enables hydrogenation reduction of carbonyl compounds, such as ketones, carboxylic acid esters, lactones, carboxylic acid amides, and lactams, and imine compounds under relatively mild conditions to produce corresponding alcohols, amines, and the like in a high yield with high catalytic efficiency. The metal complex is obtained by a method comprising steps of reacting a specific metal compound with a specific aminodicarbene precursor and subsequently reacting a specific compound. Reduction of a carbonyl compound or an imine compound in the presence of this metal complex using a hydrogen donor makes it possible to reduce the carbonyl compound or imine compound by hydrogenation.