The present invention relates to novel compounds of polyfunctionalized polyethylene and polypropylene glycols, their synthesis and their use, in particular as tracers in applications related to oil and gas production, and especially as specific markers of various target fluids.

The present invention relates to a composition for preventing or reducing microbial growth, particularly the growth of dermatophytic fungi, and/or aciduric and acidogenic gram-positive bacteria. More particularly, it relates to the use of trans-3,5,4-trihydroxybibenzyl, also known as dihydro-resveratrol, or its dihydrostilbene derivatives and/or chemical variants as an anti-microbial agent. The present invention further relates to the management of dermatophytosis often caused by dermatophytic fungi and the management of dental caries often mediated by aciduric and acidogenic gram-positive Streptococci. The present invention therefore has applications in preventing, alleviating and/or treating dermatophytosis and dental caries.

This disclosure provides low viscosity, low volatility aryl ether compounds represented by formula (1): ##STR00001##
and represented by formula (2): ##STR00002##
wherein R.sub.1 is the same or different and is a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 is the same or different and is hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and n is the same or different and is a value from 0 to 8. This disclosure also provides processes for producing the aryl ether compounds, lubricating oil basestocks and lubricating oils containing one or more of the aryl ether compounds, and a method for improving one or more of solubility and dispersancy of polar additives and/or sludge in a lubricating oil by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil containing one or more of the aryl ether compounds.

This disclosure provides low viscosity, low volatility aryl ether compounds represented by formula (1): ##STR00001##
and represented by formula (2): ##STR00002##
wherein R.sub.1 is the same or different and is a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 is the same or different and is hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and n is the same or different and is a value from 0 to 8. This disclosure also provides processes for producing the aryl ether compounds, lubricating oil basestocks and lubricating oils containing one or more of the aryl ether compounds, and a method for improving one or more of solubility and dispersancy of polar additives and/or sludge in a lubricating oil by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil containing one or more of the aryl ether compounds.

This disclosure provides low viscosity, low volatility aryl ether compounds represented by the formula: ##STR00001## This disclosure also provides processes for producing the aryl ether compounds, lubricating oil basestocks and lubricating oils containing one or more of the aryl ether compounds, and a method for improving one or more of solubility and dispersancy of polar additives and/or sludge in a lubricating oil by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil containing one or more of the aryl ether compounds.

This disclosure provides low viscosity, low volatility aryl ether compounds represented by the formula: ##STR00001## This disclosure also provides processes for producing the aryl ether compounds, lubricating oil basestocks and lubricating oils containing one or more of the aryl ether compounds, and a method for improving one or more of solubility and dispersancy of polar additives and/or sludge in a lubricating oil by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil containing one or more of the aryl ether compounds.

A method of selectively reacting lignin or a lignin-derived reactant to yield an aromatic product. The method includes the step of reacting lignin or a lignin-derived reactant with a molybdenum-containing catalyst, in a solvent, and optionally in the presence of an oxidant, for a time and a temperature wherein at least a portion of the lignin or lignin-derived reactant is selectively converted into an aromatic product, preferably coniferaldehyde and/or sinapaldehyde.

A method of selectively reacting lignin or a lignin-derived reactant to yield an aromatic product. The method includes the step of reacting lignin or a lignin-derived reactant with a molybdenum-containing catalyst, in a solvent, and optionally in the presence of an oxidant, for a time and a temperature wherein at least a portion of the lignin or lignin-derived reactant is selectively converted into an aromatic product, preferably coniferaldehyde and/or sinapaldehyde.

In one aspect, methods of depolymerization are described herein comprising providing a synthetic polymer including a hydroxylated aliphatic backbone or hydroxylated backbone segments, and homolytically activing OH bonds of the hydroxyl groups. Homolytic activation induces the formation of alkoxy radical intermediates followed by CC bond ?-scission events breaking the polymer backbone into depolymerization products. In some embodiments, depolymerization products comprise alkyl radical intermediates reduced by hydrogen atom transfer. Moreover, in some embodiments, the depolymerization products are further reacted into difunctionalized products or comprise functionalities derived from the polymer structure. The difunctionalized products can subsequently be employed in polymerization processes for the production of additional synthetic polymers.

In one aspect, methods of depolymerization are described herein comprising providing a synthetic polymer including a hydroxylated aliphatic backbone or hydroxylated backbone segments, and homolytically activing OH bonds of the hydroxyl groups. Homolytic activation induces the formation of alkoxy radical intermediates followed by CC bond ?-scission events breaking the polymer backbone into depolymerization products. In some embodiments, depolymerization products comprise alkyl radical intermediates reduced by hydrogen atom transfer. Moreover, in some embodiments, the depolymerization products are further reacted into difunctionalized products or comprise functionalities derived from the polymer structure. The difunctionalized products can subsequently be employed in polymerization processes for the production of additional synthetic polymers.