Disclosed is a process for preparing a product of formula I: wherein the reaction is catalyzed both by thiamine or a thiamine salt and by ascorbic acid in a form which is free or salified or an organic acid salt of an alkaline metal, preferably sodium acetate, potassium tartrate, sodium succinate, or a reductone, preferably 2-hydroxypropanedial or 2,3-dihydroxycyclopent-2-ene-1-one in an organic solvent.

A process for the synthesis of trans-fused γ-lactones having Formula (IV) from substituted cyclic ketones having Formula (I). A diastereoselective synthesis of (±)-epianastrephin (1) (wherein: R.sup.1 is ethenyl, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is methyl, and n is 1), (±)-anastrephin (2) (wherein: R.sup.2 is ethenyl, R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 is methyl and n is 1), and analogs thereof (wherein: R.sup.1 is H, C.sub.1-5 alkyl, C.sub.2-6 alkenyl or C.sub.2-6 alkynyl, R.sup.2 is H, C.sub.1-5 alkyl, C.sub.2-6 alkenyl or C.sub.2-6 alkynyl, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together with the carbon atom they are attached form a C.sub.3-6 cycloalkyl ring, R.sup.3 is C.sub.1-5 alkyl and n is 0-2):

##STR00001##

A process for the synthesis of trans-fused γ-lactones having Formula (IV) from substituted cyclic ketones having Formula (I). A diastereoselective synthesis of (±)-epianastrephin (1) (wherein: R.sup.1 is ethenyl, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is methyl, and n is 1), (±)-anastrephin (2) (wherein: R.sup.2 is ethenyl, R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 is methyl and n is 1), and analogs thereof (wherein: R.sup.1 is H, C.sub.1-5 alkyl, C.sub.2-6 alkenyl or C.sub.2-6 alkynyl, R.sup.2 is H, C.sub.1-5 alkyl, C.sub.2-6 alkenyl or C.sub.2-6 alkynyl, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together with the carbon atom they are attached form a C.sub.3-6 cycloalkyl ring, R.sup.3 is C.sub.1-5 alkyl and n is 0-2):

##STR00001##

The present disclosure generally relates to the production of fuels, gasoline additives, and/or lubricants, and precursors thereof. The compounds used to produce the fuels, gasoline additives, and/or lubricants, and precursors thereof may be derived from biomass. The fuels, gasoline additives, and/or lubricants, and precursors thereof may be produced by a combination of intermolecular and/or intramolecular aldol condensation reactions, Guerbet reactions, hydrogenation reactions, and/or oligomerization reactions.

The present disclosure generally relates to the production of fuels, gasoline additives, and/or lubricants, and precursors thereof. The compounds used to produce the fuels, gasoline additives, and/or lubricants, and precursors thereof may be derived from biomass. The fuels, gasoline additives, and/or lubricants, and precursors thereof may be produced by a combination of intermolecular and/or intramolecular aldol condensation reactions, Guerbet reactions, hydrogenation reactions, and/or oligomerization reactions.

Disclosed is a method of making and using a titania supported palladium catalyst for the single step synthesis of 2-ethylhexanal from a feed of n-butyraldehyde. This titania supported palladium catalyst demonstrates high n-butyraldehyde conversion but also produces 2-ethylhexanal in an appreciable yield with maintained activity between runs. This method provides a single step synthesis of 2-ethylhexanal from n-butyraldehyde with a catalyst that can be regenerated that provides cleaner downstream separations relative to the traditional caustic route.

Disclosed is a method of making and using a titania supported palladium catalyst for the single step synthesis of 2-ethylhexanal from a feed of n-butyraldehyde. This titania supported palladium catalyst demonstrates high n-butyraldehyde conversion but also produces 2-ethylhexanal in an appreciable yield with maintained activity between runs. This method provides a single step synthesis of 2-ethylhexanal from n-butyraldehyde with a catalyst that can be regenerated that provides cleaner downstream separations relative to the traditional caustic route.

Nature is capable of storing solar energy in chemical bonds via photosynthesis through a series of C—C, C—O and C—N bond-forming reactions starting from CO.sub.2 and light. Direct capture of solar energy for organic synthesis is a promising approach. Lead (Pb)-halide perovskite solar cells reach 24.2% power conversion efficiency, rendering perovskite a unique type material for solar energy capture. We show that photophysical properties of perovskites is useful in photoredox organic synthesis. Because the key aspects of these two applications are both relying on charge separation and transfer. Here we demonstrated that perovskites nanocrystals are exceptional candidates as photocatalysts for fundamental organic reactions, i.e. C—C, C—N and C—O bond-formations. Stability of CsPbBr.sub.3 in organic solvents and ease-of-tuning their bandedges garner perovskite a wider scope of organic substrate activations.

Nature is capable of storing solar energy in chemical bonds via photosynthesis through a series of C—C, C—O and C—N bond-forming reactions starting from CO.sub.2 and light. Direct capture of solar energy for organic synthesis is a promising approach. Lead (Pb)-halide perovskite solar cells reach 24.2% power conversion efficiency, rendering perovskite a unique type material for solar energy capture. We show that photophysical properties of perovskites is useful in photoredox organic synthesis. Because the key aspects of these two applications are both relying on charge separation and transfer. Here we demonstrated that perovskites nanocrystals are exceptional candidates as photocatalysts for fundamental organic reactions, i.e. C—C, C—N and C—O bond-formations. Stability of CsPbBr.sub.3 in organic solvents and ease-of-tuning their bandedges garner perovskite a wider scope of organic substrate activations.

Nature is capable of storing solar energy in chemical bonds via photosynthesis through a series of C—C, C—O and C—N bond-forming reactions starting from CO.sub.2 and light. Direct capture of solar energy for organic synthesis is a promising approach. Lead (Pb)-halide perovskite solar cells reach 24.2% power conversion efficiency, rendering perovskite a unique type material for solar energy capture. We show that photophysical properties of perovskites is useful in photoredox organic synthesis. Because the key aspects of these two applications are both relying on charge separation and transfer. Here we demonstrated that perovskites nanocrystals are exceptional candidates as photocatalysts for fundamental organic reactions, i.e. C—C, C—N and C—O bond-formations. Stability of CsPbBr.sub.3 in organic solvents and ease-of-tuning their bandedges garner perovskite a wider scope of organic substrate activations.