A method is provided of preparing a compound of formula II:

##STR00001##

where: R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from —CH.sub.2OR′, —CHO, —COOR′ and —H, provided that R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are not both —H; and R′ is selected from —H and C.sub.1-6 hydrocarbyl groups,
from a compound of formula I:

##STR00002##

the compounds of formulas I and II being optionally in the form of a salt. The method comprises dehydrating the compound of formula I at: a pH in the range of from 0 to 6 or 8 to 11.5; and a temperature in the range of from 10 to 80° C. The method is particularly useful for synthesizing substituted furans from compounds derived from sugars.

A process for producing levulinic acid includes a step of catalytic conversion of a pentose (in particular xylose or arabinose) into furfural in an organic solvent having a boiling temperature from 60° C. to 220° C., followed by a step of reduction of furfural to furfuryl alcohol, in the presence of a Lewis acid as catalyst and a protic solvent. Eventually, furfuryl alcohol is converted into levulinic acid directly or indirectly, by preliminary conversion into a levulinic acid ester and its subsequent hydrolysis. This process has a reduced environmental impact and guarantees satisfactory process yields on an industrial scale. In particular, the process allows to reduce as much as possible the formation of humins, which require complex and costly purification processes and involve a considerable reduction in the levulinic acid yields.

The present invention provides compounds, compositions thereof, and methods of using the same.

The present invention provides compounds, compositions thereof, and methods of using the same.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (5-HMF) suitable for industrial-scale production and a novel catalyst composition for use in synthesizing 5-HMF. The present invention provides a method for producing 5-HMF comprising performing a dehydration reaction of a carbohydrate comprising a hexose as a constituent sugar or a derivative thereof by using activated carbon as a catalyst; and a catalyst composition for use in the reaction for producing 5-HMF from a carbohydrate comprising a hexose as a constituent sugar through a dehydration reaction, the catalyst composition comprising activated carbon.

The present disclosure relates to an organometallic framework modified using a compound having a hydroxyl group (—OH), a catalyst for a hydrogenation reaction including the same, and a method of manufacturing the same. The catalyst according to the present disclosure has high activity to the hydrogenation reaction even at a low temperature of 30 to 40° C., thus making low-grade waste heat usable.

The present disclosure relates to an organometallic framework modified using a compound having a hydroxyl group (—OH), a catalyst for a hydrogenation reaction including the same, and a method of manufacturing the same. The catalyst according to the present disclosure has high activity to the hydrogenation reaction even at a low temperature of 30 to 40° C., thus making low-grade waste heat usable.

The invention comprises novel chiral metal complex compounds of the formula ##STR00001## wherein M, PR.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are outlined in the description, its stereoisomers, in the form as a neutral complex or a complex cation with a suitable counter ion. The chiral metal complex compounds can be used in asymmetric reactions, particularly in asymmetric reductions of ketones, imines or oximes.

The present invention relates to a selective reduction of specific aldehydes and ketones to their corresponding alcohols.

The present invention relates to a selective reduction of specific aldehydes and ketones to their corresponding alcohols.