The disclosure relates to the field of specialty chemicals. In particular, the disclosure provides novel 1,3-fatty-diol compounds and derivatives thereof which are useful e.g., in the production of personal care products, surfactants, detergents, polymers, paints, coatings, and as emulsifiers, emollients, and thickeners in cosmetics and foods, as industrial solvents and plasticizers, etc.

The disclosure relates to the field of specialty chemicals. In particular, the disclosure provides novel 1,3-fatty-diol compounds and derivatives thereof which are useful e.g., in the production of personal care products, surfactants, detergents, polymers, paints, coatings, and as emulsifiers, emollients, and thickeners in cosmetics and foods, as industrial solvents and plasticizers, etc.

Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of forming a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state, irradiating the hydrocarbon reactant and the supported chromium catalyst with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The supported chromium catalyst can be formed by heat treating a supported chromium precursor, contacting a chromium precursor with a solid support while heat treating, or heat treating a solid support and then contacting a chromium precursor with the solid support.

The disclosure relates to downstream processing of fatty alcohol (FALC) and provides a novel purification method that provides FALC at high purity and yield.

Processes for converting an olefin reactant into a diol compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of contacting the olefin reactant and a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the diol compound. While being contacted, the olefin reactant and the supported chromium catalyst can be irradiated with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum. Optionally, these processes can further comprise a step of calcining at least a portion of the reduced chromium catalyst to regenerate the supported chromium catalyst.

A method for preparing a compound of formula (I)

##STR00001## in which R1 is selected from H and alkyls, R2 is selected from H, alkyls, OR′ where R′ is selected from alkyls, silyls, CO-alkyl, R3 is selected from the acyl groups of the CO(R″) type, and the CO(OR″), CO(NR″R′″), PO(OR″)(OR′″), PO(OR″)(R′″) groups where R″ and R′″, independently of each other, are selected from H and alkyls, R represents a C(R4)═C(R5)(R6) group where R4, R5 and R6, independently of each other, are selected from H, linear or cyclic alkyls and alkenyls, aryls, alkylaryls, or R4 and R5 together form a saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted ring, from a compound of formula (II)

##STR00002## or a compound of formula (ill)

##STR00003## in which, R, R1, R2 and R3 have the above definition.

A method for preparing a compound of formula (I)

##STR00001## in which R1 is selected from H and alkyls, R2 is selected from H, alkyls, OR′ where R′ is selected from alkyls, silyls, CO-alkyl, R3 is selected from the acyl groups of the CO(R″) type, and the CO(OR″), CO(NR″R′″), PO(OR″)(OR′″), PO(OR″)(R′″) groups where R″ and R′″, independently of each other, are selected from H and alkyls, R represents a C(R4)═C(R5)(R6) group where R4, R5 and R6, independently of each other, are selected from H, linear or cyclic alkyls and alkenyls, aryls, alkylaryls, or R4 and R5 together form a saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted ring, from a compound of formula (II)

##STR00002## or a compound of formula (ill)

##STR00003## in which, R, R1, R2 and R3 have the above definition.

Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of forming a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state, irradiating the hydrocarbon reactant and the supported chromium catalyst with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The supported chromium catalyst can be formed by heat treating a supported chromium precursor, contacting a chromium precursor with a solid support while heat treating, or heat treating a solid support and then contacting a chromium precursor with the solid support.

Described herein are methods of preparing cutin-derived monomers, oligomers, or combinations thereof from cutin-containing plant matter. The methods can include heating the cutin-derived plant matter in a solvent at elevated temperature and pressure. In some preferred embodiments, the methods can be carried out without the use of additional acidic or basic species.

The present invention relates to a process for making 1,4-butanediol. The process may include reacting a solution comprising 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in a presence of a catalyst. The catalyst may include cerium.