The present invention relates to a process for obtaining 1-octanol which comprises a contact step between ethanol, n-hexanol and a catalyst, wherein said catalyst comprises: i) a metal oxide that comprises the following metals: M1 is at least one bivalent metal selected from Mg, Zn, Cu, Co, Mn, Fe, Ni and Ca; M2 is at least one trivalent metal selected from Al, La, Fe, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, and Ga; ii) a noble metal selected from Pd, Pt, Ru, Rh and Re; and iii) optionally, comprises V; with the proviso that the catalyst comprises at least V, Ga or any of their combinations.

The present invention relates to a process for obtaining 1-octanol which comprises a contact step between ethanol, n-hexanol and a catalyst, wherein said catalyst comprises: i) a metal oxide that comprises the following metals: M1 is at least one bivalent metal selected from Mg, Zn, Cu, Co, Mn, Fe, Ni and Ca; M2 is at least one trivalent metal selected from Al, La, Fe, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, and Ga; ii) a noble metal selected from Pd, Pt, Ru, Rh and Re; and iii) optionally, comprises V; with the proviso that the catalyst comprises at least V, Ga or any of their combinations.

The present invention relates to a process for obtaining 1-octanol which comprises a contact step between ethanol, n-hexanol and a catalyst, wherein said catalyst comprises: i) a metal oxide that comprises the following metals: M1 is at least one bivalent metal selected from Mg, Zn, Cu, Co, Mn, Fe, Ni and Ca; M2 is at least one trivalent metal selected from Al, La, Fe, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, and Ga; ii) a noble metal selected from Pd, Pt, Ru, Rh and Re; and iii) optionally, comprises V; with the proviso that the catalyst comprises at least V, Ga or any of their combinations.

In certain aspects, the present invention provides methods for producing terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes by contacting an unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon substrate with a hydroxylase enzyme. Exemplary terminal hydroxylases useful for carrying out the methods of the invention exhibit strong selectivity towards one terminal carbon of a hydrocarbon substrate and include, but are not limited to, non-heme diiron alkane monooxygenases, cytochromes P450 (e.g., cytochromes P450 of the CYP52 and CYP153 family), as well as long chain alkane hydroxylases. In some embodiments, the terminally hydroxylated alkene or alkyne is further converted to a terminal alkenal. In certain embodiments, terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes are useful as insect pheromones which modify insect behavior. In other embodiments, terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes are useful intermediates for producing pheromones via acetylation or oxidation of the alcohol moiety.

In certain aspects, the present invention provides methods for producing terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes by contacting an unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon substrate with a hydroxylase enzyme. Exemplary terminal hydroxylases useful for carrying out the methods of the invention exhibit strong selectivity towards one terminal carbon of a hydrocarbon substrate and include, but are not limited to, non-heme diiron alkane monooxygenases, cytochromes P450 (e.g., cytochromes P450 of the CYP52 and CYP153 family), as well as long chain alkane hydroxylases. In some embodiments, the terminally hydroxylated alkene or alkyne is further converted to a terminal alkenal. In certain embodiments, terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes are useful as insect pheromones which modify insect behavior. In other embodiments, terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes are useful intermediates for producing pheromones via acetylation or oxidation of the alcohol moiety.

In certain aspects, the present invention provides methods for producing terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes by contacting an unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon substrate with a hydroxylase enzyme. Exemplary terminal hydroxylases useful for carrying out the methods of the invention exhibit strong selectivity towards one terminal carbon of a hydrocarbon substrate and include, but are not limited to, non-heme diiron alkane monooxygenases, cytochromes P450 (e.g., cytochromes P450 of the CYP52 and CYP153 family), as well as long chain alkane hydroxylases. In some embodiments, the terminally hydroxylated alkene or alkyne is further converted to a terminal alkenal. In certain embodiments, terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes are useful as insect pheromones which modify insect behavior. In other embodiments, terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes are useful intermediates for producing pheromones via acetylation or oxidation of the alcohol moiety.

The present invention discloses a process for preparing perhydrofluorene or alkyl-substituted perhydrofluorene, comprising the steps of: (1) reacting a phenolic compound or an aromatic hydrocarbon compound or an aromatic ketone compound or an aromatic ether compound with a benzyl compound to carry out an alkylation reaction in the presence of a first catalyst, thereby to produce substituted or unsubstituted diphenyl methane, wherein the first catalyst is an acidic catalyst; and (2) reacting the substituted or unsubstituted diphenyl methane with hydrogen gas to carry out an hydrogenation reaction or a hydrodeoxygenation reaction, thereby to produce perhydrofluorene or alkyl-substituted perhydrofluorene, wherein the second catalyst is a physical mixture of a metal catalyst and an acidic catalyst or a metal catalyst loaded on an acidic catalyst.

The present invention discloses a process for preparing perhydrofluorene or alkyl-substituted perhydrofluorene, comprising the steps of: (1) reacting a phenolic compound or an aromatic hydrocarbon compound or an aromatic ketone compound or an aromatic ether compound with a benzyl compound to carry out an alkylation reaction in the presence of a first catalyst, thereby to produce substituted or unsubstituted diphenyl methane, wherein the first catalyst is an acidic catalyst; and (2) reacting the substituted or unsubstituted diphenyl methane with hydrogen gas to carry out an hydrogenation reaction or a hydrodeoxygenation reaction, thereby to produce perhydrofluorene or alkyl-substituted perhydrofluorene, wherein the second catalyst is a physical mixture of a metal catalyst and an acidic catalyst or a metal catalyst loaded on an acidic catalyst.

A method and catalyst for forming higher alcohols from lower alcohol feedstocks. In one application a highly selective and stable copper pseudo-single-atom supported on MgOAl.sub.2O.sub.3 catalyst is provided which provides ethanol condensation to higher alcohols at 50% yields and 85% selectivity is demonstrated with stable catalyst lifetime over 500 hours in a continuous flow system. In some applications a Guerbet condensation process is further utilized to yield a higher alcohol at a selectivity of near 90%.

A method and catalyst for forming higher alcohols from lower alcohol feedstocks. In one application a highly selective and stable copper pseudo-single-atom supported on MgOAl.sub.2O.sub.3 catalyst is provided which provides ethanol condensation to higher alcohols at 50% yields and 85% selectivity is demonstrated with stable catalyst lifetime over 500 hours in a continuous flow system. In some applications a Guerbet condensation process is further utilized to yield a higher alcohol at a selectivity of near 90%.