Methods are provided for the synthesis of cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabidibutol (CBD-C4), dihydrocannabidiol (DCBD), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), analogs thereof, and precursors to the foregoing. One method employs phloroglucinol or a phloroglucinol analog as a starting material. The syntheses are stereospecific, efficient, selective, and cost-effective, with little or no potential for generation of THC (()-trans-.sup.9-tetrahydro-cannabinol) or any other psychoactive side product. Telescoped syntheses are also provided, as are new cannabinoids, pharmaceutical formulations, and methods of use.

The present disclosure provides synthesis methods used in the preparation of an acyl chain of QS-21 and its derivative.

The present invention relates to a process for thermolytic fragmentation of a sugar into a composition comprising C.sub.1-C.sub.3 oxygenates. In particular, it relates to the use of heat carrying particles providing improved yields of C.sub.1-C.sub.3 oxygenates and improved fluidization characteristics making it suitable for industrial scale production of e.g. glycolaldehyde. It also regards a circulating fluidized bed system comprising the heat carrying particles.

The present invention relates to a process for thermolytic fragmentation of a sugar into a composition comprising C.sub.1-C.sub.3 oxygenates. In particular, it relates to the use of heat carrying particles providing improved yields of C.sub.1-C.sub.3 oxygenates and improved fluidization characteristics making it suitable for industrial scale production of e.g. glycolaldehyde. It also regards a circulating fluidized bed system comprising the heat carrying particles.