Compounds of the formula 1 ##STR00001##
wherein, R is hydrogen, alkyl or substituted alkyl, aryl or substituted aryl, are useful intermediates in the synthesis of fragrance ingredients such as Ambrox 2 ##STR00002##

Compounds of the formula 1 ##STR00001##
wherein, R is hydrogen, alkyl or substituted alkyl, aryl or substituted aryl, are useful intermediates in the synthesis of fragrance ingredients such as Ambrox 2 ##STR00002##

The invention relates to tungsten imido alkylidene compounds bearing a ligand derived from a 1,1′-binaphthyl-2-ol or a 5,5′,6,6′,7,7′,8,8′-octahydro-1,1′-binaphthyl-2-ol which bind to tungsten in its olate-form via proton abstraction from the phenolic OH group. The complexes may be used in various olefinic metathesis reactions, preferably ethenolysis and cross-metathesis of unsaturated fatty acid esters, and ring-closing metathesis reactions.

The invention relates to tungsten imido alkylidene compounds bearing a ligand derived from a 1,1′-binaphthyl-2-ol or a 5,5′,6,6′,7,7′,8,8′-octahydro-1,1′-binaphthyl-2-ol which bind to tungsten in its olate-form via proton abstraction from the phenolic OH group. The complexes may be used in various olefinic metathesis reactions, preferably ethenolysis and cross-metathesis of unsaturated fatty acid esters, and ring-closing metathesis reactions.

The invention relates to tungsten imido alkylidene compounds bearing a ligand derived from a 1,1′-binaphthyl-2-ol or a 5,5′,6,6′,7,7′,8,8′-octahydro-1,1′-binaphthyl-2-ol which bind to tungsten in its olate-form via proton abstraction from the phenolic OH group. The complexes may be used in various olefinic metathesis reactions, preferably ethenolysis and cross-metathesis of unsaturated fatty acid esters, and ring-closing metathesis reactions.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a 3-isopropenyl-6-heptenal compound of the following formula (2): wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, the process comprising: subjecting a 3-isopropenyl-6-heptenoate ester compound of the following formula (1): wherein R.sup.1 is as defined above, and R.sup.2 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, to a reduction reaction with a reducing agent to form the 3-isopropenyl-6-heptenal compound (2).

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a 3-isopropenyl-6-heptenal compound of the following formula (2): wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, the process comprising: subjecting a 3-isopropenyl-6-heptenoate ester compound of the following formula (1): wherein R.sup.1 is as defined above, and R.sup.2 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, to a reduction reaction with a reducing agent to form the 3-isopropenyl-6-heptenal compound (2).

##STR00001##

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.

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.

Subject of the invention is a process for producing a biofuel from fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) obtained by transesterification of vegetable oils, comprising the steps of: (a) ethenolysis of the fatty acid methyl esters in the presence of ethylene and an ethenolysis catalyst, and (b) isomerizing metathesis in the presence of an isomerization catalyst and a metathesis catalyst. The invention also relates to biofuels obtainable by the inventive process and to uses of ethylene for adjusting and optimizing biofuels.