The present invention provides a process for preparing a 4-substituted 3-methyl-1,3-butadiene compound of the following general formula (A), wherein R represents a linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and optionally having an unsaturated bond(s), the process comprising steps of subjecting a primary allylsulfone compound of the following general formula (D), wherein R represents a linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and optionally having an unsaturated bond(s), X represents a halogen atom, and W represents an arenesulfonyl group, to a reductive removal of the arenesulfonyl group, W, to form a halide compound of the following general formula (B), wherein R represents a linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and optionally having an unsaturated bond(s), and X represents a halogen atom; and subjecting the aforesaid halide compound (B) to an elimination reaction of a hydrogen halide, HX, to form the aforesaid 4-substituted 3-methyl-1,3-butadiene compound (A).

##STR00001##

The present invention provides a process for preparing a 2-(3-alkenyl)-1,3-butadiene compound of the following general formula (A), wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom or a linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and optionally having an unsaturated bond(s), the process comprising the step of subjecting a secondary allylsulfone compound of the following general formula (G), wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom or a linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and optionally having an unsaturated bond(s), W represents an arenesulfonyl group, and Z represents a halogen atom, to a reductive removal of an arenesulfonyl group, W, at an allyl position, and then subjecting the secondary allylsulfone compound (G) to an elimination reaction of a hydrogen halide, HZ, in this order or in reverse order, to form the 2-(3-alkenyl)-1,3-butadiene compound (A).

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a lithium salt A, comprising step a) of placing in contact a lithium salt B comprising at least one S(O).sub.2F group with a compound C of formula (I) ROSiR.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.3 in the presence of a catalyst D to form a mixture of products comprising said lithium salt A comprising at least one group S(O).sub.2OR; said catalyst D being a compound with a pKa of greater than 11 measured at 25 C. The present invention also relates to a lithium salt of formula (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId), (IIIe), (IIIf), (IIIg), (IIIh), (IIIi), (IIIj), (IVa), (IVb), (IVc) or (IVd).

The present invention relates to a process for preparing hexanoic acid, 6-(nitrooxy)-, (1S,2E)-3-[(1R,2R,3S,5R)-2-[(2Z)-7-(ethylamino)-7-oxo-2-hepten-1-yl]-3,5-dihydroxycyclopentyl]-1-(2-phenylethyl)-2-propen-1-yl ester

##STR00001##

In accordance with the present invention, a pharmaceutical grade Compound (I) can be efficiently prepared by a one-pot reactions preparation step that includes the esterification of the 15-OH bimatoprost by coupling bimatoprost phenyl-boronate with 6-(nitrooxy) hexanoic acid and the removal of the boronate ester protecting group, followed by an efficient purification step.

The invention refers also to high purity Compound (I) substantially free of the impurity 15-(6-chlorohexanoyl) ester of bimatoprost and to ophthalmic pharmaceutical formulations containing the high purity compound.

A process for preparing valpromide of formula I and sodium valproate of formula II which comprises: cyanoacetate and 1-chloropropane are subjected to composite catalytic dipropylation in the presence of alkali to obtain 2-cyano-2-valproate of formula III; 2-cyano-2-valproate is hydrolyzed and deacidified to give propylvaleronitrile of formula V; propylvaleronitrile is alcoholized in the presence of acid to give valpromide of formula I and valproate ester of formula VI; and valproate ester is hydrolyzed in a sodium hydroxide solution to afford sodium valproate of formula II.

The invention is related to a process for synthesizing a sustainable aviation fuel composition. The process comprises providing a reaction mixture comprising a first compound that is at least one of mevalonolactone, mevalonic acid, mevalonate salt, dehydromevalonic acid, dehydromevalonate salt, levulinic acid, levulinate salt, caproic acid, caprolactone, caproate salt, or combinations thereof. The process then involves converting the first compound in the reaction mixture to provide a first intermediate comprising isoprene. Then, the isoprene in the first intermediate is reacted in the presence of a first heat transfer agent to provide a second intermediate comprising terpenes. Finally, the second intermediate is allowed to react to in the presence of a second heat transfer agent, or alternatively in neat conditions, and optionally in presence of a catalyst to provide the sustainable aviation fuel composition. The sustainable aviation fuel composition made available from the process of the invention is found to be substantially devoid of Sulphur, olefins, MAHs and PAHs while retaining high energy density. Such qualities are deeply appreciated for use of such sustainable aviation fuel compositions as rocket propellants.

A process for producing an aldehyde is disclosed. The process comprises: hydroformylating an olefin to form the aldehyde using a hydroformylation catalyst; recovering an effluent stream comprising the aldehyde, hydrogen and the hydroformylation catalyst; passing the effluent stream to a stripper; contacting the effluent stream with a strip gas in the stripper to produce a stripped effluent stream having a lower hydrogen concentration than the effluent stream; and recovering the stripped effluent stream.