A method of depolymerizing lignin and to the use of this method in the production of fuels, electronic components, plastic polymers, rubber, medicines, vitamins, cosmetic products, perfumes, foodstuffs, synthetic threads and fibres, synthetic leathers, adhesives, pesticides and fertilizers is provided. It also relates to a method of producing fuels, electronic components, plastic polymers, rubber, medicines, vitamins, cosmetic products, perfumes, foodstuffs, synthetic threads and fibres, synthetic leathers, adhesives, pesticides and fertilizers, including a step of depolymerizing lignin using the method according to the invention.

The present invention is directed to inhibitors of tyrosinase, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such tyrosinase inhibitors, and methods of making and using the same. Specifically, included in the present invention are compositions of matter comprised of at least one 2,4-dihydroxybenzene analog, which inhibit the activity of tyrosinase and which inhibit the overproduction of melanin.

The present invention is directed to inhibitors of tyrosinase, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such tyrosinase inhibitors, and methods of making and using the same. Specifically, included in the present invention are compositions of matter comprised of at least one 2,4-dihydroxybenzene analog, which inhibit the activity of tyrosinase and which inhibit the overproduction of melanin.

The present invention provides a method for synthesizing tyloxapol of formula (I), including the following steps: first reacting p-tert-octylphenol of formula (III) with formaldehyde under alkaline conditions to obtain 2,5-dimethylol p-tert-octylphenol of formula (IV); then reacting 2,5-dimethylol p-tert-octylphenol with p-tert-octylphenol of formula (III) under acidic conditions to obtain the phenolic resin of formula (II); and finally, reacting the phenolic resin of formula (II) with ethylene oxide to obtain tyloxapol of formula (I).

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The present invention provides a method for synthesizing tyloxapol of formula (I), including the following steps: first reacting p-tert-octylphenol of formula (III) with formaldehyde under alkaline conditions to obtain 2,5-dimethylol p-tert-octylphenol of formula (IV); then reacting 2,5-dimethylol p-tert-octylphenol with p-tert-octylphenol of formula (III) under acidic conditions to obtain the phenolic resin of formula (II); and finally, reacting the phenolic resin of formula (II) with ethylene oxide to obtain tyloxapol of formula (I).

##STR00001##

The invention relates to a method of preparing monocyclic aromatic compounds from lignin and to the use of the method and/or the aromatic compounds obtained by the method according to the invention in the production of fuels, electronic components, plastic polymers, rubber, medicines, vitamins, cosmetic products, perfumes, foodstuffs, synthetic threads and fibres, synthetic leathers, adhesives, pesticides and fertilizers. The invention also relates to a method of producing fuels, electronic components, plastic polymers, rubber, medicines, vitamins, cosmetic products, perfumes, foodstuffs, synthetic threads and fibres, synthetic leathers, adhesives, pesticides and fertilizers, including a step of preparing aromatic compounds from lignin using the method according to the invention.

The invention relates to a method of preparing monocyclic aromatic compounds from lignin and to the use of the method and/or the aromatic compounds obtained by the method according to the invention in the production of fuels, electronic components, plastic polymers, rubber, medicines, vitamins, cosmetic products, perfumes, foodstuffs, synthetic threads and fibres, synthetic leathers, adhesives, pesticides and fertilizers. The invention also relates to a method of producing fuels, electronic components, plastic polymers, rubber, medicines, vitamins, cosmetic products, perfumes, foodstuffs, synthetic threads and fibres, synthetic leathers, adhesives, pesticides and fertilizers, including a step of preparing aromatic compounds from lignin using the method according to the invention.

Device and methods for use in a biosensor comprising a multisite array of test sites, the device and methods being useful for modulating the binding interactions between a (biomolecular) probe or detection agent and an analyte of interest by modulating the pH or ionic gradient near the electrodes in such biosensor. An electrochemically active agent that is suitable for use in biological buffers for changing the pH of the biological buffers. Method for changing the pH of biological buffers using the electrochemically active agents. The methods of modulating the binding interactions provided in a biosensor, analytic methods for more accurately controlling and measuring the pH or ionic gradient near the electrodes in such biosensor, and analytic methods for more accurately measuring an analyte of interest in a biological sample.