The present invention relates to novel hydroxyl compounds, compositions comprising hydroxyl compounds, and methods useful for treating and preventing a variety of diseases and conditions such as, but not limited to aging, Alzheimer's Disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, a disorder of glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia, hypertension, impotence, inflammation, insulin resistance, lipid elimination in bile, obesity, oxysterol elimination in bile, pancreatitis, pancreatitius, Parkinson's disease, a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-associated disorder, phospholipid elimination in bile, renal disease, septicemia, metabolic syndrome disorders (e.g., Syndrome X), thrombotic disorder. Compounds and methods of the invention can also be used to modulate C reactive protein or enhance bile production in a patient. In certain embodiments, the compounds, compositions, and methods of the invention are useful in combination therapy with other therapeutics, such as hypocholesterolemic and hypoglycemic agents.

A process of co-feeding gaseous ethylene with liquid allyl alcohol in the presence of a catalyst to produce 1,4-butanediol and n-propanol may include: introducing a gaseous mixture of ethylene, carbon monoxide and hydrogen into a reactor in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst in a solvent; introducing liquid allyl alcohol (AA) into the reactor; and carrying out hydroformylation reaction at a temperature between 50 and 100° C. to obtain hydroformylation products.

A process of co-feeding gaseous ethylene with liquid allyl alcohol in the presence of a catalyst to produce 1,4-butanediol and n-propanol may include: introducing a gaseous mixture of ethylene, carbon monoxide and hydrogen into a reactor in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst in a solvent; introducing liquid allyl alcohol (AA) into the reactor; and carrying out hydroformylation reaction at a temperature between 50 and 100° C. to obtain hydroformylation products.

A process for large scale and energy efficient production of oxygenates from sugar is disclosed in which a sugar feedstock is introduced into a thermolytic fragmentation reactor comprising a fluidized stream of heat carrying particles which are separated from the reaction product and directed to a reheater comprising a resistance heating system.

A process for large scale and energy efficient production of oxygenates from sugar is disclosed in which a sugar feedstock is introduced into a thermolytic fragmentation reactor comprising a fluidized stream of heat carrying particles which are separated from the reaction product and directed to a reheater comprising a resistance heating system.

A process for preparing an aldol ester of the formula (I), wherein at least one carboxylic anhydride of the formula (II) is reacted with at least one aldol of the formula (III) with heating in the presence of a basic catalyst with a pKa of the conjugate acid of at least 8, and the reaction product obtained from the process. The process provides a light-coloured and low-odour reaction product which has a high content of aldol ester content of the formula (I) and can be used, without elaborate purification steps, particularly without overhead distillation of the aldol ester, as a blocking agent for primary amines. The resultant blocked amines have a long storage life together with polymers containing isocyanate groups, and cure rapidly and reliably on contact with moisture to form mechanically high-grade and robust elastomers.

A process for preparing an aldol ester of the formula (I), wherein at least one carboxylic anhydride of the formula (II) is reacted with at least one aldol of the formula (III) with heating in the presence of a basic catalyst with a pKa of the conjugate acid of at least 8, and the reaction product obtained from the process. The process provides a light-coloured and low-odour reaction product which has a high content of aldol ester content of the formula (I) and can be used, without elaborate purification steps, particularly without overhead distillation of the aldol ester, as a blocking agent for primary amines. The resultant blocked amines have a long storage life together with polymers containing isocyanate groups, and cure rapidly and reliably on contact with moisture to form mechanically high-grade and robust elastomers.

A method of reducing a concentration of formaldehyde in an aqueous solution containing formaldehyde, hydroxyacetaldehyde and other sugar carbonyls is provided. The method includes adding an amino acid to the aqueous solution and maintaining the aqueous solution at a temperature for a duration sufficient for the formaldehyde and the amino acid to react according to a Maillard reaction to produce a final concentration of formaldehyde and a final concentration of hydroxyacetaldehyde in the aqueous solution. The final concentration of formaldehyde is substantially lower than an initial concentration of formaldehyde and the final concentration of hydroxyacetaldehyde is not substantially lower than an initial concentration of hydroxyacetaldehyde. An aqueous solution and a method of browning a foodstuff are also provided.

A method of reducing a concentration of formaldehyde in an aqueous solution containing formaldehyde, hydroxyacetaldehyde and other sugar carbonyls is provided. The method includes adding an amino acid to the aqueous solution and maintaining the aqueous solution at a temperature for a duration sufficient for the formaldehyde and the amino acid to react according to a Maillard reaction to produce a final concentration of formaldehyde and a final concentration of hydroxyacetaldehyde in the aqueous solution. The final concentration of formaldehyde is substantially lower than an initial concentration of formaldehyde and the final concentration of hydroxyacetaldehyde is not substantially lower than an initial concentration of hydroxyacetaldehyde. An aqueous solution and a method of browning a foodstuff are also provided.

Various processes for preparing C.sub.4 aldoses and/or ketones thereof are described. Various processes are described for preparing C.sub.4 aldoses and/or ketones thereof from feed compositions comprising glycolaldehyde. Also, various processes for preparing useful downstream products and intermediates, such as erythritol and erythronic acid, from the C.sub.4 aldoses and/or ketones thereof are described.