Selective hydrogenation processes are disclosed that can upgrade impure feeds, such as those obtained from biomass and containing a number of small (e.g., 2-6 carbon atom) molecules having aldehyde and/or ketone carbon atoms. For example, whereas glycolaldehyde and its methylated derivative, hydroxyacetone (acetol) are both high value intermediates for certain downstream processing reactions, they are normally recovered in a condensate from pyrolysis of carbohydrates (e.g., aldose-containing sugars) together with glyoxal and its methylated derivative, pyruvaldehyde. The selective hydrogenation of these compounds bearing two carbonyl carbon atoms, without over-hydrogenation to ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, can increase the concentration of the desired intermediates. These beneficial effects of selective hydrogenation may be achieved through the use of a hydrogenation catalyst comprising noble metals such as Ru and Pt.

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.

The present invention relates to: a method for converting a hydroxyl group of an alcohol; and a catalyst which makes the method possible. A method for converting a hydroxyl group of an alcohol according to the present invention is characterized by producing a compound represented by CH(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)Nu (wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and Nu are as defined below) by reacting an alcohol represented by CH(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)OH (wherein each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group, or the like) and a compound having an active proton, which is represented by H-Nu (wherein Nu represents a group represented by CHX.sup.1-EWG.sup.1 or NR.sup.3R.sup.4; X.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or the like; EWG.sup.1 represents an electron-withdrawing group; and each of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group, or the like), with each other in the presence of a complex of a group 7-11 metal of the periodic table and at least one solid base that is selected from the group consisting of layered double hydroxides, composite oxides and calcium hydroxide.

A method for producing a carbonyl compound represented by formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or an organic group; R.sup.2 is hydrogen or an organic group; and R.sup.3 is hydrogen or an organic group; or two or three of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 may be linked to form a ring that may have at least one substituent, the method comprising step A of oxidizing an olefin compound represented by formula (2):

##STR00002##

wherein symbols are as defined above, by an oxidizing agent in the presence of (a) a non-alcohol organic solvent, (b) water, (c) a metal catalyst, and (d) an additive represented by the formula: MXn, wherein M is an element belonging to any one of Group 1, Group 2, Group 13, Group 14, and Group 15 in the periodic table, or NR.sub.4, wherein R is hydrogen or a C.sub.1-10 organic group; X is halogen; and n is a number of 1 to 5.

A method for producing a carbonyl compound represented by formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or an organic group; R.sup.2 is hydrogen or an organic group; and R.sup.3 is hydrogen or an organic group; or two or three of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 may be linked to form a ring that may have at least one substituent, the method comprising step A of oxidizing an olefin compound represented by formula (2):

##STR00002##

wherein symbols are as defined above, by an oxidizing agent in the presence of (a) a non-alcohol organic solvent, (b) water, (c) a metal catalyst, and (d) an additive represented by the formula: MXn, wherein M is an element belonging to any one of Group 1, Group 2, Group 13, Group 14, and Group 15 in the periodic table, or NR.sub.4, wherein R is hydrogen or a C.sub.1-10 organic group; X is halogen; and n is a number of 1 to 5.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a 1,3-dioxan-5-one by a short-step and simple method from raw materials that are procurable easily and inexpensively, using, as a raw material, a 1,3-dioxane that is a mixture containing a 1,3-dioxolane. Provided is a method for producing a 1,3-dioxan-5-one, including using a mixture of a compound represented by the following formula (I) and a compound represented by the following formula (II) as a raw material, the method including a step of oxidizing the mixture under an oxidative esterification condition (step 2): ##STR00001##
wherein, in the formulae (I) and (II), R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are bonded to each other to form a divalent hydrocarbon group for constituting a ring structure.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a 1,3-dioxan-5-one by a short-step and simple method from raw materials that are procurable easily and inexpensively, using, as a raw material, a 1,3-dioxane that is a mixture containing a 1,3-dioxolane. Provided is a method for producing a 1,3-dioxan-5-one, including using a mixture of a compound represented by the following formula (I) and a compound represented by the following formula (II) as a raw material, the method including a step of oxidizing the mixture under an oxidative esterification condition (step 2): ##STR00001##
wherein, in the formulae (I) and (II), R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are bonded to each other to form a divalent hydrocarbon group for constituting a ring structure.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a 1,3-dioxan-5-one by a short-step and simple method from raw materials that are procurable easily and inexpensively, using, as a raw material, a 1,3-dioxane that is a mixture containing a 1,3-dioxolane. Provided is a method for producing a 1,3-dioxan-5-one, including using a mixture of a compound represented by the following formula (I) and a compound represented by the following formula (II) as a raw material, the method including a step of oxidizing the mixture under an oxidative esterification condition (step 2): ##STR00001##
wherein, in the formulae (I) and (II), R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are bonded to each other to form a divalent hydrocarbon group for constituting a ring structure.

The present invention is to provide a method of producing a glyceric acid ester which is easy for production and high in yield, and in which a pyridine to be used for the reaction is easily reused. Provided is a method of producing a compound represented by the following formula (II), including a step of oxidatively esterifying Compound A represented by the following formula (I) with Compound B selected from an organic nitroxyl radical, an N-hydroxy form thereof, and a salt containing an oxo ammonium cation of them, and an oxidizing agent in the presence of a pyridine having an alkyl substituent, wherein the use amount of Compound B is 0.0001 or more and 0.1 or less in terms of a molar ratio relative to Compound A: ##STR00001##
wherein, in the formulae (I) and (II), R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are bonded to each other to form a divalent hydrocarbon group for constituting a ring structure.