A process for producing a surfactant having two head groups and a single tail group per molecule, including steps of: producing a compound of Formula (1) from ethanol and carbon disulfide; producing a compound of Formula (2) from a carboxylic acid and bromine; producing a compound of Formula (3) from the compound of Formula (2) and methanol; producing a compound of Formula (4) from the compound of Formula (1) and the compound of Formula (3); and producing a compound of Formula (5) from the compound of Formula (4) by a direct oxidation process or by a peracid oxidation process. The surfactant produced by the process has lower critical micelle concentration and enables a lower surface tension of a liquid as compared with prior surfactants with two head groups per molecule, thereby enabling the amount of surfactant required and thus the cost to be substantially reduced.

A process for producing a surfactant having two head groups and a single tail group per molecule, including steps of: producing a compound of Formula (1) from ethanol and carbon disulfide; producing a compound of Formula (2) from a carboxylic acid and bromine; producing a compound of Formula (3) from the compound of Formula (2) and methanol; producing a compound of Formula (4) from the compound of Formula (1) and the compound of Formula (3); and producing a compound of Formula (5) from the compound of Formula (4) by a direct oxidation process or by a peracid oxidation process. The surfactant produced by the process has lower critical micelle concentration and enables a lower surface tension of a liquid as compared with prior surfactants with two head groups per molecule, thereby enabling the amount of surfactant required and thus the cost to be substantially reduced.

A process for oxidizing methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds comprises contacting a mixture comprising isomers of at least one methyl-substituted biphenyl compound with a source of oxygen, wherein the mixture comprises at least 20 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 2-position or a 3-position on at least one benzene ring and at least 50 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 4-position on at least one benzene ring, wherein said percentages are based on the total weight of the at least one methylbiphenyl compound in the mixture.

A process for oxidizing methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds comprises contacting a mixture comprising isomers of at least one methyl-substituted biphenyl compound with a source of oxygen, wherein the mixture comprises at least 20 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 2-position or a 3-position on at least one benzene ring and at least 50 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 4-position on at least one benzene ring, wherein said percentages are based on the total weight of the at least one methylbiphenyl compound in the mixture.

A catalyst has a modified silica support and comprises a modifier metal, zirconium and/or hafnium, and a catalytic metal on the modified support. The catalyst has at least a proportion, typically, at least 25%, of modifier metal present in moieties having a total of up to 2 modifier metal atoms. The moieties may be derived from a monomeric and/or dimeric cation source.

A method of production: provides a silica support with isolated silanol groups with optional treatment to provide isolated silanol groups (—SiOH) at a level of <2.5 groups per nm.sup.2; contacting the optionally treated silica support with a monomeric zirconium or hafnium modifier metal compound to effect adsorption onto the support; and optionally calcining the modified support for a time and temperature sufficient to convert the monomeric zirconium or hafnium compound adsorbed on the surface to an oxide or hydroxide of zirconium or hafnium in preparation for catalyst impregnation.

Provided is an isomerization method of cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid using zirconia or titania as an isomerization catalyst.

Provided is an isomerization method of cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid using zirconia or titania as an isomerization catalyst.

Provided is an isomerization method of cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid using zirconia or titania as an isomerization catalyst.

Processes are disclosed for the synthesis of an α-amino acid or α-amino acid derivative, from a starting compound or substrate having a carbonyl functional group (C═O), with hydroxy-substituted carbon atoms at alpha (α) and beta (β) positions, relative to the carbonyl functional group. According a particular embodiment, an α-, β-dihydroxy carboxylic acid or carboxylate is dehydrated to form a dicarbonyl intermediate by transformation of the α-hydroxy group to a second carbonyl group (adjacent a carbonyl group of the starting compound) and removal of the β-hydroxy group. The dicarbonyl intermediate is optionally cracked to form a second, in this case cracked, dicarbonyl intermediate having fewer carbon atoms relative to the dicarbonyl intermediate but preserving the first and second carbonyl groups. Either or both of the dicarbonyl intermediate and the cracked dicarbonyl intermediate may be aminated to convert the second carbonyl group to an amino (—NH.sub.2) group, for producing the corresponding α-amino acid(s).

The invention includes procedures for stereoselective β-acylation of carboxylic acids having a β-carbon atom. For example, stereoselective acylation procedures include the following reactions: (I) ##STR00001##