What is provided is a production method in which a vinyl acetate is reacted with a primary or secondary alcohol represented by Formula (1) and carbon monoxide to produce a first ester compound represented by Formula (2), and the first ester compound is reacted with an alcohol to produce a lactic acid ester represented by Formula (3) and an acetic acid ester represented by Formula (4).

##STR00001##

What is provided is a production method in which a vinyl acetate is reacted with a primary or secondary alcohol represented by Formula (1) and carbon monoxide to produce a first ester compound represented by Formula (2), and the first ester compound is reacted with an alcohol to produce a lactic acid ester represented by Formula (3) and an acetic acid ester represented by Formula (4).

##STR00001##

The present invention is directed to a method for preparing a final phenolic product from biomass comprising the steps of providing a furanic compound obtainable from biomass; reacting the furanic compound with a dienophile to obtain a phenolic compound; reacting the phenolic compound further to obtain the final phenolic product.

The present invention is directed to a method for preparing a final phenolic product from biomass comprising the steps of providing a furanic compound obtainable from biomass; reacting the furanic compound with a dienophile to obtain a phenolic compound; reacting the phenolic compound further to obtain the final phenolic product.

Improved iminium based processes for the production of cyanoacrylates and methylidene malonates wherein the improvement pertains to the presence of acid chlorides and/or acid anhydrides in the reaction mix.

Improved iminium based processes for the production of cyanoacrylates and methylidene malonates wherein the improvement pertains to the presence of acid chlorides and/or acid anhydrides in the reaction mix.

Provided is an agent for improving mitochondrial function including a hydroxycitric acid derivative represented by the following Formula (I) or a salt thereof, as an active ingredient [(In Formula (I), R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or any one group selected from the group represented by the following Formula (Ia) (here, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 do not represent hydrogen atoms at the same time), X.sup.1 to X.sup.3 each independently represent a nitrogen or an oxygen atom, and R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.3′ R.sup.4′, and R.sup.5′ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, or a chained hydrocarbon group (here, in a case where X.sup.1, X.sup.2, and X.sup.3 each independently represent an oxygen atom, corresponding R.sup.3′, R.sup.4′, or R.sup.5′ does not exist). In Formula (Ia), R.sup.6 to R.sup.8 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an aryl group, or a chained hydrocarbon group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms].

##STR00001##

Provided is an agent for improving mitochondrial function including a hydroxycitric acid derivative represented by the following Formula (I) or a salt thereof, as an active ingredient [(In Formula (I), R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or any one group selected from the group represented by the following Formula (Ia) (here, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 do not represent hydrogen atoms at the same time), X.sup.1 to X.sup.3 each independently represent a nitrogen or an oxygen atom, and R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.3′ R.sup.4′, and R.sup.5′ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, or a chained hydrocarbon group (here, in a case where X.sup.1, X.sup.2, and X.sup.3 each independently represent an oxygen atom, corresponding R.sup.3′, R.sup.4′, or R.sup.5′ does not exist). In Formula (Ia), R.sup.6 to R.sup.8 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an aryl group, or a chained hydrocarbon group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms].

##STR00001##

Provided herein are processes of preparing sulfonated estolide compounds, and the removal of sulfonate residues from those compounds to provide desulfonated estolide base oils. Exemplary sulfonated estolide compounds include those selected from the formula: ##STR00001##
wherein z is an integer selected from 0 to 15; q is an integer selected from 0 to 15; x is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 0 to 20; y is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected 0 to 20; n is equal to or greater than 0; R.sub.6 is selected from —OH, optionally substituted alkyl, and optionally substituted aryl; and R.sub.2 is selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched, wherein each fatty acid chain residue of said compounds is independently optionally substituted.

Provided herein are processes of preparing sulfonated estolide compounds, and the removal of sulfonate residues from those compounds to provide desulfonated estolide base oils. Exemplary sulfonated estolide compounds include those selected from the formula: ##STR00001##
wherein z is an integer selected from 0 to 15; q is an integer selected from 0 to 15; x is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 0 to 20; y is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected 0 to 20; n is equal to or greater than 0; R.sub.6 is selected from —OH, optionally substituted alkyl, and optionally substituted aryl; and R.sub.2 is selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched, wherein each fatty acid chain residue of said compounds is independently optionally substituted.