The invention relates to a process for the production of 1,6-difunctionalized hexane derivatives from 1,3-diunsaturated hydrocarbons, preferably butadiene, wherein a hydroformylation with carbon monoxide and hydrogen is performed in the presence of an at least dihydric alkanol and during the hydroformylation the temperature is increased. The reaction yields the acetals of the 1,6-hexanedial derivatives which are isolated and further reacted to obtain the desired 1,6-difunctionalized hexane derivatives, in particular 1,6-hexanediamine, 1,6-hexanediol and adipic acid.

A chemoselective and reactive Mn(CF.sub.3-PDP) catalyst system that enables for the first time the strategic advantages of late-stage aliphatic CH hydroxylation to be leveraged in aromatic compounds. This discovery will benefit small molecule therapeutics by enabling the rapid diversification of aromatic drugs and natural products and identification of their metabolites.

A chemoselective and reactive Mn(CF.sub.3-PDP) catalyst system that enables for the first time the strategic advantages of late-stage aliphatic CH hydroxylation to be leveraged in aromatic compounds. This discovery will benefit small molecule therapeutics by enabling the rapid diversification of aromatic drugs and natural products and identification of their metabolites.

The present invention relates to an unsaturated fluorinated ether or amine compound of formula (I) with low global warming potential and method of making the compound (I), where R.sub.H.sup.1 is and R.sub.H.sup.2 are independently selected from H or CH.sub.3, wherein when R.sub.H.sup.1 is CH.sub.3 then R.sub.H.sup.2 is H and when R.sub.H.sup.2 is CH.sub.3, then R.sub.H.sup.1 is H; X is O or N and when X is O, then n is 1 and R.sub.f is a linear or branched perfluorinated alkyl group comprising 1-10 carbon atoms and optionally comprising at least one catenated O or N atom; X is N, then n is 2 and (i) each R.sub.f is independently selected from a linear or branched perfluorinated alkyl group comprising 1-8 carbon atoms and optionally comprising at least one catenated O or N atom, or (ii) the two R.sub.f's are bonded together to form a ring structure optionally comprising at least one catenated O or N atom, wherein the ring of the ring structure consists of 5-7 atoms, no more than 10 carbon atoms, and is perfluorinated. The applications of the compound include solvent cleaning, electrolyte solvents or additives, heat transfer, and vapour phase soldering.

The present invention relates to an unsaturated fluorinated ether or amine compound of formula (I) with low global warming potential and method of making the compound (I), where R.sub.H.sup.1 is and R.sub.H.sup.2 are independently selected from H or CH.sub.3, wherein when R.sub.H.sup.1 is CH.sub.3 then R.sub.H.sup.2 is H and when R.sub.H.sup.2 is CH.sub.3, then R.sub.H.sup.1 is H; X is O or N and when X is O, then n is 1 and R.sub.f is a linear or branched perfluorinated alkyl group comprising 1-10 carbon atoms and optionally comprising at least one catenated O or N atom; X is N, then n is 2 and (i) each R.sub.f is independently selected from a linear or branched perfluorinated alkyl group comprising 1-8 carbon atoms and optionally comprising at least one catenated O or N atom, or (ii) the two R.sub.f's are bonded together to form a ring structure optionally comprising at least one catenated O or N atom, wherein the ring of the ring structure consists of 5-7 atoms, no more than 10 carbon atoms, and is perfluorinated. The applications of the compound include solvent cleaning, electrolyte solvents or additives, heat transfer, and vapour phase soldering.

The invention discloses a method for preparing maleate by selective catalytic oxidation of lignin. The method uses a heteropolyacid functionalized ionic liquid as a catalyst, and an aqueous alcohol solution as a reaction medium to achieve high-efficiency selective catalytic conversion and ring opening oxidation of biomass lignin at a reaction temperature of 110-160 C. and an oxygen pressure of 0.5-1.0 MPa for 1-6 h. The selectivity of maleate is higher than 47.83%. The yield and selectivity of a single chemical derived from the depolymerization of lignin in the present invention are much higher than the prior art, and the ionic liquid catalyst exhibits outstanding advantages such as availability of recovery and recycling through simple temperature adjustment; the reaction conditions of the present invention are mild, and the process is green and safe, easy to operate, and available forbatch and continuous production. The invention provides a new green way for preparing bulk chemicals like maleate from reproducible raw materials such as lignin.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing (Z)-7-tetradecen-2-one of the following formula (5), the process comprising the steps of converting a (Z)-1-halo-4-undecene compound (1) of the following general formula (1), wherein X.sup.1 represents a halogen atom, into a nucleophilic reagent, (Z)-4-undecenyl compound, of the following general formula (2), wherein M.sup.1 represents Li or MgZ.sup.1, and Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or a (4Z)-4-undecenyl group, subjecting the nucleophilic reagent, (Z)-4-undecenyl compound (2), to an addition reaction with propylene oxide of the following formula (3) to obtain (Z)-7-tetradecen-2-ol of the following formula (4) and oxidizing (Z)-7-tetradecen-2-ol (4) thus obtained to form (Z)-7-tetradecen-2-one (5).

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a process for preparing (Z)-7-tetradecen-2-one of the following formula (5), the process comprising the steps of converting a (Z)-1-halo-4-undecene compound (1) of the following general formula (1), wherein X.sup.1 represents a halogen atom, into a nucleophilic reagent, (Z)-4-undecenyl compound, of the following general formula (2), wherein M.sup.1 represents Li or MgZ.sup.1, and Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or a (4Z)-4-undecenyl group, subjecting the nucleophilic reagent, (Z)-4-undecenyl compound (2), to an addition reaction with propylene oxide of the following formula (3) to obtain (Z)-7-tetradecen-2-ol of the following formula (4) and oxidizing (Z)-7-tetradecen-2-ol (4) thus obtained to form (Z)-7-tetradecen-2-one (5).

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to novel catalysts for oxidative esterification, by means of which, for example, (meth)acrolein can be converted to methyl (meth)acrylate. The catalysts of the invention are especially notable for high mechanical and chemical stability even over very long periods. This especially relates to an improvement in the catalyst service life, activity and selectivity over prior art catalysts which lose activity and/or selectivity relatively quickly in continuous operation in media having even a small water content.

The invention relates to a process for the production of 1,6-difunctionalized hexane derivatives from 1,3-diunsaturated hydrocarbons, preferably butadiene, wherein a hydroformylation with carbon monoxide and hydrogen is performed in the presence of an at least dihydric alkanol and during the hydroformylation the temperature is increased. The reaction yields the acetals of the 1,6-hexanedial derivatives which are isolated and further reacted to obtain the desired 1,6-difunctionalized hexane derivatives, in particular 1,6-hexanediamine, 1,6-hexanediol and adipic acid.