Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed in which the hydrocarbon reactant and either a supported chromium (VI) catalyst or a supported chromium (II) catalyst are contacted, optionally with UV-visible light irradiation, followed by exposure to an oxidizing atmosphere and then hydrolysis to form a reaction product containing the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The presence of oxygen significant increases the amount of alcohol/carbonyl product formed, as well as the formation of oxygenated dimers and trimers of certain hydrocarbon reactants.

Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed in which the hydrocarbon reactant and either a supported chromium (VI) catalyst or a supported chromium (II) catalyst are contacted, optionally with UV-visible light irradiation, followed by exposure to an oxidizing atmosphere and then hydrolysis to form a reaction product containing the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The presence of oxygen significant increases the amount of alcohol/carbonyl product formed, as well as the formation of oxygenated dimers and trimers of certain hydrocarbon reactants.

A process for making sorbic acid from renewable materials is provided. The process comprises converting acetic acid to ketene; converting acetaldehyde to crotonaldehyde; reacting the ketene with the crotonaldehyde to produce a polyester; and converting the polyester to sorbic acid. Renewable materials are incorporated by one of the following methods: a) the acetic acid is produced by reacting methanol derived from renewable organic material with carbon monoxide, b) the acetic acid is a biobased acetic acid, c) the crotonaldehyde is a biobased crotonaldehyde, d) the crotonaldehyde is produced by converting a biobased acetaldehyde to crotonaldehyde, e) the crotonaldehyde is produced by converting acetaldehyde to crotonaldehyde and the acetaldehyde is produced from bioethylene, or any combination of a), b), c), d) and e).

A process for making sorbic acid from renewable materials is provided. The process comprises converting acetic acid to ketene; converting acetaldehyde to crotonaldehyde; reacting the ketene with the crotonaldehyde to produce a polyester; and converting the polyester to sorbic acid. Renewable materials are incorporated by one of the following methods: a) the acetic acid is produced by reacting methanol derived from renewable organic material with carbon monoxide, b) the acetic acid is a biobased acetic acid, c) the crotonaldehyde is a biobased crotonaldehyde, d) the crotonaldehyde is produced by converting a biobased acetaldehyde to crotonaldehyde, e) the crotonaldehyde is produced by converting acetaldehyde to crotonaldehyde and the acetaldehyde is produced from bioethylene, or any combination of a), b), c), d) and e).

Provided herein is a method for producing methyl pentenone (MPO) in high yield in a continuous mode in a fixed bed reactor having a plurality of sidewall injecting ports by reacting excess methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) with acetaldehyde in presence of a cation exchange resin catalyst, wherein the acetaldehyde is injected from the plurality of sidewall injecting ports of the reactor. The method is also effective in reducing the complete consumption of the catalyst during the course of the reaction.

Provided herein is a method for producing methyl pentenone (MPO) in high yield in a continuous mode in a fixed bed reactor having a plurality of sidewall injecting ports by reacting excess methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) with acetaldehyde in presence of a cation exchange resin catalyst, wherein the acetaldehyde is injected from the plurality of sidewall injecting ports of the reactor. The method is also effective in reducing the complete consumption of the catalyst during the course of the reaction.

The present teachings are directed at 1,1-disubstituted alkene monomers (e.g., methylene beta-diketone monomers), methods for producing the same, and compositions and products formed therefrom. In the method for producing the monomer, a beta-diketone is preferably reacted with a source of formaldehyde in a modified Knoevenagel reaction optionally in the presence of an acidic or basic catalyst, and optionally in the presence of an acidic or non-acidic solvent, to form reaction complex. The reaction complex may be an oligomeric complex. The reaction complex is subjected to vaporization in order to isolate the monomer. The monomer(s) may be employed in compositions and products, including monomer-based products (e.g., inks, adhesives, coatings, sealants or reactive molding) and polymer-based products (e.g., fibers, films, sheets, medical polymers, composite polymers and surfactants).

The present teachings are directed at 1,1-disubstituted alkene monomers (e.g., methylene beta-diketone monomers), methods for producing the same, and compositions and products formed therefrom. In the method for producing the monomer, a beta-diketone is preferably reacted with a source of formaldehyde in a modified Knoevenagel reaction optionally in the presence of an acidic or basic catalyst, and optionally in the presence of an acidic or non-acidic solvent, to form reaction complex. The reaction complex may be an oligomeric complex. The reaction complex is subjected to vaporization in order to isolate the monomer. The monomer(s) may be employed in compositions and products, including monomer-based products (e.g., inks, adhesives, coatings, sealants or reactive molding) and polymer-based products (e.g., fibers, films, sheets, medical polymers, composite polymers and surfactants).

Disclosed is a process for preparing a product of formula I: wherein the reaction is catalyzed both by thiamine or a thiamine salt and by ascorbic acid in a form which is free or salified or an organic acid salt of an alkaline metal, preferably sodium acetate, potassium tartrate, sodium succinate, or a reductone, preferably 2-hydroxypropanedial or 2,3-dihydroxycyclopent-2-ene-1-one in an organic solvent.

Disclosed is a process for preparing a product of formula I: wherein the reaction is catalyzed both by thiamine or a thiamine salt and by ascorbic acid in a form which is free or salified or an organic acid salt of an alkaline metal, preferably sodium acetate, potassium tartrate, sodium succinate, or a reductone, preferably 2-hydroxypropanedial or 2,3-dihydroxycyclopent-2-ene-1-one in an organic solvent.