A method of making terephthalic acid via reductive coupling of two molecules of propiolic acid or propiolic acid derivatives is presented. The reductive coupling can be catalyzed by compounds comprising metals, and propiolic acid or propiolic acid derivatives can be produced from acetylene and carbon dioxide. At least 4 of the 8 carbons in the terephthalic acid are non-fossil-derived.

A method of making terephthalic acid via reductive coupling of two molecules of propiolic acid or propiolic acid derivatives is presented. The reductive coupling can be catalyzed by compounds comprising metals, and propiolic acid or propiolic acid derivatives can be produced from acetylene and carbon dioxide. At least 4 of the 8 carbons in the terephthalic acid are non-fossil-derived.

Dicarboxylic acids, such as adipic acid, and diesters, such as adipates, may be produced by hydrogenating alkynes that may be produced from raw materials salvaged from waste stream processes. The carbons of the dicarboxylic acids are provided by alkynes generated from biomass waste and carbon dioxide recovered from waste streams such as exhaust gases.

Dicarboxylic acids, such as adipic acid, and diesters, such as adipates, may be produced by hydrogenating alkynes that may be produced from raw materials salvaged from waste stream processes. The carbons of the dicarboxylic acids are provided by alkynes generated from biomass waste and carbon dioxide recovered from waste streams such as exhaust gases.

Disclosed herein is a salt of formula L:

##STR00001##

wherein q is + or ; p is 2+, +, or 2; g is 1 or 2; G is selected from R.sup.5CCCO.sub.2.sup., R.sup.5CCC(O)S.sup., R.sup.5CCCS.sub.2.sup., R.sup.5CCSO.sub.2.sup., R.sup.5CCS(O)S.sup., R.sup.5CCSO.sub.3.sup., R.sup.5CCS(O).sub.2S.sup., and a diallylammonium group, wherein R.sup.5 is independently selected from H, linear or branched C.sub.1-6 alkyl; L is straight-chain C.sub.1-15 alkyl, wherein one or more CH.sub.2 groups are independently replaced by (CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2), (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O), (OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2) CO, O, S, NH or NR.sup.1, wherein R.sup.1 is linear or branched C.sub.1-6 alkyl; A is selected from NR.sup.2.sub.3.sup.+, CO.sub.2.sup., C(O)S.sup., CS.sub.2.sup., SO.sub.2.sup., S(O)S.sup., SO.sub.3.sup. and S(O).sub.2S.sup., wherein R.sup.2 is, for each occurrence independently, selected from H, linear or branched C.sub.1-6 alkyl; E is selected from NR.sup.3.sub.2, NR.sup.3.sub.3.sup.+, CO.sub.2H, C(O)SH, CS.sub.2H, SO.sub.2H, S(O)SH, SO.sub.3H, S(O).sub.2SH, CO.sub.2.sup., C(O)S.sup., CS.sub.2.sup., SO.sub.2.sup., S(O)S.sup., SO.sub.3.sup., S(O).sub.2S.sup., wherein, for each occurrence independently, R.sup.3 is selected from H, linear or branched C.sub.1-6 alkyl; with the proviso that the overall charge of A and E is not 0 and with the proviso that the salt of formula I is overall neutral in charge. Further disclosed are cosmetic preparations comprising salts of formula I as well as uses of such salts or preparations as hair care products.