Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for the decarboxylation, isomerization, hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, and cyclization/aromatization of fatty acids involving contacting a starting material which is an unsaturated fatty acid, unsaturated fatty acid derivative, or an unsaturated triglyceride, in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature at which decarboxylation, isomerization, hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, and cyclization/aromatization occurs and recovering the unsaturated organic compound product; wherein the catalyst is chloro-1,5-cyclooctadiene iridium (I) dimer. The product may contain at least about 8% by volume aromatic content and less than about 25% by volume aromatic content, and wherein the product contains less than about 1% by volume of naphthalenes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for the decarboxylation, isomerization, hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, and cyclization/aromatization of fatty acids involving contacting a starting material which is an unsaturated fatty acid, unsaturated fatty acid derivative, or an unsaturated triglyceride, in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature at which decarboxylation, isomerization, hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, and cyclization/aromatization occurs and recovering the unsaturated organic compound product; wherein the catalyst is chloro-1,5-cyclooctadiene iridium (I) dimer. The product may contain at least about 8% by volume aromatic content and less than about 25% by volume aromatic content, and wherein the product contains less than about 1% by volume of naphthalenes.

Abstract: A novel method for the catalytic selective decarboxylation of a starting material to produce an organic acid is disclosed. According to at least one embodiment, the method may include placing a reaction mixture into a reaction vessel, the reaction mixture including a solvent, a starting material, and a catalyst, subjecting the reaction mixture to a predetermined pressure and temperature, and allowing the reaction to continue for 1-3 hours. The starting material may be at least one of a dicarboxylic acid, a tricarboxylic acid, and an anhydride of a dicarboxylic or tricarboxylic acid. As an exemplary embodiment, itaconic acid may be a starting material and the organic acid may be methacrylic acid. The predetermined temperature may be 250° C. or less, and the reaction pressure may be less than 425 psi. Further, a polymerization inhibitor may be used.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the use of oleaginous yeast strains that are capable of converting lignocellulosic hydrolysates to lipids. More specifically, under specific molar carbon to nitrogen ratios of treated biomass hydrolysates, oleaginous yeasts are able to accumulate lipids that are suitable for the manufacture of biofuels and other products of interest. Additionally, some yeast species provided herein produce carotenoids when grown utilizing the disclosed methodologies.

Abstract: The original synthesis of combretastatin A-2 (1a) was modified to provide an efficient scale-up procedure for obtaining this antineoplastic stilbene. Subsequent conversion to a useful prodrug was accomplished by phosphorylation employing in situ formation of dibenzylchlorophosphite followed by cleavage of the benzyl ester protective groups with bromotrimethylsilane to afford phosphoric acid intermediate 11. The latter was immediately treated with sodium methoxide to complete a practical route to the disodium phosphate prodrug (2a). The phosphoric acid precursor (11) of phosphate 2a was employed in a parallel series of reactions to produce a selection of metal and ammonium cation prodrug candidates. Each of the phosphate salts (2a–q) was evaluated with respect to relative solubility behavior, cancer cell growth inhibition, and antimicrobial activity.