Abstract: The invention describes processes to prepare levulinic acid, formic acid and/or hydroxymethyl furfural from various biomass materials.

Abstract: An ionic polymer of formula VI wherein each b=0 or 1; X is hydrogen, 1/z of a metal ion of charge z, a protonated nitrogen base, or a tetrasubstituted organic ammonium compound; the molar ratio of q:r:s:t=(100-0.1):(0-99.9):(0-50):(0-30); R1, R2 and R3 are hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl; R4, R5, R6 and R7 are hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl or F, wherein F is a functional group that imparts a property to polymer VI, at least one and no more than two of R4, R5, R6 and R7 are F and F is the same or different; G is a single bond or a C1-30 hydrocarbyl group; and for each instance of t when t is not zero, c=0-5 and d=0-5, provided that c+d=1-5, and wherein q, r and s as present in c are independent of any other value of q, r and s.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition comprises in combination an ethylenically unsaturated polymer, and a lactone reactive diluent of the formula wherein b=0 or 1. A method of manufacture of a thermoset polymer comprises reacting the unsaturated polymer and the lactone to form the thermoset polymer. The thermoset polymers are described, as well as articles comprising the thermoset polymers.

Abstract: An ionic polymer of formula VI wherein each b=0 or 1; X is hydrogen, 1/z of a metal ion of charge z, a protonated nitrogen base, or a tetrasubstituted organic ammonium compound; the molar ratio of q:r:s:t=(100-0.1):(0-99.9):(0-50):(0-30); R1, R2 and R3 are hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl; R4, R5, R6 and R7 are hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl or F, wherein F is a functional group that imparts a property to polymer VI, at least one and no more than two of R4, R5, R6 and R7 are F and F is the same or different; G is a single bond or a C1-30 hydrocarbyl group; and for each instance of t when t is not zero, c=0-5 and d=0-5, provided that c+d=1-5, and wherein q, r and s as present in c are independent of any other value of q, r and s.