Gasification of organic wastes coupled to syngas fermentation allows the recovery of carbon in the form of commodity chemicals, such as carboxylates and biofuels. Acetogenic bacteria ferment syngas to mainly two-carbon compounds, although a few strains can also synthesize four-, and six-carbon molecules. In general, longer carbon chain products have a higher biotechnological (and commercial) va...

a new synthesis of a-hydroxycarboxylates and 2-hydroxybenzoates based on the reaction of acetonides of a-hydroxycarboxylic acids and 2-hydroxybenzoic acid with sodium alkoxides in the corresponding alcohols as solvent is described. in general, decreasing the steric hindrance of the reactants and increasing the boiling points of alcohols increased the yields and decreased the required time for t...

An efficient and novel synthesis of (R)-rugulactone has been achieved employing Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation of allyl alcohols followed by selective hydride reduction of epoxy alcohols and olefin cross metathesis reactions.

The first synthesis of hydroxamic acids from alcohols has been developed. Both benzylic and aliphatic alcohols can be tolerated and applied in this reaction. The methodology is economical, environmentally benign and high yielding.

A new synthesis of a-hydroxycarboxylates and 2-hydroxybenzoates based on the reaction of acetonides of a-hydroxycarboxylic acids and 2-hydroxybenzoic acid with sodium alkoxides in the corresponding alcohols as solvent is described. In general, decreasing the steric hindrance of the reactants and increasing the boiling points of alcohols increased the yiel...