ORGANIC ACIDS FROM HOMOCITRATE AND HOMOCITRATE DERIVATIVES

1 . A method for making adipic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, the method comprising contacting homocitric acid, or a salt, ester, or lactone thereof, with a metal catalyst.

2 . A method for making a compound of Formula I:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 and R 2 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

the method comprising contacting a metal catalyst with a composition comprising a compound of Formula II:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is individually selected from H and a protecting group.

3 . A method for making a compound of Formula I:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 and R 2 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

the method comprising contacting a metal catalyst with composition comprising a compound of Formula III:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 2 and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group.

4 . A method for making a compound of Formula I:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 and R 2 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

the method comprising:

a) hydrogenolysis of a compound of Formula II:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

to prepare a compound of Formula IV:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is individually selected from H and a protecting group; and

b) selective decarboxylation of the compound of Formula IV to make a compound of Formula I, or a salt thereof.

5 . A method for making a compound of Formula I:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 and R 2 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

the method comprising:

a) hydrogenolysis of a compound of Formula III:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 2 and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

to prepare a compound of Formula IV:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is individually selected from H and a protecting group; and

b) selective decarboxylation of the compound of Formula IV to make a compound of Formula I, or a salt thereof.

6 . A method for making 2-ethylsuccinic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, the method comprising contacting homocitric acid, or a salt, ester, or lactone thereof, with a metal catalyst.

7 . A method for making a compound of Formula V:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 2 and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

the method comprising contacting a metal catalyst with a composition comprising a compound of Formula II:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is individually selected from H and a protecting group.

8 . A method for making a compound of Formula V:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 2 and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

the method comprising contacting a metal catalyst with a composition comprising a compound of Formula III:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 2 and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group.

9 . A method for making a compound of Formula V:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 2 and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

the method comprising:

a) hydrogenolysis of a compound of Formula II:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

to prepare a compound of Formula IV:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is individually selected from H and a protecting group; and

b) selective decarboxylation of the compound of Formula IV to make a compound of Formula V, or a salt thereof.

10 . A method for making a compound of Formula V:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 2 and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

the method comprising:

a) hydrogenolysis of a compound of Formula III:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 2 and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

to prepare a compound of Formula IV:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is individually selected from H and a protecting group; and

b) selective decarboxylation of the compound of Formula IV to make a compound of Formula V, or a salt thereof.

11 . A method for making 2-methylpentanedioic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, the method comprising contacting homocitric acid, or a salt, ester, or lactone thereof, with a metal catalyst.

12 . A method for making a compound of Formula VI:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

the method comprising contacting a metal catalyst with a composition comprising a compound of Formula II:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is individually selected from H and a protecting group.

13 . A method for making a compound of Formula VI:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

the method comprising contacting a metal catalyst with a composition comprising a compound of Formula III:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 2 and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group.

14 . A method for making a compound of Formula VI:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

the method comprising:

a) hydrogenolysis of a compound of Formula II:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

to prepare a compound of Formula IV:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is individually selected from H and a protecting group; and

b) selective decarboxylation of the compound of Formula IV to make a compound of Formula VI, or a salt thereof.

15 . A method for making a compound of Formula VI:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

the method comprising:

a) hydrogenolysis of a compound of Formula III:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 2 and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

to prepare a compound of Formula IV:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is individually selected from H and a protecting group; and

b) selective decarboxylation of the compound of Formula IV to make a compound of Formula VI, or a salt thereof.

16 . A method for making a composition comprising two or more compounds selected from the group consisting of: adipic acid, 1,2,4-butanetricarboxylic acid, 2-ethylsuccinic acid, and 2-methylpentanedioic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, the method comprising contacting homocitric acid, or a salt, ester, or lactone thereof, with a metal catalyst.

17 . A method for making a composition comprising two or more compounds selected from the group consisting of:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

the method comprising contacting a metal catalyst with a composition comprising a compound of Formula II:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is individually selected from H and a protecting group.

18 . A method for making a composition comprising two or more compounds selected from the group consisting of:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

the method comprising contacting a metal catalyst with a composition comprising a compound of Formula III:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 2 and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group.

19 . A method for making a composition comprising two or more compounds selected from the group consisting of:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

the method comprising:

a) hydrogenolysis of a compound of Formula II:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

to prepare a compound of Formula IV:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is individually selected from H and a protecting group; and

b) selective decarboxylation of the compound of Formula IV to prepare the composition.

20 . A method for making two or more compounds selected from the group consisting of:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

the method comprising:

a) hydrogenolysis of a compound of Formula III:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 2 and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

to prepare a compound of Formula IV:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is individually selected from H and a protecting group; and

b) selective decarboxylation of the compound of Formula IV to prepare the composition.

21 . The method of any one of claims 1 - 20 , wherein the metal catalyst is a heterogeneous catalyst.

22 . The method of any one of claims 1 - 21 , wherein the metal catalyst comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Pd, Pt, Re, Ag, Au, Cu, Zn, Rh, Ru, Bi, Fe, Co, Os, Ir, V, and mixtures of two or more thereof.

23 . The method of any one of claims 1 - 22 , wherein the metal catalyst comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of Pd and Pt.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the metal catalyst comprises Pd.

25 . The method of any one of claims 1 - 22 , wherein the metal catalyst is a bimetallic catalyst.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the metal catalyst comprises Pd and Cu.

27 . The method of any one of claims 1 - 26 , wherein the metal catalyst is a nanocatalyst.

28 . The method of any one of claims 1 - 27 , wherein the metal catalyst is a supported catalyst.

29 . The method of any one of claims 1 - 28 , wherein the metal catalyst comprises a promoter.

30 . The method of method 29 , wherein the promoter comprises sulfur.

31 . The method of any one of claims 1 - 30 , wherein the method is performed at a temperature of at least about 100° C.

32 . The method of any one of claims 1 - 31 , wherein the method is performed at a temperature of about 100° C. to about 200° C.

33 . The method of any one of claims 1 - 32 , wherein the method is performed at a temperature of about 150° C. to about 180° C.

34 . The method of any one of claims 1 - 33 , wherein the metal catalyst is activated prior to the contacting.

35 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the metal catalyst is activated under hydrogen gas.

36 . The method of any one of claim 34 or 35 , wherein the metal catalyst is activated at a temperature of about 100° C. to about 200° C.

37 . A method for making adipic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, the method comprising contacting homocitric acid lactone with a Pd(S)/C catalyst.

38 . A method for making a compound of Formula I:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 and R 2 is individually selected from H and a protecting group;

the method comprising contacting a Pd(S)/C catalyst with composition comprising a compound of Formula III:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 2 and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group.

39 . A composition comprising two or more compounds selected from the group consisting of: adipic acid, 1,2,4-butanetricarboxylic acid, 2-ethylsuccinic acid, and 2-methylpentanedioic acid, or a salt or ester thereof.

40 . A composition comprising two or more compounds selected from the group consisting of:

or a salt thereof,

wherein:

each R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 is individually selected from H and a protecting group.

41 . A method for making the composition according to claim 40 comprising;

culturing an recombinant acidophilic yeast in a fermentation broth, wherein the fermentation broth comprises homocitrate lactone;

contacting the homocitrate lactone with a metal catalyst; and

producing the composition according to claim 40 .

42 . A method of making adipic acid or a salt thereof, comprising:

contacting a genetically engineered microorganism that overproduces a product selected from homocitrate, homoaconitate or combinations thereof with a carbohydrate source;

separating the homocitrate, homoaconitate or combinations thereof; and

catalytically converting the homocitrate, homoaconitate or combinations thereof to adipic acid.