Amphiphilic sorbitan ethers were prepared from sorbitol through hydrogenolysis of the corresponding sorbitan acetals and were evaluated as bio-based surfactants.

The thiazolylidene-catalyzed cleavage of the α-hydroxy ketone derived from methyl oleate gave the corresponding aldehydes under nonoxidative conditions through a retro-benzoin process. The aldehydes produced are in equilibrium with their corresponding acyloins. To illustrate the synthetic utility of this protocol, the aldehydes were recovered by distillation.