Bio based building blocks from 5 hydroxymethylfurfural via 1 hydroxyhexane 2 5 dione as intermediate This dissertation reports on the synthesis and applications of the biomass derived 1 hydroxyhexane 2 5 dione (HHD). A new catalytic process was developed for the hydrogenation hydrolytic ring opening of 5 hydroxymethylfurfural (5 HMF) resulting in the formation of HHD in good yields. Furthermore HHD was converted to useful follow up products including pyrroles and cyclopentanone derivatives. Additionally readily accessible rhenium(VII) oxide was used for the catalytic deoxydehydration of renewable triols under solvent free and aerobic conditions resulting in formation of the hydroxy alkenes.<eng>