CONTENTS 1. Introduction. 3 1.1. Biomass Derived Compounds. 4 1.1.1. Sugar-derived Chemicals. 4 1.1.2. Extractives and their Derivatives. 6 1.2. Gold Catalysts. 10 2. Selective Oxidation/Dehydrogenation Reactions. 12 2.1. Primary Alcohol and Aldehyde Oxidation. 12 2.1.1. Ethanol Oxidation. 12 2.1.2. 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF) Oxidation...