Disclosed are compositions of matter comprising an adipic acid product of formula (1) wherein R is independently a salt-forming ion, hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, or substituted hydrocarbyl, and at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of formula (2) wherein R is as defined above and each of R1 is, independently, H, OH, acyloxy or substituted acyloxy provided, however, that at least one of R1 is OH, and formula (3) wherein R is as above defined and R1 is OH, acyloxy or substituted acyloxy. Also disclosed are compositions of matter comprising at least about 99 wt % adipic acid and least two constituents selected from the group consisting of formula (2) and formula (3), above.