Manufacture of methacrylic acid and butyrolactone

US3980670A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Rudolf Kummer · Bischofswerda, DE
• Rolf Platz
• Kurt Schwirten · Ludwigshafen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 25, 1975
• Grant date: Sep 14, 1976
• Expiry date: Feb 25, 1995

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C51/377
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Methacrylic acid and butyrolactone are manufactured by hydroformylation of allyl esters of lower carboxylic acids in the presence of rhodium catalysts and inert organic solvents, followed by oxidation of the resulting formyl compounds with molecular oxygen (e.g. with air) in the presence of lower fatty acids, without prior removal of the rhodium catalysts, and elimination of the carboxylic acid from the acyloxybutyric acids formed, at from 150.degree. to 500.degree.C, using catalysts such as aluminum oxide, silicates or active charcoal.