Preparation of carboxylic acid esters with BF.sub.3 complex catalyst
US4262138A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 9, 1979 |
| Grant date | Apr 14, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 9, 1999 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC07C67/38
- WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
In a process wherein ethylene or propylene is carbonylated with carbon monoxide to form carboxylic acid esters in the presence of a catalyst complex of one mole of BF.sub.3 and one mole of alcohol, the invention concerns a technique wherein the catalyst is recovered from the reaction product and recycled. The carbonylation is carried out until approximately one-half of the alcohol is consumed, to form a reaction mass containing the BF.sub.3, the alcohol, and the carboxylic acid ester in a 2:1:1 molar ratio. In the first step, the one mole of the free BF.sub.3 is vaporized from the reaction mass. The remaining admixture is a 1:1:1 mixture of the three aforesaid compounds. To this mixture additional alcohol is added and the mixture is subjected to distillation. A carboxylic acid ester/alcohol azeotrope and residual alcohol are removed by the distillation, to leave a residue containing a 1:2 BF.sub.3 /alcohol complex. This complex is combined with an additional mole of BF.sub.3 to form the 1:1 catalyst complex used in the carbonylation. The additional mole of BF.sub.3 is preferably that initially separated from the reaction mass; however, it may be obtained from an external source. Th…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.