Preparation of carboxylic acid esters with BF.sub.3 -alcohol complex catalyst
US4311851A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 1979 |
| Grant date | Jan 19, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 1999 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P20/584
- WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention includes a process wherein an olefin 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, and the catalyst is recovered from the desired reaction product and the reaction by-products and is 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 carboxylic acid esters in a 2:1:1 molar ratio. In the first step, the one mole of free BF.sub.3 is vaporized from the reaction mass. The remaining admixture is a 1:1:1 mixture of the aforesaid compounds. To this mixture additional alcohol is added and the mixture is subjected to distillation. An azeotrope of the product carboxylic acid ester and the alcohol and residual alcohol are removed by the distillation, leaving a residue containing a 1:2 BF.sub.3 / alcohol complex and the by-product carboxylic acid esters, which are heavier than the product carboxylic acid ester. The by-products are removed from the residue via solvent extraction and the remaining complex may be combined with an additional mole of BF.sub. 3 to fo…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.