Process for producing alkyl esters of saturated aliphatic carboxylic acids

US4364869A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Chemische Werke Huels, A.G. · DE

Inventors

• Wolfgang Muller · Königsfeld, DE
• Peter Hofmann · Goldkronach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 29, 1981
• Grant date: Dec 21, 1982
• Expiry date: Jul 29, 2001

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C67/38
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for the production of alkyl esters of saturated aliphatic carboxylic acids by reacting in an alkoxycarbonylation stage olefins with carbon monoxide and alkanol in the presence of a catalyst consisting of a cobalt compound and a promoter from the group of pyridine, non-ortho-substituted alkylpyridine or mixtures thereof at elevated pressure and elevated temperature. The reaction mixture produced is reprocessed and the pyridine, non-ortho-substituted alkylpyridine, or mixture used as the promoter is rectified prior to its feedback into the alkoxycarbonylation stage in the presence of a given carboxylic acid which is thermally stable under the conditions of reprocessing and which forms a maximum azeotrope with the promoter under the conditions of rectification.