Process for the production of butane-1,4-diol
US4751334A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 21, 1986 |
| Grant date | Jun 14, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 21, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC07D307/08
- WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Butane-1,4-diol is produced by vapor phase hydrogenolysis of an alkyl ester of a C.sub.4 dicarboxylic acid, e.g. diethyl maleate, over a reduced Cu-Cr or Cu-Zn mixed oxide catalyst. Two adiabatic hydrogenolysis zones are used. The mixture exiting the first of these zones is cooled (by, for example, 5.degree. C.) and the resulting cooled mixture is fed to the second zone in which is reequilibriates at a lower temperature to increase the butane-1,4-diol yield at the expense of gamma-butyrolactone. Typical reaction conditions include use of temperatures of 150.degree. C. to 200.degree. C., pressures of 25 to 70 bar, and a H.sub.2 :ester molar ratio of 100:1 to 800:1. When using a maleate ester it is often advantageous to hydrogenate this to the corresponding succinate ester in an upstream hydrogenation zone prior to entry to the first hyrogenolysis zone.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.