Continuous process for the production of methyl formate by the chromium catalyzed liquid phase oxidation of methanol

US4851569A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BP Chemicals Limited · US

Inventors

• David J. Drury · Hemhofen, DE
• John Pennington

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 4, 1985
• Grant date: Jul 25, 1989
• Expiry date: Jun 4, 2005

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C67/40
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Methyl formate is produced continuously by reacting methanol in the liquid phase with molecular oxygen in the presence as catalyst of a soluble chromium compound which can be deliberately added or can result from corrosion of a reaction vessel fabricated in stainless steel or other chromium-containing metal alloy. Initiation of the oxidation can be accomplished by feeding a material more susceptible to oxidation than methanol, either with or without methanol, and optionally in the presence of a soluble chromium compound.