Preparation of carboxylic esters

US4889950A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Kaspar Bott · Mannheim, DE
• Horst Hartmann · Dresden, DE
• Josef Guth · Freinsheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 24, 1988
• Grant date: Dec 26, 1989
• Expiry date: Aug 24, 2008

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C67/54
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Carboxylic esters are prepared by reacting carboxylic acids with low-boiling alcohols by charging the reaction mixture to a 1st distillation column, withdrawing the reaction components carboxylic ester, water and unconverted alcohol as overhead product and charging this overhead product to a 2nd distillation column, from which PA0 (a) the overhead product comprises the alcohol or an azeotropic mixture of alcohol and water or alcohol and esteer, this overhead product being recycled into the esterification reaction PA0 (b) a liquid side product comprising carboxylic ester and water is withdrawn from the stripping section and separated in a phase separating vessel into water and carboxylic ester and the carboxylic ester is returned into the distillation column below the side takeoff point, and PA0 (c) the bottom product removed is the carboxylic ester.