Preparation of methyltris(m-sulfonatophenyl) phosphonium iodide trisodium salt and use thereof in carbonylation reactions to prepare carboxylic acids and/or their esters

US5403954A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Hoechst GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Peter Heymanns · Essen, DE
• Erhard Jagers · Bornheim, DE
• Andreas Seidel · Dormagen, DE
• Hermann Berwe · Hürth, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 6, 1994
• Grant date: Apr 4, 1995
• Expiry date: Jan 6, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C67/36
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In a process for preparing methyltris(m-sulfonatophenyl)phosphonium iodide trisodium salt, the sodium salt of trisulfonated triphenylphosphine and methanol are introduced as the initial charge, a solution of methyl iodide in methanol is added dropwise at elevated temperature, and after an additional reaction time the reaction product is evaporated to dryness in vacuo. Methyltris(m-sulfonatophenyl)phosphonium iodide trisodium salt can be used to prepare carboxylic acids and/or their esters by carbonylation of saturated aliphatic alcohols having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms or their halo, ester or ether derivatives over a rhodium catalyst in the presence of water and methyl iodide under a CO partial pressure of from 0.3 to 200 bar at a temperature of from 100.degree. to 240.degree. C., provided methyltris(m-sulfonatophenyl)phosphonium iodide trisodium salt and carboxylic acid are added to the liquid phase prior to carbonylation.