Esterification of (meth)acrylic acid with an alkanol

US5910603A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Heinrich Aichinger · Mannheim, DE
• Matthias Geisendorfer · Neustadt, DE
• Holger Herbst · Bischofswerda, DE
• Gerhard Nestler · Ludwigshafen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 23, 1996
• Grant date: Jun 8, 1999
• Expiry date: Aug 23, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C67/60
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In a process for esterifying (meth)acrylic acid with an alkanol in the presence of an acidic esterification catalyst, in which unconverted starting compounds and the (meth)acrylates to be formed are separated off by distillation and an oxyester-containing bottom product is formed, the bottom product is separated off and is heated in the presence of an acid to 150-250.degree. C. and the pressure is adjusted so that the cleavage products formed under the abovementioned conditions from the oxyesters contained in the bottom product evaporate directly. The process can be carried out in the presence of molecular oxygen. Mineral acids, for example sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid and/or alkanesulfonic or arylsulfonic acids, for example methanesulfonic acid or p-toluenesulfonic acid, can be added to the bottom product.