Process for preparing 1,6- hexanediol and caprolactone

US5981769A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Karl Baur · Baierbrunn, DE
• Rolf Fischer · Heidelberg, DE
• Rolf Pinkos · Bad Dürkheim, DE
• Frank Stein · Bad Dürkheim, DE
• Boris Breitscheidel · Fulda, DE
• Harald Rust · Bochum, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 28, 1998
• Grant date: Nov 9, 1999
• Expiry date: Aug 28, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C2601/14
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

1,6-hexanediol and .epsilon.-caprolactone are prepared from a carboxylic acid mixture comprising adipic acid, 6-hydroxycaproic acid and small amounts of 1,4-cyclohexanediols which is obtained as a by-product in the oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanone/cyclohexanol using oxygen or oxygen-containing gases by water extraction of the reaction mixture, by esterifying and hydrogenating a substream to give hexanediol and cyclizing 6-hydroxycaproic esters to give caprolactone.