Cobalt-catalyzed process for preparing 1, 3-propanediol from etylene oxide
US5981808A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 15, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 15, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC07C45/58
- WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
1,3-Propanediol is prepared in a process which involves reacting ethylene oxide with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in an essentially non-water-miscible solvent in the presence of a non-phosphine-ligated cobalt catalyst and a catalyst promoter to produce an intermediate product mixture containing 3-hydroxypropanal in an amount less than 15 wt %; extracting the 3-hydroxypropanal from the intermediate product mixture into an aqueous liquid at a temperature less than about 100.degree. C. and separating the aqueous phase containing 3-hydroxypropanal from the organic phase containing cobalt catalyst; hydrogenating the 3-hydroxypropanal in the aqueous phase to 1,3-propanediol; and recovering the 1,3-propanediol. The process enables the production of 1,3-propanediol in high yield and selectivity without the use of a phosphine ligand-modified cobalt catalyst.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.