Process for the preparation of ether carboxylic acids with low residual alcohol content

US6326514A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Clariant Corporation · DE

Inventors

• Peter Klug · Großostheim, DE
• Rainer Kupfer · Hattersheim, DE
• Ignaz Wimmer · Winhöring, DE
• Rudiger Winter · Frankfurt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 19, 2000
• Grant date: Dec 4, 2001
• Expiry date: Jun 19, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C51/367
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention provides a process for the preparation of ether carboxylic acids or alkali metal or ammonium salts thereof with low residual alcohol content, which comprises firstly converting a mono- or polyhydric alcohol into the corresponding alkoxide using a substoichiometric amount between 5 and 95 mol % of a basic compound, and then reacting the alkoxide with alkylene oxides, and, if necessary after distilling off the residual alcohol which remains, alkylating the highly alkaline reaction mixture, which comprises more than 5 mol % of alkoxylated alkoxides, directly with a chloroacetic acid derivative, and, if necessary, converting the alkylated product into the free ether carboxylic acid by acidification with mineral acid.