Method for the production of esters

US6720447B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Klaus Ditrich · Neheim, DE
• Ulrich Block · Ludwigshafen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 17, 2001
• Grant date: Apr 13, 2004
• Expiry date: Jul 17, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C67/08
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of esters of the general formula I from compounds of the general formula II contained in aqueous solutions which comprisesa) extracting the compounds of the general formula II directly or after liberation from their salts in the presence of a C1-C8-alcohol and a water-immiscible solvent andb) then esterifying with the C1-C8-alcohol in the presence of a catalyst and of an entraining agent under the conditions of an azeotropic distillation,where the process steps (a) and (b) can be carried out separately in terms of time and space or else in a successive continuous or batchwise sequence and where the variables and substituents in the formulae I and II have the following meanings:R1=F, Cl, —OH, —OC1-C10-alkyl,R2=H, C1-C10-alkyl;R3=C1-C8-alkyl,Q=—OH, —O−K+, where K+ is an alkali metal cation or alkaline earth metal cation,n=0, 1 or 2.