Functionalized long-chain olefin mixtures and uses therefor

US8211949B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC · US

Inventors

• Pierre T. Varineau · Lake Jackson, US
• Brian W. S. Kolthammer · Lake Jackson, US
• Aaron W. Sanders · Chicago, US
• David A. Wilson · Lake Jackson, US
• Kara S. Weber · Freeport, US
• Robert Thompson · Los Gatos, US
• Cynthia L. Rand · Sanford, US
• Thomas C. Eisenschmid · Cross Lanes, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 16, 2008
• Grant date: Jul 3, 2012
• Expiry date: Dec 2, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S516/92
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Novel mixtures of long-chain (C10-C20) olefins are functionalized by conversion to aldehydes using an OXO process, or to sulfates, sulfonates, sulfones, sulfides, or sulfoxides by direct sulfonation. The aldehydes may then be hydrogenated to form alcohols, or aminated to form amines or amides. The olefins starting mixture may be acquired as a byproduct of the tetramerization of ethylene in the presence of certain chromium-containing tetramerization catalysts. The functionalized mixtures, and derivatives prepared therefrom such as alkoxylates prepared from the alcohols, may be useful as surfactants that may offer improved performance in many applications, while their preparation based on a byproduct mixture reduces their cost and also reduces waste-handling issues for this non-targeted stream.