Process for preparing ε-caprolactone

US8247580B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Rolf Pinkos · Bad Dürkheim, DE
• Gerd-Dieter Tebben · Mannheim, DE
• Thomas Krug · Worms, DE
• Tilman Sirch · Schifferstadt, DE
• Todd C. Spengeman · Missouri City, US
• Stephanie A. Bejune · Angleton, US
• Jeffrey T. Andress · Lake Jackson, US
• Todd Gasiorowski · Lake Jackson, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 28, 2008
• Grant date: Aug 21, 2012
• Expiry date: Mar 15, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07D313/04
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for preparing ε-caprolactone in a purity of more than 99% by cyclizing 6-hydroxycaproic esters in the liquid phase at from 150 to 400° C. and from 1 to 1020 hPa abs., and removing and condensing the compounds which are volatile under cyclization conditions, which comprises thermally treating the remaining bottom product of the cyclization in at least one further reactor, removing and condensing volatile compounds and obtaining ε-caprolactone by distillation from the condensates.