Process for preparing methylmercaptopropionaldehyde

US8624066B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• EVONIK DEGUSSA GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Caspar-Heinrich Finkeldei · Alzenau, DE
• Pablo Zacchi · Bad Mergentheim, DE
• Benjamin Fonfe · Frankfurt, DE
• Stephan Kretz · Bad Orb, DE
• Martin Koerfer · Alzenau, DE
• Hans Joachim Hasselbach · Gelnhausen, DE
• Wolfgang Boeck · Langenselbold, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 27, 2011
• Grant date: Jan 7, 2014
• Expiry date: Dec 27, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C319/16
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for preparing methylmercaptopropionaldehyde in a single reaction unit, is provided. According to the preferred embodiment, the process comprises, simultaneously contacting a gaseous mixture comprising acrolein with a liquid mixture comprising methylmercaptopropionaldehyde, methyl mercaptan, a catalyst and methylmercaptopropionaldehyde methyl thiohemiacetal in the reactive absorber; absorbing the acrolein from the gaseous mixture into the liquid mixture; reacting the absorbed acrolein with the methyl mercaptan or the methylmercaptopropionaldehyde methyl thiohemiacetal to obtain methylmercapto-propionaldehyde; removing gaseous impurities and by-products from the liquid mixture; and separating the obtained methylmercaptopropionaldehyde product from the reactive absorber, directing a portion of the separated product to storage or further processing and recycling the remaining portion to the reactive absorber; wherein the methyl mercaptan optionally comprises dimethyl sulfide or dimethyl ether.