PRODUCTION OF HIGHER ALKYLENE GLYCOLS

摘要

Higher alkylene glycols, having more than three carbon atoms, are prepared by reacting a secondary alcohol with formaldehyde in the presence of an organic peroxide of formula R-O-O-R<1> in which R and R<1> are independently alky or aralkyl groups containing 3 to 12 carbon atoms. By using secondary alcohols, oxidation of the alcohol reactant is reduced. The reaction is preferably carried out under anhydrous conditions using a polymeric source of formaldehyde.