A process for preparing alkali metal alcoholates and phenolates

摘要

1,143,897. Alkali metal polyhydric alcoholates and phenolates. METALLGESELLSCHAFT A.G. 8 Feb., 1968 [17 Feb., 1967], No. 6336/68. Heading C2C. Alkali metal polyhydric alcoholates and phenolates are prepared by reacting under anhydrous conditions an alkali metal alcoholate of a monohydric alcohol containing 1-8 carbon atoms with a polyhydric alcohol or phenol containing up to 6 hydroxy groups and from 2-18 carbon atoms in a liquid reaction medium which is a monohydric alkyl alcohol containing 1-8 carbon atoms, a liquid hydrocarbon containing 5-12 carbon atoms or a mixture thereof and recovering the product from the reaction medium. The concentration of the alkali metal alcoholate may be at least 0À1 molar and the amount of polyhydric alcohol reacted per mole of said alkali metal alcoholate is OÀ5-1 molethereof. The alkali metal employed is sodium, potassium or lithium. In most cases the product of the reaction will be a monoalkali metal derivative although in some cases a dialkali metal derivative can be prepared. The alkali metal alcoholate of the monohydric alkyl alcohol may be formed in situ in the liquid reaction medium by reacting 1 mole of the alkali metal or the hydride thereof with 1 mole of the monohydric alkyl alcohol. Both the reaction between the monohydric alkyl alcohol and the alkali metal and the reaction between the monohydric alkyl alkoxide and the polyhydric alcohol preferably take place in an atmosphere substantially free of oxygen, carbon dioxide and moisture such as under an atmosphere of an inert gas such as argon, helium or nitrogen and at elevated temperatures of at least 50‹ C. although the reaction will proceed at room temperature. Examples prepared are the monolithium derivatives of ethylene glycol, 2,2,4,4 - tetramethyl - 1,3 - cyclobutanediol, trimethylol - propane, 2,2 - dimethyl - 1,3 - propanediol, pentaerythritol, 1,2 - propane diol, 1,4 - butanediol, glycerine, 1,2 - cyclohexanediol, 1,12 - octadodecanediol, 2,21 - dihydroxybiphenyl, resorcinol, mannitol, 2,5 - dimethyl - 2,5 - hexanediol, 2,5 -dihydroxy- 2,5 - dimethyl - hexyne, the monosodium derivative of ethylene glycol and the diluthium derivatives of 1,4 - butanediol and 1,3 - propanediol.