Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of ketones and alcohols from olefines

摘要

A mixture of ketones and alcohols is obtained from olefines by a cyclic process comprising treating the olefine with hypochlorous acid to produce the chlorhydrin, neutralizing the hydrochloric acid so formed with caustic alkali, separating the chlorhydrin and treating it with caustic alkali, distilling off the resulting alkylene oxide from the alkali chloride formed and catalytically hydrogenating the alkylene oxide to give a mixture of ketone and alcohol, the alkali chloride formed in the above steps being subjected to electrolysis to give chlorine and alkali. Primary alcohols in small amount are stated to be obtained even when alkylene oxides of the formula are hydrogenated. Examples describe: (1) the treatment of a mixture of butene-1 and butene-2, with the final production of methyl-ethyl ketone, secondary butyl alcohol and normal butyl alcohol, the hydrogenation step being carried out at 70-90 DEG C. with a nickel catalyst; (2) the similar treatment of propylene, with the production of normal propyl alcohol and smaller amounts of acetone and 2 isopropyl alcohol. Specification 458,061, [Group IV], is referred to.ALSO:A mixture of ketones and alcohols is obtained from olefines by a cyclic process comprising treating the olefine with hypochlorous acid to produce the chlorhydrin, neutralizing the hydrochloric acid so formed with caustic alkali, separating the chlorhydrin and treating it with caustic alkali, distilling off the resulting alkylene oxide from the alkali chloride formed and catalytically hydrogenating the alkylene oxide to give a mixture of ketone and alcohol, the alkali chloride formed in the above steps being subjected to electrolysis to give chlorine and alkali. Primary alcohols in small amount are stated to be obtained even when alkylene oxides of the formula are hydrogenated. Examples describe (1) the treatment of a mixture of butene-1 and butene-2, with the final production of methyl-ethyl ketone, secondary butyl alcohol and normal butyl alcohol, the hydrogenation step being carried out at 70-90 DEG C. with a nickel catalyst; (2) the similar treatment of propylene, with the production of normal propyl alcohol and smaller amounts of acetone and isopropyl alcohol. Specification 458,061 is referred to.