METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN ALKYL 3-HYDROXYBUTYRATE

摘要

A method for making an alkyl 3-hydroxybutyrate is provided. The method can include reacting an alkyl alcohol with diketene to form an alkyl acetoacetate and then hydrogenating the alkyl acetoacetate to form the alkyl 3-hydroxybutyrate. The method of the present invention may also include separating one or more impurities an alkyl acetoacetate stream and subjecting the purified acetoacetate mixture to hydrogenation to form the alkyl 3-hydroxybutyrate. Methods of the present invention can be carried out on a lab, pilot, or commercial scale.

主权项

1. A method of making an alkyl 3-hydroxybutyrate, said method comprising:
(a) reacting an alkyl alcohol with diketene under reaction conditions sufficient to provide a first reaction mixture comprising an alkyl acetoacetate; and (b) contacting at least a portion of said first reaction mixture with a hydrogen-containing gas under hydrogenation conditions sufficient to hydrogenate at least a portion of said alkyl acetoacetate to thereby provide a product comprising alkyl 3-hydroxybutyrate, wherein said alkyl group on the alkyl 3-hydroxybutyrate comprises an isopropyl group, n-propyl group, isobutyl group, n-butyl group, 2-butyl (sec-butyl) group, 2,2-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl) group, 3,3-dimethylpentyl (isopentyl) group, 1-pentyl (n-pentyl) group, 1-methylbutyl(2-pentyl) group, 2-methylbutyl group, 2-ethylpropyl(3-pentyl) group, 1,1-dimethylpropyl group, 1,2-dimethylpropyl group, 2,2-dimethylpropyl (neopentyl) group, or a cyclopentyl group.