METHOD OF OXIDIZING ALKYL-5-FORMYL VALERATE TO MONOALKYL ADIPATE

摘要

AN IMPROVED METHOD FOR THE SELECTIVE OXIDATION OF ALKYL-5-VALERATE TO MONOMETHYL ADIPATE (E.G., METHYL-5-VALERATE TO MONOMETHYL ADIPATE). BY PERFORMING THE AIR OXIDATION AT HIGH PRESSURE (I.E., > 10 BARS AIR AND PREFERABLY 35 TO 65 BARS) AND RELATIVELY MODERATE TEMPERATURE (I.E., 20 TO 120°C) IN THE ABSENCE OF A CATALYST, COMMERCIAL RATES OF CONVERSION CAN BE SUSTAINED AT OPTIMUM SELECTIVITY TO THE DESIRED PRODUCT. SUCH A HIGH PRESSURE PROCESS IS PARTICULARLY AMENABLE TO CONTINOUS OPERATING THE OXIDATION REACTOR AT OPTIMUM SELECTIVITY AT THE EXPENSE OF CONVERSION PER PASS FOLLOWED BY PRODUCT SEPARATION AND RECYCLE OF REACTANTS.