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 continuous operating the oxidation reactor at optimum selectivity at the expense of conversion per pass followed by product separation and recycle of reactants. |