Carboxylates in catalytic hydrolysis of alkylene oxides

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of alkylene glycols by reacting an alkylene oxide with water in the presence of a catalytic composition including a polycarboxylic acid derivative, having in its chain molecule one or more carboxyl groups and one or more carboxylate groups, the individual carboxyl and/or carboxylate groups being separated from each other in the chain molecule by a separating group consisting of at least one atom. Preferably the polycarboxylic acid derivative is immobilised on a solid support.