Preparation of aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acids and dialkali metal salts thereof

摘要

Alkali metal aryloxides may be speedily dried by removing water while the aryloxide is molten. Such dried alkoxides are useful as chemical intermediates. Molten alkali metal aryloxides may be contacted with carbon dioxide to quickly produce the dialkali metal salts of aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acids, which upon acidification yield the corresponding aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acids. Aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acids are useful as chemical intermediates and as monomers for polymers. Solid metal aryloxides may be reacted with carbon dioxide in a reactor in which the contents, even when pasty, may be agitated so that the reaction is more rapid than in prior methods.