HETEROGENEOUS CATALYST FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ETHYLIDENE DIACETATE FROM DIMETHYL ETHER

摘要

This invention relates to a process for producing ethylidene diacetate by th e reaction of dimethyl ether, acetic acid, hydrogen and carbon monoxide at ele vated temperatures and pressures in the presence of an alkyl halide and a heteroge neous, bifunctional catalyst that is stable to hydrogenation and comprises an insol uble polymer having pendant quaternized heteroatoms, some of which heteroatoms are ionica lly bonded to anionic Group VIII metal complexes, the remainder of the heteroato ms being bonded to iodide. In contrast to prior art processes, no accelerator (promot er) is necessary to achieve the catalytic reaction and the products are easily sepa rated from the catalyst by filtration. The catalyst can be recycled for 3 consecutive r uns without loss in activity.