Process for the continuous preparation of alkyl nitrites

摘要

C1-C6-Alkyl nitrites can be prepared by reacting nitrogen dioxide with C1-C6-alcohols, by, in a counterflow-operated column, feeding the alcohol or an alcohol/water mixture into the upper part of the column and the nitrogen dioxide or a nitrogen dioxide/inert gas mixture into the lower part of the column. The resulting alkyl nitrite is removed from the column as the top product and the co-formed nitric acid is removed from the column as the bottom product.