Process for recovering an optically active epoxy alcohol.

摘要

A process for recovering an optically active epoxy alcohol from an asymmetric epoxidation reaction mixt. comprising optically active epoxy alcohol, an organic hydroperoxide, and a transition metal-chiral ligand complex epoxidation catalyst comprises (a) contacting the asymmetric epoxidation reaction mixt. with (1) a reducing agent selected from S(II) cpds., S(III) cpds., and P(III) cpds. to reduce the organic hydroperoxide, and/or (2) a polyalcohol to inhibit the epoxidation catalyst; (b) distilling in the presence of an azeotropic agent (A) comprising aromatic hydrocarbon, halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon, and for aliphatic hydrocarbon to remove an overhead prod. comprising the optically active epoxy alcohol and the azeotropic agent; (c) condensing the overhead prod. to form an epoxy alcohol-rich phase and an epoxy alcohol-lean phase; and (d) separating the epoxy alcohol-rich phase. Also claimed are the following: (i) the process for recovering optically active glycol from an asymmetric epoxidation reaction mixt.; (ii) the prepn. of an organic sulphonate deriv. of an optically active epoxy alcohol which comprises contacting the condensed overhead prod. obtd. from the recovery of optically active epoxy alcohol from an asymmetric epoxidation reaction mixt. with an organic sulphonate for a time and at a temp. to form the organic sulphonate deriv.; and (iii) the prepn. of an aromatic sulphonate deriv. of an optically active glycidol.