PROCESS FOR PRODUCING DIETHOXYMETHANE

摘要

A good yield of very pure diethoxymethane (ethylal) is obtained by reacting formaldehyde with ethanol in the presence of an acid catalyst. For that purpose, (i) 2 to 2.5 moles of ethanol per mole of formaldehyde are used; (ii) the reaction is carried out in methylene chloride as solvent, (iii) the reaction mixture is heated up to the temperature of ebullition; (iv) the water released during the reaction is continuously removed from the system by a water separator and finally (v) first methylene chloride, then diethoxymethane, are distilled out.