Oxidation of polyoxypropylene glycols.

摘要

A polyoxypropylene glycol having the formula: <CHEM> wherein n is 2 to 170 is converted into at least one of the compounds: <CHEM> by reacting a first feedstock comprising aqueous nitric acid with a second feedstock comprising the polyoxypropylene glycol, at a temperature of 20 to 100 DEG C, over a period of 5 to 20 hours when 0.1 to 1 parts by weight of an alkali metal nitrite per 100 parts by weight of nitric acid is present in one of said feedstocks. Acids of formulae (II) and (III) are formed when the nitrite is in the first feedstock. Ketones of formulae (IV) and (V) are formed when the nitrite is in the second feedstock.