Preparation of alcohols from olefins

摘要

A process for the preparation of an alcohol from the corresponding olefin comprises a) reacting an olefin with a perfluorinated carboxylic acid in the presence of a very strong sulphonic acid catalyst whose hydrogen-ion activity is greater than that of pure sulphuric acid at a temperature in the range of from -15 to 130 DEG C to afford an ester; and b) subsequently reacting the ester with water at a temperature in the range of from -15 to 100 DEG C to afford the alcohol and perfluorinated carboxylic acid.