SYNTHESIS OF MOLYBDENUM/ALCOHOL COMPLEXES USEFUL AS EPOXIDATION CATALYSTS

摘要

IMPROVED SYNTHESIS OF MOLYBDENUM/ALCOHOL COMPLEXES USEFUL AS EPOXIDATION CATALYSTS (D#80,316 -F) Molybdenum/alcohol complexes useful as epoxidation catalysts made by reacting an oxygen containing molybdenum compound with a monohydric alcohol and ammonium hydroxide at elevated temperatures are described. It has been discovered that complexes with a molybdenum content of 2 to 6.5 wt.% can be made if a small amount of ammonium hydroxide is in cluded in the reactant mixture. The amount of ammonium hydroxide depends on the ratio of alcohol to molybdenum compound. If this ratio is correct, the resulting complex solution is stable and easily filterable. Molybdenum trioxide and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol are the particularly preferred reactants. Alternatively, molybdenum/alcohol complexes useful as epoxidation catalysts can be made by reacting oxygencontaining molybdenum compounds with a monohydric alcohol and water at elevated temperature. It has been discovered that complexes with a molybdenum content of 3 to 10.5 wt.% can be made if a small amount of water is included in the reaction mixture. The amount of water depends on the ratio of alcohol to molybdenum compound. If this ratio is correct, the resulting complex solution is stable and is easily filterable. Ammonium heptamolybdate or ammonium heptamolybdate tetrahydrate or ammonium dimolybdate and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol are the particularly preferred reactants.