Preparation of bis-hydroxyalkylesters of - benzenedicarboxylic acids

摘要

A benzene dicarboxylic acid is suspended in a reaction medium and reacted with an alkyleneoxide in the presence of a soluble catalyst. The reaction medium must consist of nitrobenzene, nitrotoluene or mixtures. The preferred method uses nitrobenzene at a reaction temperature between 80-200 degrees C. and uses an amine, arsine, stilbine, phosphine or quaternary ammonium compound as the catalyst.