Oxydehydrogenation process for preparing methacrylic acid and its lower alkyl esters

摘要

Isobutyric acid or a lower alkyl ester thereof is oxidatively dehydrogenated in the vapor phase producing the corresponding alpha , beta -olefinically unsaturated derivative by contact with a heterogeneous catalyst in the presence of molecular oxygen. The catalyst is composed of the calcined phosphates of iron and copper.