CHROMIUM SALT CATALYSTS AND THEIR USE

摘要

This patent describes the catalytic promotion of the reaction of oxirane-containing compounds with carboxylic acid compounds at high, ambient, and low temperature. Specifically, this patent describes the method of reacting oxirane-containing compounds with carboxylcontaining compounds, preferably at temperatures at or around ambient in the presence of active chromium III tricarboxylate salts which have unoccupied coordination sites. More specifically this patent describes the preparation of catalytically active chromium III-tri-carboxylates from normally catalytically inactive chromium III-tri-carboxylate hydrates. These compounds are powerful catalysts for the reactions of oxirane compounds with both organic carboxylic acids and cyclic primary imides.