PRODUCTION OF ANHYDROUS CARBOXYLIC ACIDS FROM ALCOHOLS USING RHODIUM COMPLEX CATALYSTS AND ORGANIC ESTER SOURCE

• Main Authors: WEGMAN, RICHARD W, SCHRECK, DAVID J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 10.01.1989
• Edition: 4
• Subjects: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; APPARATUS THEREFOR; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; GENERAL METHODS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING

A process for the production of organic carboxylic acids and organic carboxylic acid anhydrides by the catalytic reaction of an alcohol of the formula ROH and carbon monoxide in contact with an organic ester source an a homogeneous catalyst system of a rhodium metal atom, a phosphorus-containing ligand in which there is present at least one oxo (=O) oxygen atom attached to a phosphorus atom or a carbon atom to form a Z group and the ? or / group in said Z group is located at least one carbon atom removed and preferably from 2-4 carbon atoms removed from the phosphorus atom of the molecules represented by the formulae: (V) (VI) and a halogen source, under mild reaction conditions, wherein R' is hydrogen, aryl or aralkyl, and wherein 1 or more of said R' groups can be substituted with a Z group but not more than 3 of said R' groups in the molecule are so substituted; a is an integer from 0-4; b is an integer from 0-3; and Z is P(O)R'R'; -C(O)OR" or C(O)R", wherein R" is R' or -H; and wherein ROH is methanol or a mixture of methanol and at least one higher alcohol.