Process for the production of alkenyl carboxylates

• Main Authors: FROOM SIMON FREDERICK THOMAS, DITZEL EVERT JAN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 19.10.2005
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

The present invention provides a process for the production of an alkenyl carboxylate by reacting an alkene, a carboxylic acid and a molecular oxygen-containing gas in a reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst at an elevated reaction temperature, T, to produce an outlet stream from the reaction zone comprising alkenyl carboxylate and oxygen, and wherein in said process the catalyst is contacted with the alkene, at a partial pressure, P, optionally in the presence of the carboxylic acid, and the outlet stream comprises less than 2 vol % oxygen, the improvement comprises reducing the partial pressure of the alkene and/or reducing the reaction temperature so as to suppress formation of benzene and/or suppress inhibition of the catalyst.