Catalyst complex for catalyzing esterification and ester exchange reactions and method for esterification/trans-esterification using the same

• Main Author: SIDDIQUI J. A.,AL-LUHAIDAN K.,GUTMANN R.,URIA A.,SCHWEIZER M.,AL-FARHOOD B.,FRITZ A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.02.2006
• Subjects: ACYCLIC, CARBOCYCLIC OR HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS CONTAININGELEMENTS OTHER THAN CARBON, HYDROGEN, HALOGEN, OXYGEN, NITROGEN,SULFUR, SELENIUM OR TELLURIUM; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONSONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS; METALLURGY; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING

The present invention relates to a novel catalyst complex for catalysing esterification and trans-esterification reactions, comprising: (i) a polymeric titanium glycolate having the formula [TiO4(CH2)4]n wherein n = 1 to 200; and (ii) an alkali metal glycolate; wherein the molar ratio of the polymeric titanium glycolate and the alkali metal glycolate is about 1.25:1 to about 100:1, preferably about 1.25:1 to about 10:1; and to a process for esterification of a dicarboxylic acid compound and an dialcoholic compound, followed by polycondensation to form a polyester.