PRODUCTION OF TRANS-2-BUTENE-1,4-DICARBOXYLIC ACID OR ITS ESTERS

• Main Authors: HIRASHIMA TSUNESUKE, NISHIGUCHI IKUZO, ISHINO YOSHIO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 16.12.1991
• Subjects: APPARATUS THEREFOR; CHEMISTRY; ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTIONOF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; METALLURGY

PURPOSE:To highly selectively obtain trans 2 butene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid or its esters in high yield by electrolytically reducing musconic acid or its esters in a lower alcohol contg. an acidic compd. CONSTITUTION:Musconic acid or its esters are electrolytically reduced in a lower alcohol contg. an acidic compd. consisting preferably of a strong protonic acid such as sulfuric acid and perchloric acid. In this case, the concn. of musconic acid or its esters is preferably controlled to 5-15wt.% based on the total liq. reactant and that of the acidic compd. to 10-20wt.%. Methanol is most preferably used as the lower alcohol. The electrolytic reduction is carried out by using an electrolytic cell which is divided into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber by a diaphragm. By this reduction, trans-2-butene-1,4- dicarboxylic acid or its esters having >=98% purity is obtained in high yield (e.g. 95%).