Process for preparing aliphatic monocarboxylic acid ester of hydroxymethyl-substituted monoaromatic compound

• Main Authors: KOGA; KUNITOSHI, UMEMURA; SUMIO, KUNIYOSHI; MINEO, MATSUI; KANENOBU
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 23.09.1980
• 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

Disclosed is a vapor phase catalytic oxidation process for preparing an aliphatic carboxylic acid ester of a monoaromatic compound having 1 to 2 hydroxymethyl substituents, such as benzyl acetate, p-methylbenzyl acetate, p-xylylenediacetate, benzyl propionate and benzyl butyrate. A gaseous feed comprised of a benzene compound having 1 to 2 methyl substituents, an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 2 to 4 carbon atoms and molecular oxygen is contacted with an improved catalyst. The metal ingredients of the catalyst consist essentially of (a) palladium, (b) arsenic and (c) at least one metal selected from alkali metals and alkali earth metals, and the atomic ratio of palladium:arsenic:the alkali or alkali earth metal is 1:0.05-4:0.1-10.