Conversion of light paraffins to oxygenates or olefins using an imide promoter

This invention relates to a process for reacting C to C alkanes with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising an imide promoter and a metal co-catalyst to provide an oxygenated product. The oxygenated product can be further reacted with hydrogen to form the corresponding alcohol and the alcoh...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors Kocal, Joseph A, Frame, Robert R, Bricker, Jeffery C
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 29.04.2003
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Summary:This invention relates to a process for reacting C to C alkanes with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising an imide promoter and a metal co-catalyst to provide an oxygenated product. The oxygenated product can be further reacted with hydrogen to form the corresponding alcohol and the alcohol can be dehydrated to provide the corresponding olefin. A process has been developed for oxygenating linear Cto Calkanes to ketones or aldehydes. The process involves reacting the alkanes with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising an imide promoter and a metal co-catalyst. An example of the imide is N-hydroxyphthalimide and an example of the co-catalyst is Co (acetylacetonate). The process is preferably carried out using an inert solvent, an example of which is acetic acid. Optionally, the oxygenated product can be hydrogenated to give the corresponding alcohol which can optionally in turn be dehydrated to provide the corresponding olefin.