Propionic acid process
AssigneeEastman Chemical Company
InventorsDamon Ray Billodeaux, Kenneth Wayne Hampton, Jr., Carey Dan Ashcroft
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Abstract
Provided is a one-pot process for preparing propionic acid, which comprises (i) treating ethylene with a C1-C6 alkanol, water, and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst system comprising the reaction product of (a) a Group 8 to 10 transition metal compound such as a palladium or ruthenium compound; and (b) an activating anion, at elevated temperature and pressure. The process also provides a facile, continuous process for the preparation of propionic acid via the alkoxycarbonylation of ethylene at elevated temperature and pressure followed by hydrolysis, in one reaction vessel.
Claims16
A one-pot process for preparing propionic acid, which comprises:
- treating ethylene with a C1-C6 alkanol, water, and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst system comprising the reaction product of:
- (a) a Group 8 to 10 transition metal compound;
- and
- (b) an activating anion;
- at a temperature of about 50° C. to about 200° C., and a pressure of at least 1375 kPa;
- provided that when said transition metal compound is palladium, the catalyst system further comprises at least one phosphorous compound;
- wherein the Group 8 to 10 transition metal compound is chosen from compounds comprising palladium and ruthenium;
- and wherein the activating anion is provided by the addition of p-tolyl sulfonic acid.
A one-pot process for preparing propionic acid, which comprises:
- treating ethylene with a C1-C6 alkanol, water, and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst system comprising the reaction product of:
- (a) a Group 8 to 10 transition metal compound,
- (b) an activating anion, and
- (c) a phosphorous compound capable of forming a bidentate ligand with the Group 8 to 10 transition metal compound,
- at a temperature of about 50° C. to about 200° C., and a pressure of at least 1375 kPa;
- provided that when said transition metal compound is palladium, the catalyst system further comprises at least one phosphorous compound;
- wherein the Group 8 to 10 transition metal compound is chosen from compounds comprising palladium and ruthenium;
- and wherein the activating anion is provided by the addition of p-tolyl sulfonic acid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.