Cracking of neo-C9 and neo-C13 carboxylic acids to either pivalic acid or methyl pivalate

A method for production of alkyl pivalate comprising:

• a. reacting an oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid with a source of carbon monoxide at a temperature of less than about 180° C. in the presence of a catalyst to produce a C5 carbocation product;
• and
• b. reacting said C5 carbocation product with alcohol;
• thereby producing said alkyl pivalate.

A method of controlling the oligomerization of pivalic acid comprising:

• a. producing pivalic acid, wherein a by-product of producing pivalic acid is an oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid;
• b. separating said by-product oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid from said pivalic acid;
• c. reacting said oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid with a source of carbon monoxide at a temperature of less about 200° C. in the presence of a catalyst to produce a C5 carbocation product;
• and
• d. reacting said C5 carbocation product with water;
• thereby producing pivalic acid having an overall yield of at least 80 wt. %.

A method for production of pivalic acid comprising:

• a. reacting isobutylene, carbon monoxide, and a first catalyst to produce a reaction mixture;
• b. contacting said reaction mixture with water, thereby producing a crude acid product having pivalic acid and oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid;
• c. separating said pivalic acid and said oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid from said crude acid product;
• d. reacting said oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid with a source of carbon monoxide at a temperature of less than 200° C. in the presence of a second catalyst to produce a C5 carbocation product, wherein said first and second catalysts are either the same or different;
• and
• e. reacting said C5 carbocation product with water;
• thereby producing pivalic acid having an overall yield of at least 80-wt. %.

A method for production of alkyl pivalate comprising:

• a. reacting isobutylene, carbon monoxide, and a first catalyst to produce a reaction mixture;
• b. contacting said reaction mixture with an alcohol to produce a crude product having alkyl pivalate and an oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid;
• c. separating alkyl pivalate and said oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid from said crude product;
• d. reacting said oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid with carbon monoxide at a temperature of less than about 180° C. in the presence of a second catalyst to produce a C5 carbocation product, wherein said first and second catalysts are either the same or different;
• and
• e. reacting said C5 carbocation product with said alcohol;
• thereby producing methyl pivalate.