Methods of forming alpha, beta-unsaturated acids and esters

A method of forming an alpha-acetoxy compound comprising:

• providing a reactant comprising an alpha-hydroxyl group;
• providing acetic acid;
• reacting the alpha-hydroxyl group with the acetic acid to form an alpha-acetoxy compound;
• and
• collecting the alpha-acetoxy compound.

A method of derivitizing an alpha-hydroxy group comprising:

• providing a reaction vessel having a first and second inlets and an outlet;
• introducing an azeotrope forming substance through the first inlet, the azeotrope forming substance having the ability to form an azeotrope with water;
• introducing a compound comprising an alpha-hydroxyl group through the second inlet;
• providing a catalytic acid within the reaction vessel;
• introducing a reactant having a carboxylic acid group into the reaction vessel;
• reacting the alpha-hydroxy group with the carboxylic acid group to form an alpha-acyloxy product;
• and
• collecting the alpha-acyloxy product through the outlet.

A method of derivatizing an alpha-hydroxy acid comprising:

• providing an alpha-hydroxy acid in a first vessel;
• providing acetic acid to the first vessel;
• reacting the acetic acid with the alpha-hydroxy acid to form an alpha-acetoxy acid;
• transferring the alpha-acetoxy acid to a second vessel;
• and
• performing a pyrolysis reaction within the second vessel, the pyrolysis reaction converting the alpha-acetoxy acid to an alpha, beta-unsaturated acid.

A method of forming a compound having a formula

• 6
• comprising:
• providing a first reactant having a formula
• 7
• providing a second reactant having the formula
• 8
• providing a catalyst;
• in the presence of the catalyst, reacting the first and second reactants to form an initial product having the formula
• 9
• and
• transforming the initial product into the compound.

A method of producing an acrylate ester comprising:

• providing a first reactant comprising at least one of lactic acid and a lactic acid ester
• providing a carboxylic acid;
• esterifying the carboxylic acid to form an alpha-acyloxy derivative of the first reactant;
• converting the alpha-acyloxy derivative to the corresponding acrylic acid or first acrylate ester and
• converting the acrylic acid or first acrylate ester to a second acrylate ester.

A method of forming a compound having a formula

• 10
• comprising:
• providing a first reactant to a first vessel, the first reactant having a formula
• 11
• providing a second reactant to the first vessel having the formula
• 12
• providing a catalyst within the first vessel;
• in the presence of the catalyst, reacting the first and second reactants to form an initial product having the formula
• 13
• transferring the initial product to a second vessel;
• and
• after the transferring, transforming the initial product into the compound.

A process for forming an acrylate comprising:

• introducing an amount of one of lactic acid or a lactic acid ester into a first vessel;
• introducing a molar excess of acetic acid relative to the amount of lactic acid or lactic acid ester into the first vessel,
• reacting the lactic acid or lactic acid ester with a first portion of the acetic acid in the presence of a first catalyst to produce the corresponding 2-acetoxy propionic acid or ester;
• recycling a non-reacted portion of the acetic acid:
• transferring the 2-acetoxy propionic acid or ester to a second vessel;
• providing a second catalyst in the second vessel;
• within the second vessel, liberating acetic acid from the 2-acetoxy propionic acid or ester to produce the corresponding acrylic acid or first acrylate ester;
• removing the liberated acetic acid by distillation of the acrylic acid or first acrylate ester;
• after the removing, mixing the acrylic acid or first acrylate ester with an alcohol;
• and
• esterifying the acrylic acid or trans-esterifying the first acrylate ester by reaction with the alcohol to form a second acrylate ester.