Process for the production of ethylene glycol and related compounds

Abstract

The present invention provide a process for the production of compounds of general formula (I), Y—CH2CH2—Z (I) wherein Y and Z are functional groups independently selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and R1R2N and wherein R1 and R2 may be the same or different and are functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and substituted or non-substituited alkyl groups comprising 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or R1R2N is a cyclic compound selected from the group of aromatic and non-aromatic cyclic compounds optionally comprising one or more heteroatoms in addition to the nitrogen atom, said process comprising the steps of: (i) reacting carbon monoxide and an amine in the presence of oxygen to provide a compound of general formula (II) wherein R1 and R2 or R1R2N are as defined above and X is selected from the group consisting of R1R2N and R3O, wherein R3 is selected from alkyl groups comprising 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and (ii) converting the compound of general formula (II) into a compound of general formula (I) by a process that comprises a hydrogenation reaction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.