Converting ethylene and propylene to the glycol using t.butyl hydroperoxide in a two-phase liquid reactant
AssigneeGulf Research & Development Company
InventorsChing-Yong Wu, Thaddeus P. Kobylinski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Ethylene or propylene is converted to the corresponding glycol at high selectivity in a process in which t.butyl hydroperoxide is reacted with the olefin in a two-phase liquid, organic-aqueous reaction system in the presence of osmium tetroxide and cesium, rubidium or potassium hydroxide.
Claims11
A method of preparing ethylene or propylene glycol in high yield which comprises contacting t.butyl hydroperoxide with ethylene or propylene at an elevated pressure in a heterogeneous two-phase liquid reaction system comprising an organic polar solvent, a catalytic quantity of osmium tetroxide, about 0.1 to about ten weight percent cesium hydroxide, rubidium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide and about one to about 40 weight percent water at a moderate temperature and at a pH of about 14.
A method of preparing ethylene or propylene glycol in high yield which comprises contacting t.butyl hydroperoxide with a stoichiometric excess of ethylene under a pressure of about 50 to about 150 psig. in a two-phase liquid reaction system comprising about 60 to about 90 weight percent of an organic polar solvent based on the total reaction mixture, about 0.01 to about ten mmols of osmium tetroxide per 100 ml. of the reaction mixture, about 0.2 to about five weight percent of cesium hydroxide or rubidium hydroxide and about two to about 20 weight percent water at a temperature between about -10.degree. C. and about 50.degree. C. and a pH of about 14.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.