Preparation of alkylene carbonates from alkylene iodohydrins

A process for the preparation of propylene carbonate which comprises reacting in the liquid phase an isomeric mixture of 1-iodo-2-propanol and 2-iodo-1-propanol with carbon dioxide at a partial pressure of between about 100 psig and 700 psig in the presence of oxygen at a partial pressure of between about 50 psig and 200 psig and an effective amount of a catalytic mixture of

• (1) an iodide selected from the group consisting of potassium, sodium, and lithium iodides and
• (2) cupric carbonate dihydroxide
• at a temperature in the range of about 70.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. at a pH value of between 4 and 7, and recovering the desired propylene carbonate.

A process for the preparation of alkylene carbonates having from 3 to 31 carbon atoms per molecule of the formula ##STR5## wherein R and R' are individually selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, aryl groups or lower alkyl or alkoxy, nitro or halogen substituted aryl groups, which comprises reacting in a liquid phase the corresponding alkylene iodohydrin having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms per molecule of the formula ##STR6## wherein R and R' are as defined above, with carbon dioxide at a temperature in the range of about 30.degree. C. to 120.degree. C. and at a total pressure between about atmospheric and 1400 psig, at a pH value of between 3 and 10, in the presence of oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas and an effective amount of a catalytic mixture of potassium iodide and cupric carbonate dihydroxide.

A process for the preparation of alkylene carbonates having from 3 to 31 carbon atoms per molecule of the formula ##STR7## wherein R and R' are individually selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, aryl groups or lower alkyl or alkoxy, nitro or halogen substituted aryl groups, which comprises reacting in a liquid phase the corresponding alkylene iodohydrin having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms per molecule of the formula ##STR8## wherein R and R' are as defined above, with carbon dioxide at a temperature in the range of about 30.degree. C. to 120.degree. C. and at a total pressure between about atmospheric and 1400 psig, at a pH value of between 3 and 10, in the presence of oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas and an effective amount of a catalytic mixture of potassium iodide and calcium carbonate.

A process for the preparation of alkylene carbonates having from 3 to 31 carbon atoms per molecule of the formula ##STR9## wherein R and R' are individually selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, aryl groups or lower alkyl or alkoxy, nitro or halogen substituted aryl groups, which comprises reacting in a liquid phase the corresponding alkylene iodohydrin having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms per molecule of the formula ##STR10## wherein R and R' are as defined above, with carbon dioxide at a temperature in the range of about 30.degree. C. to 120.degree. C. and at a total pressure between about atmospheric and 1400 psig, at a pH value of between 3 and 10, in the presence of oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas and an effective amount of a catalytic mixture of calcium iodide and zinc carbonate.

A process for the preparation of alkylene carbonates having from 3 to 31 carbon atoms per molecule of the formula ##STR11## wherein R and R' are individually selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, aryl groups or lower alkyl or alkoxy, nitro or halogen substituted aryl groups, which comprises reacting in a liquid phase the corresponding alkylene iodohydrin having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms per molecule of the formula ##STR12## wherein R and R' are as defined above, with carbon dioxide at a temperature in the range of about 30.degree. C. to 120.degree. C. and at a total pressure between about atmospheric and 1400 psig, at a pH value of between 3 to 10, in the presence of oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas and an effective amount of a catalytic mixture of iron iodide and calcium carbonate.

A process for the preparation of alkylene carbonates having from 3 to 31 carbon atoms per molecule of the formula ##STR13## wherein R and R' are individually selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, aryl groups or lower alkyl or alkoxy, nitro or halogen substituted aryl groups, which comprises reacting in a liquid phase the corresponding alkylene iodohydrin having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms per molecule of the formula ##STR14## wherein R and R' are as defined above, with carbon dioxide at a temperature in the range of about 30.degree. C. to 120.degree. C. and at a total pressure between about atmospheric and 1400 psig, at a pH value of between 3 and 10, in the presence of oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas and an effective amount of a catalytic mixture of palladium iodide and calcium carbonate.

A process for the preparation of alkylene carbonates having from 3 to 31 carbon atoms per molecule of the formula ##STR15## wherein R and R' are individually selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, aryl groups or lower alkyl or alkoxy, nitro or halogen substituted aryl groups, which comprises reacting in a liquid phase the corresponding alkylene iodohydrin having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms per molecule of the formula ##STR16## wherein R and R' are as defined above, with carbon dioxide at a temperature in the range of about 30.degree. C. to 120.degree. C. and at a total pressure between about atmospheric and 1400 psig, at a pH value of between 3 and 10, in the presence of oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas and an effective amount of a catalytic mixture of copper iodide and cupric carbonate dihydroxide.