Carbonylation of alkanols
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJohn E. Hallgren, Gary M. Lucas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Alkanols can be carbonylated with carbon monoxide and oxygen at elevated temperatures in the presence of certain copper salts to form dialkyl carbonates. The invention also covers the carbonylation by recycling of the azeotropic mixture of methanol and the corresponding dimethyl carbonate.
Claims9
A process for the production of dialkyl carbonate from alkanols in accordance with the following reaction:
- ##STR1## where R is selected from the class consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, and butyls, comprising reacting the alkanol, carbon monoxide, and oxygen at a temperature above 170.degree. C. and at elevated pressures in the presence of from 0.02 to 1.5%, by weight, cupric halide catalyst, based on the weight of the alkanol.
A process for preparing dimethyl carbonate, comprising reacting, at a temperature about 170.degree. C. and at elevated pressures in the presence of a cupric halide catalyst, an azeotropic mixture of dimethyl carbonate and methanol with carbon monoxide and oxygen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.