Photochemical epoxidation
AssigneeCelanese Corporation
InventorJames P. Shepherd
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Abstract
This invention provides a process for photochemical epoxidation of olefins with molecular oxygen in a liquid phase with irradiation in the presence of a combination of 1,2-diketone photosensitizers. Propylene can be converted to propylene oxide by reaction with molecular oxygen in an ortho-dichlorobenzene reaction medium in the presence of 2,3-butanedione and 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione photosensitizers, at a space time yield rate of at least 15 grams per liter hour.
Claims12
A process for the photochemical epoxidation of olefins which comprises oxidizing an alkene compound with molecular oxygen in liquid phase with irradiation in the presence of at least two 1,2-diketone photosensitizers which absorb light in a range between about 3700-4600 angstroms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.