Process for manufacturing aromatic diacetates

A continuous process for the preparation of p-phenylene-bis(acetate) which comprises the steps of:

• (1) contacting in an oxidation zone at a temperature of about 50.degree. to 120.degree. C. and at an oxygen partial pressure of about 0.2 to 5.0 atmospheres a feedstock comprising p-diisopropylbenzene and recycle p-isopropylphenyl acetate with an oxygen-containing gas to form a reaction mixture comprised of the mono- and di-hydroperoxides of p-diisopropylbenzene, p-isopropylphenyl acetate hydroperoxide, unoxidized p-diisopropyl benzene and unoxidized p-isopropylphenyl acetate;
• (2) contacting in a rearrangement-esterification zone at about 40.degree. to 80.degree. C. the reaction mixture formed in the oxidation zone with an acid catalyst and acetic anhydride to form an ester mixture comprising p-phenylenebis(acetate), p-isopropylphenyl acetate, p-diisopropylbenzene, acetic anhydride, acetic acid and acetone;
• (3) submitting the ester mixture obtained from the rearrangement esterification zone to a low boiler distillation unit operating at a temperature over the range of about 200.degree. to 260.degree. C. and over a total pressure range of about 0.5 to 1.5 atmospheres to distill off a mixture comprising primarily acetic anhydride, acetic acid and acetone, feeding the residual mixture comprising p-phenylenebis(acetate), p-isopropylphenyl acetate and p-diisopropylbenzene to a high boiler distillation unit operating at a temperature over the range of about 200.degree. to 325.degree. C. and a total pressure over the range of about 0.2 to 1.5 atmospheres to obtain a distillate comprising primarily p-diisopropylbenzene and p-isopropylphenyl acetate;
• and
• (4) recycling the distillate to the oxidation zone and recovering p-phenylenebis(acetate).