# US 5,349,077 A · Process for producing alkylene carbonates

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- Number: US 5,349,077 A
- Document ID: US5349077A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/099,461
- Filed: 1993-07-30
- Granted: 1994-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 1992-07-31
- Assignees: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.
- Inventors: Masaharu Doya; Takashi Ohkawa; Yutaka Kanbara; Aksushi Okamoto; Kenichi Kimizuka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5349077A

## CPC

- C07D 317/38: Ethylene carbonate
- C07D 317/36: Alkylene carbonates; Substituted alkylene carbonates
- C07D: HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS (macromolecular compounds C08)

## Abstract

A process for producing alkylene carbonates which comprises reacting urea and glycols described by the general formula RCH(OH) CH.sub.2 OH; wherein R represents hydrogen or an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbons, using a catalyst containing zinc, magnesium, lead or calcium at reduced pressures. The alkylene carbonates are produced with high yield easily using raw materials which are comparatively inexpensive with a mild reaction that does not involve explosive or hazardous materials.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for producing alkylene carbonates which comprises reacting urea and glycols described by the general formula RCH(OH) CH.sub.2 OH; where R represents hydrogen or an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbons, using a catalyst containing at least one metal selected from zinc, magnesium, lead and calcium.

### Claim 2

A process for producing alkylene carbonates which comprises reacting, at a temperature of 120.degree.-240.degree. C., urea and glycols described by the general formula RCH(OH) Ch.sub.2 OH; wherein R represents hydrogen or an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbons, at a pressure of 60-600 mm Hg absolute and in the presence of one or more catalysts selected from the group consisting of zinc, magnesium, lead and calcium.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1 wherein the reaction is carried out by feeding reactants into the reaction mixture at a molar ratio of glycol to urea in the range of 1 to 5.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1 wherein the glycol is ethylene glycol.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1 wherein the reaction is carried out using a catalyst containing zinc and/or magnesium.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1 wherein the reaction is carried out using a catalyst containing lead and/or calcium.