Process for making .gamma.-butyrolactones
AssigneeArco Chemical Technology, L.P.
InventorsRoger A. Grey, Diandre Armstead
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Abstract
A cyclocarbonylation process for making .gamma.-butyrolactones under mild temperature and pressure conditions is disclosed. In the process, an allylic alcohol reacts with carbon monoxide in the presence of a rhodium carbonyl catalyst and an amount of a pyridine promoter effective to enhance the selectivity of the process for making the .gamma.-butyrolactone product. The process provides a way of making .gamma.-butyrolactone from allyl alcohol as the only C4 product.
Claims20
A cyclocarbonylation process for making a .gamma.-butyrolactone, said process comprising reacting an allylic alcohol with carbon monoxide under nonaqueous conditions in the presence of a rhodium carbonyl catalyst and a pyridine promoter to produce a .gamma.-butyrolactone, wherein the promoter is used in an amount effective to enhance the selectivity of the process for the .gamma.-butyrolactone compared with the selectivity obtained in the absence of the promoter.
A cyclocarbonylation process for making .gamma.-butyrolactone, said process comprising reacting allyl alcohol with carbon monoxide under nonaqueous conditions in the presence of a rhodium carbonyl catalyst and a pyridine promoter to produce .gamma.-butyrolactone, wherein the promoter is used in an amount effective to enhance the selectivity of the process for .gamma.-butyrolactone compared with the selectivity obtained in the absence of the promoter.
A cyclocarbonylation process for making .gamma.-butyrolactone, said process comprising reacting allyl alcohol with carbon monoxide under nonaqueous conditions at a pressure within the range of about 3 to about 20 atmospheres in the presence of Rh.sub.6 (CO).sub.16 and a pyridine promoter selected from the group consisting of pyridine and (dialkylamino)pyridines to produce .gamma.-butyrolactone, wherein the promoter is used in an amount effective to enhance the selectivity of the process for .gamma.-butyrolactone compared with the selectivity obtained in the absence of the promoter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.