Process for the manufacture of oxygenates
AssigneeExxon Chemical Patents Inc.
InventorsJihad Mohammed Dakka, Georges Marie Karel Mathys, Hans Karel Theresia Goris
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Abstract
α-Hydroxycarbonyl compounds are obtained from aldehydes or ketones by forming an acetal or ketal which is decomposed to a vinyl ether. The ether is selectively oxidized under conditions yielding an α-hydroxy-aldehyde or α-hydroxy-ketone with the carbonyl group protected. The last-mentioned compounds are valuable sources for other functional organic molecules, for example lactic acid.
Claims25
A process for the manufacture of an α-hydroxy aldehyde or ketone in which the carbonyl group is protected which comprises (a) forming an acetal or ketal by reaction of an aldehyde or ketone and an alcohol or an ortho-ester, (b) decomposing the acetal or ketal to form a vinyl ether, and (c) oxidizing the vinyl ether in the presence of a carbonyl group-protective reagent to form the α-hydroxy aldehyde or ketone with the carbonyl group protected.
A process for the manufacture of lactic acid which comprises forming an acetal by reaction of propanal and an alcohol, decomposing the acetal to form a propene ether, oxidizing the ether in the presence of an aldehyde group-protecting reagent to yield a protected 2-hydroxypropanal and removing the protection from the aldehyde group and oxidizing the resulting 2-hydroxypropanal to form lactic acid.
A process for the manufacture of an α-hydroxyketone which the carbonyl group is protected and isomerizing the resulting α-hydroxyaldehyde to an α-hydroxyketone, the process being carried out in the presence of an acid catalyst.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.