Double metal cyanide catalysts containing polyglycol ether complexing agents
AssigneeSynUthane International, Inc.
InventorsJames M. O'Connor, Robin L. Grieve
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Abstract
Double metal cyanide (“DMC”) complex catalysts comprise a double metal cyanide compound and a complexing agent such as an alkyl ether of a glycol, preferably of the formula R1O(CH2CHR2O)xH (I) wherein: x is 1, 2, or 3; R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl group; and R2 is —H or a —CH3 group. Such catalysts have particular applicability in the production of low unsaturated polyols from epoxides.
Claims47
A double metal cyanide (“DMC”) catalyst consisting of a double metal cyanide compound and, as complexing agent, at least one compound of the formula:
- R1O(CH2CHR2O)xH (I)
- wherein:
- x is 1, 2, or 3;
- R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl group;
- and
- R2 is —H or a —CH3 group
- provided that R1 is not t-butyl.
A double metal cyanide (“DMC”) catalyst consisting of the reaction product of a metal salt and a metal cyanide salt in the presence of a complexing agent, wherein the complexing agent consists of at least one compound of the formula:
- R1O(CH2CHR2O)xH (I)
- wherein:
- x is 1, 2, or 3;
- R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl group;
- and
- R2 is —H or a —CH3 group
- provided that R1 is not t-butyl.
A method of making a highly active DMC complex catalyst, consisting of reacting an aqueous solution of a metal salt and a metal cyanide salt and reacting the resulting product with an organic complexing agent, wherein the complexing agent consists of at least one compound of the formula:
- R1O(CH2CHR2O)xH (I)
- wherein:
- x is 1, 2, or 3;
- R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl group;
- and
- R2 is —H or a —CH3 group
- provided that R1 is not t-butyl.
A method of making a double metal cyanide (“DMC”) catalyst consisting of:
- (a) combining and reacting an aqueous solution of a water-soluble metal salt and a water-soluble metal cyanide salt in the presence of a complexing agent to produce an aqueous mixture containing a precipitated DMC complex catalyst, wherein the complexing agent consists of the formula:
- R1O(CH2CHR2O)xH (I)
- wherein:
- x is 1, 2, or 3;
- R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl group;
- and
- R2 is —H or a —CH3 group
- provided that R1 is not t-butyl;
- and
- x is not 3 when both R1 and R3 are methyl;
- and
- (b) isolating and drying the DMC catalyst.
A double metal cyanide (“DMC”) catalyst consisting of a double metal cyanide compound and a complexing agent of the formula:
- R1O(CH2CHR2O)xH (I)
- wherein:
- x is 1, 2, or 3;
- R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl group;
- and
- R2 is —H or a —CH3 group
- provided that R1 is not t-butyl;
- and
- further wherein the double metal cyanide catalyst does not contain a secondary complexing agent.
A double metal cyanide (“DMC”) catalyst consisting of a double metal cyanide compound and a complexing agent of the formula:
- R1O(CH2CHR2O)xH (I)
- wherein:
- x is 1, 2, or 3;
- R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl group;
- and
- R2 is —H or a —CH3 group
- provided that R1 is not t-butyl;
- and
- x is not 3 when both R1 and R2 are methyl.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.