Process for producing polyols
AssigneeEastman Chemical Company
InventorsKenneth Wayne Hampton, Jr., Eugene H. Brown, Thomas K. Brown, Amy K. Paris, Kevin S. Howe, Thomas Allen Puckette
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Abstract
A process for producing polyols (such as neopentyl glycol) is disclosed which comprises reacting formaldehyde and another aldehyde in the presence of a trialkylamine catalyst and a base promoter to form an Aldol condensation reaction product. The base promoter improves removal of nitrogen containing salts prior to hydrogenation of the hydroxy aldehyde to produce the polyol. The improved process also reduces trialkylamine catalyst usage, improves trialkylamine catalyst recovery, and reduces nitrogen-containing salts prior to hydrogenation.
Claims20
A process for producing a polyol comprising:
- contacting formaldehyde and another aldehyde in the presence of an amine catalyst and a promoter under Aldol condensation conditions to produce hydroxy aldehyde;
- and
- hydrogenating the hydroxy aldehyde to form a polyol.
A process for producing neopentyl glycol comprising:
- contacting formaldehyde and isobutyraldehyde in the presence of an amine catalyst and a promoter under Aldol condensation conditions to produce hydroxypivaldehyde;
- and
- hydrogenating the hydroxypivaldehyde to form neopentyl glycol.
A process for producing a hydroxy aldehyde comprising:
- contacting formaldehyde and another aldehyde in the presence of an amine catalyst and a promoter under Aldol condensation conditions to produce hydroxy aldehyde.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.