High purity 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1-alkenes and methods for their preparation

Abstract

A composition comprising about 97 mole percent or greater of one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1-ethylenes and about 3 mole percent or less of one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-methanes. A process comprising: contacting in a fluid state one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1,1 hydroxymethyl-methanes and greater than 200 ppm to about 1000 ppm of one or more strong acids based on the weight of the one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1,1 hydroxymethyl-methanes with a zeolite catalyst at a temperature of about 180° C. to about 220° C. for a sufficient time to convert about 96 percent or greater of the one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1,1 hydroxymethyl-methanes to one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1-ethylenes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.