Process for production of acrylates from epoxides

A method for producing an acrylate ester, comprising:

• contacting ethylene oxide with carbon monoxide in the presence of a metal carbonyl compound supported on a solid support in a first reaction zone;
• carbonylating at least a portion of the ethylene oxide in the first reaction zone to produce beta-propiolactone;
• directing the beta-propiolactone and a C1-20 alcohol to a second reaction zone;
• and
• converting at least a portion of the beta-propiolactone and the C1-20 alcohol in the second reaction zone to an acrylate ester in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the conversion of the beta-propiolactone and C1-20 alcohol to the acrylate ester is performed in a continuous flow format.

A method for producing polypropiolactone, comprising:

• contacting ethylene oxide with carbon monoxide in the presence of a metal carbonyl compound supported on a solid support in a first reaction zone;
• carbonylating at least a portion of the ethylene oxide in the first reaction zone to produce beta-propiolactone;
• directing the beta-propiolactone to a second reaction zone;
• and
• converting at least a portion of the beta-propiolactone in the second reaction zone to polypropiolactone in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the conversion of the beta-propiolactone to the polypropiolactone is performed in a continuous flow format.

A method for producing an acrylamide, comprising:

• contacting ethylene oxide with carbon monoxide in the presence of a metal carbonyl compound supported on a solid support in a first reaction zone;
• carbonylating at least a portion of the ethylene oxide in the first reaction zone to produce beta-propiolactone;
• directing the beta-propiolactone and an organic amine to a second reaction zone;
• and
• converting at least a portion of the beta-propiolactone and the organic amine in the second reaction zone to an acrylamide, wherein the conversion of the beta-propiolactone and the organic amine to the acrylamide is performed in a continuous flow format.