Scm Corporation

Millenium Specialty Chemicals, Inc.

C Rodney Gorman

James M Evans

Sean G Traynor

Walter E Johnson

A process for making terpene esters is disclosed. Reaction of a terpene alcohol with acetic anhydride in the presence of a high-boiling amine provides a terpene ester. Acetic acid, which is distilled from the reaction mixture as it forms can be recovered. The terpene ester is distilled from the high-boiling amine to provide a product that is substantially free of nitrogen-containing impurities. The reaction mixture can be reused for subsequent acylations. The simple, economical process gives high-quality terpene esters while avoiding waste-disposal issues of other common acylation procedures.

Process for making terpene esters

Compounds having the general formula: ##STR1## wherein X is the 2-(1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)oxy, R is --(CH.sub.2).sub.p -- where p varies from 1 to 3; R' is (CH.sub.2).sub.n -- where n varies from 1 to 7; R' is hydrogen or methyl; and m is 0 to 4.

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Orange Park, FL, United States of America

C Rodney Gorman