Monsanto Company

Eduardo A Casanova

Dennis J Kalota

John H Wagenknecht

Butanetetracarboxylic acid with acceptably low levels of color-causing contaminants, suitable for permanent press agent use, is prepared in high conversion and yield from tetraalkyl butanetetracarboxylates by a series of steps including purification of precursor material, hydrolysis with high concentration of acid catalyst, and oxidative purification of product.

Process for preparing 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid

1,2,3,4-Butanetetracarboxylic acid is prepared by electrohydrodimerization of dialkyl maleates in alkanol to produce tetraalkyl butanetetracarboxylates, followed by hydrolysis of the resultant tetraalkyl butanetetracarboxylates to obtain the butanetetracarboxylic acid product.

Process for preparing butanetetracarboxylic acid

The present invention is directed to a process for preparing tetraalkyl butanetetracarboxylates by electrolytic hydrodimerization of dialkyl maleates in alkanols.

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Ballwin, MO, United States of America

Eduardo A Casanova