Eastman Chemical Company

Gary P Lutz

George Chester Zima

T Hugh Williams

William Charles Dickason

Rex Bernard

This invention relates to a 5 step process for preparing a purified alkali metal salt of 4-sulfophenyl-[(1-oxyalkanoyl)amino]alkanoate in one reaction vessel without isolation of intermediates. The steps are as follows: A) reacting an alkali metal salt of 4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid with a C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 carboxylic anhydride in a solvent to form an alkali metal salt of 4-acyloxybenzenesulfonic acid and a C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 carboxylic acid. B) adding an [(1-oxyalkanoyl)amino]alkanoic acid and a transesterification catalyst to the reaction product of step A) and heating at a temperature and pressure sufficient to maintain reflux of the solvent and to remove the C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 carboxylic acid from the reaction vessel to form a reaction mixture containing an alkali metal salt of 4-sulfophenyl-[(1-oxyalkanoyl)amino]alkanoate. C) removing the solvent from the reaction mixture formed in step B). D) mixing the alkali metal salt of 4-sulfophenyl-[(1-oxyalkanoyl)amino]alkanoate product of step C) with acetic acid. E) and finally separating the product from the acetic acid. The purified alkali metal salt of 4-sulfophenyl-[(1-oxyalkanoyl)amino]alkanoate product is useful as a bleach activator in detergents.

Process for preparing purified alkali metal salts of

This invention relates to a process for preparing amido-carboxylic acids in water wherein hydrolysis and amidation reactions are conducted simultaneously in a single vessel. The process involves three steps. The first step involves heating at a temperature of 150.degree. C.-300.degree. C. for 2 to 10 hours, a mixture containing water, a nitrogen containing compound selected from the group consisting of a lactam and an amino acid, and a carboxylic acid or ester. The second step involves cooling the reaction mixture to obtain a two phase system containing an aqueous layer and an organic layer. The third step involves separating the amido-carboxylic acid containing organic layer from the aqueous layer. The presence of water aids in product isolation by phase separation and recycle of the reactants. Amido-carboxylic acids are used to make bleach activators for detergents.

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Kingsport, TN, United States of America

Gary P Lutz