Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Incorporated

Isamu Sudo

Usaji Takaki

Toshio Matsuhisa

Isao Hara

Yoshihiro Yamamoto

Shinobu Aoki

Disclosed herein is a process for preparing a corresponding cinnamate ester by reacting a styrene compound, carbon monoxide, an alcohol and oxygen by the use of (1) metallic palladium or a compound thereof, (2) a copper compound, (3) a compound of at least one metal selected from Groups 4A, 5A, 7A, 8A (the iron group only) and 2B in the Periodic Table and (4) a halogen compound as a catalyst which comprises treating the catalyst components recovered from the reaction liquid after completion of the reaction with an oxidizing agent in the presence of an organic acid to regenerate their catalytic activity, using the resulting catalyst components again in the reaction as a catalyst and repeating the foregoing procedure. The regenerated catalyst is recovered in catalytic activity to the extent of that of a fresh catalyst and thus gives a high reaction performance in the subsequent reaction. Thus, the catalyst containing expensive metal can be used circulatively.

Preparation process of cinnamate ester

A cinnamate ester is prepared by reacting carbon monoxide, oxygen, and its corresponding styrene compound and alcohol in the presence of a catalyst which contains, as essential components,

Preparation process of cinnamate esters

Disclosed herein is a process for preparing a corresponding cinnamate ester by the reaction of a styrene compound, carbon monoxide, an alcohol and oxygen by using a main catalyst composed of (a) a platinum group metal or a compound thereof and (b) a copper or iron compound and in the presence of a promoter, wherein the concentration of the metal of the component (a) is controlled at 5.5.times.10.sup.-4 gram atom/liter or below in the liquid reaction mixture and further the ratio of the component (b) to the metal of the component (a) is maintained at 50 moles/gram atom or above so as to carry out the reaction.

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Yokohama, Japan

Isamu Sudo