Standard Oil Company (indiana)

Amoco Corporation

John A Donohue

Edward E Paschke

Ellis K Fields

Jin S Yoo

Mark S Kleefisch

Steven A Cerefice

Jeffrey A Amelse

James O Knobloch

Judith B Melville

Nancy A Kutz

Bruce C Petty-Weeks

Harold Hart

Brian L Slusar

Compositions comprising certain metal-containing materials distributed interactively on a deboronated HAMS-1B crystalline borosilicate molecular sieve which are useful for catalytically oxidizing or oxidatively dehydrogenating organic compounds such as alkanes, aromatics, and alkyl-substituted aromatics are described. Alkanes are oxidatively dehydrogenated to olefins, and an aromatic compound such as benzene can be oxidized by nitric and/or nitrous oxide to largely phenol or largely nitrobenzene depending upon the oxidation temperature. When the compound is a methylaromatic, oxidation produces an aromatic aldehyde. Alkyl groups larger than methyl oxidatively dehydrogenate to alkenyl groups. The compositions can be used in a process to separate p-xylene from a mixture of its isomers based upon the ability of the compositions, which preferably comprise a iron molybdenum material interactively distributed on a deboronated HAMS-1B crystalline borosilicate molecular sieve, to selectively oxidize the p-xylene to an aldehyde or dialdehyde while not substantially oxidizing the ortho and metaxylene isomers. Such partially oxidized mixtures of p-xylene are useful to make TPAA or as feeds to a water-based, further oxidation to make terephthalic acid. Carbon dioxide used as a carrier gas with a methylaromatic feed to the oxidation catalyst is shown to have a beneficial effect on yield and selectivity.

Catalytic oxidation and oxidative dehydrogenation using

Gallium-containing, crystalline silicate molecular sieves in which substantially all of the gallium occupies molecular sieve lattice positions or is intimately associated with the crystal lattice of the silicate sieve when composited into a silica matrix are shown to form catalyst compositions having superior properties for the catalytic, liquid-phase isomerization of a xylene-containing stream containing a minor amount of ethylbenzene to a product mixture rich in paraxylene.

Liquid-phase xylene isomerization

2,2',6,6'-Tetramethyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid is prepared by the oxidation of bimesityl and derivatives of the dicarboxylic acid are used in the preparation of polyesters of high molecular weight.

Tetramethylbiphenylcarboxylic acids and derivatives thereof

Terephthalic acid, as the sodium salt, is electrochemically reduced to sodium p-hydroxymethylbenzoate wherein the catholyte comprises a soluble sodium salt and pH of the catholyte is controlled within limits to obtain good circuit efficiency and little or no by-products.

Process for electrochemical reduction of terephthalic acid

Disclosed is a process for purification of p-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid containing 4-carboxybenzaldehyde, p-toluic acid and terephthalic acid impurities.

Process for purification of p-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid

An electrochemical process is disclosed for the preparation of high molecular weight copolymers of poly(p-methylenebenzoate) and poly(alkyleneterephthalate) wherein ammonia is used in the electrolysis step. The ammonium salts thus formed are removed by heat decomposition. Copolymers are prepared from the resulting electrolysis product.

Preparation of poly(p-methylenebenzoate) copolyesters

Terephthalic acid is electrochemically reduced to p-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid and 4-carboxybenzaldehyde content is decreased by a process in a two-compartment electrolysis cell in which (a) the cathode is solid and metal with a mercury amalgam surface and with a hydrogen overvoltage which is greater than the potential for the reduction of terephthalic acid to p-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid, (b) the separating diaphragm is a cation exchange membrane, (c) the catholyte comprises a solution of terephthalic acid, ammonia, an ammonium salt and a soluble salt of mercury, (d) the temperature of the catholyte is between 0.degree. C. and 100.degree. C., (e) the current density is within the range of 1 to 200 A/dm.sup.2, (f) the concentration of the said soluble salt of the mercury metal is within the range of 5 to 500 ppm expressed as the metal, (g) the reduction of terephthalic acid to p-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid is performed at a voltage of about at least 6 volts with current efficiency being maintained at a level of at least 80%, and (h) reduction of 4-carboxybenzaldehyde is performed at a voltage not greater than 4 volts.

Electrochemical process to prepare p-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid with a

Terephthalic acid is electrochemically reduced to p-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid in a process in an electrolysis cell in which (a) the cathode is solid and metal with an amalgam of mercury surface and has a hydrogen overvoltage which is greater than the potential for the reduction of terephthalic acid to p-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid, and, (b) sufficient mercury is added of a mercury compound to maintain the process.

A polyester comprising units of a dicarboxylic acid component and dihydroxy component wherein said dicarboxylic acid component comprises non-vicinal benzene dicarboxylate moieties and said dihydroxy component comprises 2,2',6,6'-tetramethylbiphenyl-4,4'-diol moieties.

2,2',6,6'-Tetramethylbiphenyl-4,4'-diol polyesters

Methyl-substituted polyphenylacyl compounds are prepared by selective oxidation of oligomers of mesitylene. These methyl-substituted polyphenylacyl compounds are useful as intermediates for polyamides and polyesters. The esters are useful as plasticizers for polyvinylchloride.

Methyl-substituted polyphenylcarboxylic acids

Polyesters of methyl-substituted polyphenylcarboxylic acids

Process for coupling alkyl esters of polyalkylbenzoic acid to prepare polyalkylbiphenylpolycarboxylic acid compounds which comprises anodically oxidizing said alkyl esters in a non-nucleophilic media by applying a source of direct current in liquid phase at atmospheric pressure and temperatures from -30.degree. to 80.degree. C. The biphenyl acid compounds are useful in the formation of polyester resins, including alkyds, and fiber-forming polymers.

Growing community of inventors

Elmhurst, IL, United States of America

John A Donohue