Bp Chemicals Limited

John E Hamlin

Sean P O'Connor

David J Drury

Richard A'Court

William J Fox

Alexander G Kent

Jeffrey J Anderson

The invention relates to an internal combustion fuel concentrate comprising: (a) from 1 to 95% of a chlorine-free carbamate prepared by reacting a carbamate of formula ##STR1## with a compound of the formula R OH (VI) in the presence of either a strone organic base or a tetra hydrocarbyl titanate so as to exchange the group R in formula (I) with a group R.sup.1 in formula (II), and (b) a fuel compatible solvent therefor. In the formula (I) R is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group and R.sup.1 is a hydrocarbyl or a hetero-substituted hydrocarbyl group different from R. In formula (I), X and Y are independently any of hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, or the group of the formula ##STR2## where Z is either a divalent hydrocarbyl, a substituted hydrocarbyl group or the group of formula

Carbamates, their production and use as fuels additives

A process for the production of a carbamate suitable for use as a detergent additive to internal combustion engine fuels which process comprises reacting either ammonia, a primary amime or a secondary amine with a dihydrocarbyl carbonate in the presence as catalyst of a strong organic base and in the proportions necessary to produce either a mono-carbamate or a bis-carbamate. A process for the production of a carbamate having formula (I), wherein X and Y are independently either hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group or a hetero-substituted hydrocarbyl group or the group of formula (II), wherein Z is either a divalent hydrocarbyl, a substituted hydrocarbyl group or the group of formula (III) [alkytene)m(NH)n(alkylene)m] in which n=0 to 4 and m=1 to 4, and R is a hydrocarbly or substituted hydrocarbyl group, provided that if either one of X or Y is the group of formula (II), the other of X or Y is hydrogen, which process comprises reacting a compound of formula (IV), wherein X and Y are independently either hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group or a hetero-substituted hydrocarbyl group with a dihydrocarbyl carbonate having formula (V), wherein independently R is as defined above in the presence as catalyst of a strong organic base and in the proportions necessary to produce either a mono-carbamate or a bis-carbamate.

Process for the preparation of formic acid

A carboxylic acid of formula RCO.sub.2 H where R is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.10 aliphatic hydrocarbyl group is prepared by heating under substantially anhydrous conditions an ester of formic acid of formula HCO.sub.2 R where R is as defined above in the presence of carbon monoxide and an effective amount of a catalyst system comprising a Group VIII metal, a halide and a compound containing a quaternary Group V atom. The quaternary Group V atom can be formed in situ by adding a compound containing a trivalent nitrogen, phosphorus or arsenic atom quaternizable under the reaction conditions and a quaternizing agent. Acetic acid is prepared by heating methyl formate in the presence of a catalyst system containing a rhodium compound, an iodide and a quaternary nitrogen-containing heterocyclic base.

Process for the preparation of acids

Alkylene glycol ether carboxylates are produced by reacting at elevated temperature an alkylene oxide and a carboxylate ester in the presence as catalyst of a [bis(trihydrocarbylphosphine)iminium].sub.2 MO.sub.4 compound wherein M is either molybdenum or tungsten.

Production of alkylene glycol ether carboxylates

Formate salts of nitrogenous bases containing tertiary nitrogen are prepared by reacting the nitrogenous base with carbon dioxide and hydrogen using a soluble transition metal catalyst. For example triethylamine is reacted with carbon dioxide and hydrogen using ruthenium trichloride as catalyst and an isopropanol/water mixture as solvent to yield triethylammonium formate which was separated from the reaction mixture by distillation.

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Hull, United Kingdom

John E Hamlin