Bp Chemicals Limited

Lee J Morton

John R Blackborow

David J Moreton

David A Hancock

This invention relates to a process for the production of polyolefin 1,3-diols, said process comprising (a) reacting a polyolefin epoxide with a borane or a precursor thereof in a borane-co-ordinating solvent to form an intermediate borane ester, and (b) subjecting the intermediate borane ester so formed in (a) to an alkaline oxidative hydrolysis to form the polyolefin diol. 1,3-diols of polyolefins, especially those of atactic polypropylene and poly(iso)butene, having a --C(CH.sub.3).dbd.CH.sub.2 end group are novel compounds. These diols can be converted into useful products such as e.g. the corresponding carboxylic acids, diamines or hydroxy-amines, or polyethers which are useful as such or as intermediates for producing lube oil and fuel additives.

Polyolefin diols

Polylefin diols

Epoxides are converted selectively to the corresponding carbonyl-containing compounds by reacting the epoxide with an oxidizing agent, typically hydrogen peroxide, in a liquid aqueous/organic two-phase system comprising:

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Hull, United Kingdom

Lee J Morton