Lucite International UK Limited

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

Mark Waugh

Graham Ronald Eastham

Paul Gerard Pringle

David William Johnson

Thomas Philip William Turner

Paul Pringle

Gill Stephens

Jonathan Ainsley Iggo

Michael Beaumont

Philip Ian Richards

Tamara Fanjul Solares

Zoe Bethany Clare Disley

The present invention relates to a process for the production of methyl methacrylate. The process of the present invention comprises the steps of: a) providing a microorganism in a fermentation medium, under conditions which said microorganism will produce a C-Cmethacrylate ester; b) providing an organic phase in contact with the fermentation medium, said organic phase including C-Cmethacrylate ester in a higher concentration than that in the fermentation medium; c) removing organic phase containing the said C-Cmethacrylate ester from contact with the fermentation medium; and d) transesterifying the removed C-Cmethacrylate ester with methanol, optionally after separation from the organic phase, to produce methyl methacrylate.

Process for the production of methyl methacrylate

The present invention relates to a process for the production of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or ester, preferably &#x3b1;,&#xdf; ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids or esters, by the liquid phase reaction of formaldehyde or a suitable source thereof with a non-cyclic carboxylic acid ester in the presence of a basic metal salt.

Process for the production of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids or esters

A novel bidentate ligand of general formula (I) is described together with a process for the carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds. The group Xmay be defined as a univalent hydrocarbyl radical of up to 30 atoms containing at least one nitrogen atom having a pKb in dilute aqueous solution at 18&#xb0; C. of between 4 and 14 wherein the said at least one nitrogen atom is separated from the Qatom by between 1 and 3 carbon atoms. The group Xis defined as X, Xor Xor represents a univalent radical of up to 30 atoms having at least one primary, secondary or aromatic ring carbon atom wherein each said univalent radical is joined via said at least one primary, secondary or aromatic ring carbon atom(s) respectively to the respective atom Q. Qand Qeach independently represent phosphorus, arsenic or antimony.

Process for the carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds, novel carbonylation ligands and catalyst systems incorporating such ligands

A process for the carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds including vinyl esters and a process for the production of 3-hydroxy propanoate esters or acids. The process comprises reacting said compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a source of hydroxyl groups and of a catalyst system. The catalyst system is obtainable by combining: (a) a metal of Group 8, 9 or 10 or a compound thereof: and (b) a bidentate ligand of general formula (I): X(X)-Q-A-R&#x2014;B-Q-X(X).

Carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds

A novel bidentate ligand of general formula (I) is described together with a process for the carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds. The group Xmay be defined as a univalent hydrocarbyl radical of up to 30 atoms containing at least one nitrogen atom having a pKb in dilute aqueous solution at 18&#xb0; C. of between 4 and 14 wherein the said at least one nitrogen atom is separated from the Qatom by between 1 and 3 carbon atoms. The group Xis defined as X, Xor Xor represents a univalent radical of up to 30 atoms having at least one primary, secondary or aromatic ring carbon atom wherein each said univalent radical is joined via said at least one primary, secondary or aromatic ring carbon atom(s) respectively to the respective atom Q. Qand Qeach independently represent phosphorus, arsenic or antimony. 

A novel bidentate catalytic ligand of general formula (I) is described. R represents a hydrocarbyl aromatic structure having at least one aromatic ring to which Qand Qare each linked, via the respective linking group, if present, on available adjacent atoms of the at least one aromatic ring. The groups Xand Xrepresent radicals joined via tertiary carbon atoms to the respective atom Qand the groups Xand Xrepresent radicals joined via primary, or substituted aromatic ring carbon atom(s) to the respective atom Q. A and B represent an optional lower alkylene linking group. Qand Qeach represent phosphorus, arsenic or antimony. A process for the carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds comprising reacting the compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a source of hydroxyl groups, optionally, a source of anions and catalyst system obtainable by combining a metal of Group 8, 9 or 10 or a compound thereof and the bidentate ligand of general formula (I) is also described. 

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Durham, United Kingdom

Mark Waugh