Bp Chemicals Limited

Michael J Green

Neil Andrew Cooley

John H Brophy

Gerhard A Kleiner

A process for preparing polyketones by polymerizing a mixture of carbon monoxide and one or more olefins in the presence of a group VIII metal catalyst which is prepared by reacting together:

Process for preparing polyketones

A perfluorosulphonic acid polymer suitable for use as a catalyst contains units of the formula:

Metal perfluorosulphonic acid polymer catalyst

A novel catalyst comprises (i) an organophosphorus-containing compound, (ii) a compound, which is reactable in the Michael reaction, and contains both (a) a double or triple bond and (b) an electron withdrawing group and (iii) an alcohol or a mixture of an alcohol and a solvent. The novel catalyst may be generated from a novel catalyst precursor. The catalyst may be used to transesterify carboxylic or carbonic acid esters, to produce formate esters from alcohols and carbon monoxide and to produce formamides from amines and carbon monoxide.

Novel catalyst and reactions employing same

An alkyl ester of formic acid is prepared by reacting carbon monoxide with an alcohol in the presence, as catalyst, of (a) a guanidine or (b) an amidine and an epoxide. The amidine or guanidine structure can by cyclic. The process can be operated in the liquid phase at pressures from 20 to 120 bars and temperatures from 40.degree. to 150.degree. C. with excess carbon monoxide over that required for conversion of the alcohol to the formate ester.

Process for the production of formates

A process for the production of (1) an ether or (2) a second amine comprises reacting an activated olefin with respectively an alcohol or first amine in the presence of a catalyst which is either (a) an amidine or (b) a Lewis base and epoxide. The same catalyst may also be used to carry out the reverse reaction in which an activated olefin and an alcohol or first amine are produced from the appropriate ether or second amine.

Chemical process involving ethers and amines

Phenolic ethers are produced by reacting a phenol with a compound selected from an alkyl halide, an aryl halide, a dialkyl sulphate and a diaryl sulphate in the presence as catalyst of an amidine.

Preparation of phenolic ethers

Glycol ether esters can be prepared by reaction of an epoxide with an ester of a carboxylic acid using an amidine catalyst. The reaction can be used, for example, to prepare methoxypropyl acetate propylene oxide and methyl acetate. By carrying the reaction out in the presence of an alcohol solvent the corresponding glycol ether is also formed.

Process for the preparation of glycol derivatives

A process for the transesterification of a carboxylic or carbonic acid ester comprises reacting the carboxylic or carbonic acid ester under transesterification conditions with an alcohol in the presence, as catalyst, of either (i) a Group V element-containing Lewis base and an epoxide or (ii) a cyclic amidine. The Lewis base can be an organic compound containing trivalent phosphorus or nitrogen and can be an amine, for example an amidine. The process can be operated in the liquid phase at a temperature of from 15.degree. to 150.degree. C., and the catalyst is employed in solution. Preferred catalysts are those where the cyclic amidine forms part of a fused ring system containing six and five membered rings, six and seven membered rings or two six membered rings.

Transesterification of carboxylic or carbonic esters

A process for the production of 1-alkoxyalkyl esters comprises reacting an unsaturated ester with an alcohol in the presence of a Lewis base containing catalyst. The Lewis base containing catalyst is preferably (i) an amidine, or (ii) a Lewis base and an epoxide or (iii) a trivalent organophosphorus compound in the presence of an activated alkene or alkyne. The process can be used to prepare, for example, 1-methoxyethyl acetate from vinyl acetate and methanol under mild conditions.

Process for the production of 1-alkoxyalkyl esters

A process for the transesterification of urethanes comprises reacting a urethane with an alcohol at elevated temperature in the presence of a Lewis base containing catalyst. The process is particularly useful when the alcohol used is a polyol since the product of the transesterification is a polyurethane. Since urethanes can be generated from amines and organic carbonates using the methods of the prior art, the present invention provides processes for the manufacture of polyurethanes from amines which avoid the use of either phosgene or isocyanates both of which are extremely toxic.

Transesterification process

A process for the production of an ester comprises reacting an olefin with carbon monoxide, hydrogen and another ester at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst comprising (1) a rhodium source, (2) a ruthenium source, and (3) cobalt or zinc iodide. The product ester comprises the acid group of the ester used as reactant esterified with a hydrocarbyl group derived from the olefin, hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

Production of esters

A process is provided for the transesterification of carbonate esters and carboxylic acid esters at elevated temperatures and in the presence of an effective amount of an amidine compound.

Process for transesterification of carbonate esters and carboxylic acid

A catalyst suitable for use in reactions catalyzed by strong base is provided. The catalyst comprises an organic compound containing a Group VA element for example an amine or phosphine supported on a solid which is insoluble in the reaction mixture. The catalyst may be activated by treatment with an epoxide. Catalysts in which the amine is an amidine or a guanidine are particularly effective.

Growing community of inventors

Hedon, United Kingdom

Michael J Green