Hoechst Celanese Corporation

Celanese International Corporation

Ricardo E Borjas

George A Blay

Carina Araullo-McAdams

Steven R Alexander

Yaw-Hwa Liu

A process for electrochemical oxidation of aldehydes to esters is provided. The invention includes electrooxidation at a pH where an intermediate hemiacetal is favored, thereby providing for maximum selectivity to the desired ester and for maximum reaction efficiency. In particular, the invention provides for the electrooxidation of acetaldehyde to methyl acetate. The invention is illustrated with reference reactants native to the carbonylation process for the manufacture of acetic acid. Processes described herein are readily adapted to an industrial scale, particularly for the removal of acetaldehyde from process streams.

Process for electrochemical oxidation of an aldehyde to an ester

The present invention provides a process for preparing arylglyoxals which comprise the steps of (a) electrochemically oxidizing an arylketone at a pH of less than about seven and at a temperature of from about -20.degree. C. to about 120.degree. C. in the presence of an electrolyte for a sufficient period of time to form an arylacetal, and (b) subjecting said acetal to hydrolysis for a sufficient period of time and under suitable temperature and pressure conditions to form said arylglyoxal.

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Corpus Christi, TX, United States of America

Ricardo E Borjas