Eastman Chemical Company

William Charles Dickason

George Chester Zima

T Hugh Williams

Gary Paul Lutz

Gary P Lutz

This invention relates to a process for preparing amido ester compounds. The process involves (I) forming a mixture in a reactor of a phenol derivative and an amido-carboxylic acid at a temperature which ensures at least partial solubility of the phenol derivative and the amido-carboxylic acid, and (II) adding a carboxylic anhydride incrementally to the mixture formed in Step (I) while distilling a by-product carboxylic acid from the reactor. The amido esters are useful as bleach activators.

Preparation of amido ester compounds

This invention relates to a process for preparing amido-carboxylic acids in water wherein hydrolysis and amidation reactions are conducted simultaneously in a single vessel. The process involves three steps. The first step involves heating at a temperature of 150.degree. C.-300.degree. C. for 2 to 10 hours, a mixture containing water, a nitrogen containing compound selected from the group consisting of a lactam and an amino acid, and a carboxylic acid or ester. The second step involves cooling the reaction mixture to obtain a two phase system containing an aqueous layer and an organic layer. The third step involves separating the amido-carboxylic acid containing organic layer from the aqueous layer. The presence of water aids in product isolation by phase separation and recycle of the reactants. Amido-carboxylic acids are used to make bleach activators for detergents.

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Batesville, AR, United States of America

William Charles Dickason