The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 15, 1987
Filed:
Jul. 10, 1985
Isoo Shimizu, Yokohama, JP;
Ryotaro Hirano, Yokohama, JP;
Yasuo Matsumura, Yokohama, JP;
Hideki Nomura, Yokohama, JP;
Kazumichi Uchida, Yokohama, JP;
Atsushi Sato, Tokyo, JP;
Nippon Petrochemicals Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A method for producing .alpha.-(p-isobutylphenyl)propionic acid or its alkyl esters which is characterized in that starting materials are inexpensive, processes are easy to be done and products are highly pure. The method comprises the steps of (I): catalytically cracking 1,1-bis(p-isobutylphenyl)ethane at temperatures in the range of 200.degree. to 650.degree. C. in the presence of a protonic acid catalyst and/or a solid acid catalyst to produce isobutylbenzene and p-isobutylstyrene; and (II): reacting said p-isobutylstyrene with carbon monoxide and water or alcohol at temperatures in the range of 40.degree. to 150.degree. C. in the presence of a metal complex carbonylation catalyst to produce .alpha.-(p-isobutylphenyl)propionic acid or its alkyl ester; or (III): reacting said p-isobutylstyrene with carbon monoxide and hydrogen at temperatures in the range of 40.degree. to 150.degree. C. in the presence of a metal complex carbonylation catalyst to produce .alpha.-(p-isobutylphenyl)propionaldehyde and then oxidizing said .alpha.-(p-isobutylphenyl)propionaldehyde to produce .alpha.-(p-isobutylphenyl)propionic acid. The recovered isobutylene is recycled to produce 1,1-bis(p-isobutylphenyl)ethane by reaction with acetaldehyde in the presence of sulfuric acid.