Organic compounds -- part of the class 532-570 series – Organic compounds – Oxygen containing
Patent
1995-02-13
1998-12-01
Dees, Jose G.
Organic compounds -- part of the class 532-570 series
Organic compounds
Oxygen containing
568678, 568679, 568680, C07C 4311
Patent
active
058441158
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the preparation of alkoxylation products by the catalysed condensation reaction of epoxides (alkylene oxides) and organic compounds having at least one active hydrogen.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
A wide variety of alkoxylation products prepared by the condensation reaction of alkylene oxides with organic compounds having at least one active hydrogen are of industrial significance. The products of condensation of an alkylene oxide, and particularly ethylene oxide or propylene oxide or mixtures thereof, and an alcohol or a phenol are well known surface active agents. Other condensation products find application as solvents, and functional fluids. Such alkoxylation products are conventionally prepared by the reaction of at least one active hydrogen compound with an alkylene oxide (epoxide) in the presence of an alkaline or acidic catalyst. The average oxyalkylene chain length of such alkoxylation products depends on the mole ratio of epoxide to active hydrogen containing organic compound used and the reaction results in a mixture of different compounds having a range of oxyalkylene chain lengths and hence molecular weights.
It has long been recognised as desirable to control the molecular weight distribution of alkoxylates in order to be able to take best advantage of the properties of alkoxylates with specific alkylene oxide chain lengths. Acidic catalysts are known to tend to give narrower molecular weight distributions than alkaline catalysts but also promote side reactions which lead to the formation of undesired by-products. The commonly used alkaline catalysts are known to give broad molecular weight distribution but few by-products and are generally the alkoxylation catalysts used in industry today. Such catalysts include the alkali metal hydroxides and alkoxides and in particular sodium and potassium hydroxide.
In recent years much attention has been focused on developing catalysts which are as efficient as the alkali metal hydroxides but give products with narrow molecular weight distribution. U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,023 describes a process which employs a catalyst comprising a barium compound and a promoter selected from various oxides and acids of phosphorus, carbon dioxide and oxalic acid. International patent application publication number WO85/00365 describes use of an alkoxylation catalyst comprising the reaction product of calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide and an inorganic oxyacid derivative with an organic compound. European patent publication numbers 361616 to 361620 describe alkoxylation catalysts prepared by reacting various Group IIA, IIIB and other metal sources with an organic activator to give a composition which is further reacted with a di or poly-valent metal or metal containing compound such as divalent or polyvalent oxyacid salts. European patent publication number 361621 describes the use of calcium sulphate as an alkoxylation catalyst. European patent publication number 398450 describes the use of barium phosphate as an alkoxylation catalyst.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is now been found that salts of the Group Ia, IIa and the rare earth elements and the oxyacids of the Group Ivb, Vb and VIb elements may be used as catalysts in alkoxylation reactions and that these catalysts give the desired features of an narrow distribution of alkoxylation species and efficient reaction rates.
Accordingly the invention provides a process for the alkoxylation of organic compounds containing at least one active hydrogen which process comprises reacting said organic compound with an alkylene oxide in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst comprising the salt of at least one element chosen from a Group Ia or Group IIa or rare earth element and an oxy acid of at least one element chosen from a Group IVb, Group Vb or Group VIb element or mixtures thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferably the catalysts used in the process of the invention are selected from compounds of the general formula I: Y, La,
REFERENCES:
patent: 4404408 (1983-09-01), Wirth
patent: 4727199 (1988-02-01), King
Derwent Abstract Accession No. 404577/23, Class E17, JP,A,52051307, Apr. 25, 1977.
Derwent Abstract Accession No. 09042 E/02, Class E19, JP,A,56166137, Dec. 21, 1981.
Deutscher Kenneth R
Moody Keith
Parr Rodney W
Parris David
Tasdelen Esennur E
Dees Jos,e G.
ICI Australia Operations Proprietary Limited
Jones Dwayne C.
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