Organic compounds -- part of the class 532-570 series – Organic compounds – Oxygen containing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-18
2001-11-06
Shippen, Michael L. (Department: 1621)
Organic compounds -- part of the class 532-570 series
Organic compounds
Oxygen containing
Reexamination Certificate
active
06313356
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of cyclooctanol by reaction of cyclooctene with formic acid to give cyclooctyl formate, phase separation after the reaction into a lower A phase rich in formic acid (formic acid content >60%) and an upper B phase low in formic acid (formic acid content <20%), extraction of cyclooctyl formate from the A phase, combination of this extract with the B phase, gentle distillative work-up of the reaction mixture which contains the cyclooctyl formate via a short distillation path, and transesterification of the cyclooctyl formate to give cyclooctanol.
2. Discussion of the Background
Cyclooctanol is an important intermediate for the preparation of, inter alia, cyclooctanone, which is required in the pharmaceutical sector, and for the preparation of fragrances. Syntheses of cyclooctanol from cyclooctene via the formate are known from the literature. For example, GB 1 153 468 describes a process in which formic acid is added to cyclooctene without catalyst, the reaction mixture is worked up distillatively and the cyclooctyl formate thus obtained is hydrolyzed with sodium hydroxide solution. It is pointed out that the temperatures during the distillation must be very low. In order to avoid decompositions, temperatures of less than 100° C. are required. However, in the case of industrial implementation, this requirement cannot be realized and, even in Example 1, a temperature above 100° C. is given as the boiling point of the formate. The relatively poor yield of only 82% based on reacted cyclooctene is attributable to thermal decomposition. A further disadvantage of this process is that the hydrolysis of the formate using sodium hydroxide solution produces at least stoichiometric amounts of sodium formate, which have to be disposed of.
The object of the invention was therefore to find a process which is easy to carry out industrially and in which such thermal decomposition does not take place and in which no noteworthy amounts of salts are produced as waste material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object is achieved according to the invention by carrying out the reaction of cyclooctene with formic acid in the absence of an added catalyst, carrying out the distillation continuously without a column over a short path and transesterifying the resulting ester with an alcohol.
Surprisingly, it has, in particular, been found that the distillation can be carried out without great separation effort in an apparatus fitted with a short distillation path without thermal decomposition taking place in the process, and that the resulting crude ester contains little or no formic acid, with the result that the ester can be transesterified catalytically with an alcohol in a manner known per se to give cyclooctanol.
In addition, it has been found that because of the instability of formic acid, it is favorable to separate off the majority of unreacted formic acid prior to distillation of the cyclooctyl formate and work it up separately. This is advantageously effected by first separating the phases into two phases (phases A and B) and extracting the cyclooctyl formate from phase A. The extract is added to phase B and passed to the distillative work-up of the cyclooctyl formate. The formic acid is distilled in a separate column and the top product obtained is pure formic acid, which can be reintroduced into the reaction. A water/acid mixture is left over as the bottom product.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention therefore provides a process for the preparation of cyclooctanol from cyclooctene comprising:
a. reaction of cyclooctene with formic acid in the absence of an added catalyst to produce a two-phase reaction mixture containing cyclooctyl formate and residual formic acid,
b. separation of the two phases into a lower phase rich in formic acid (phase A) and an upper phase low in formic acid (phase B),
c. extraction of cyclooctyl formate from phase A to obtain an extract,
d. combination of phase B and the extract from phase A,
e. distillative work-up of the combination of phase B and the extract from phase A in an apparatus fitted with a short distillation path to obtain crude cyclooctyl formate, and
f. catalytic transesterification of the cyclooctyl formate of said crude cyclooctyl formate with an alcohol to produce cyclooctanol.
The first stage of the process according to the invention requires neither solvent nor externally added catalyst.
The process according to the invention has the advantage that a column is dispensed with but nevertheless the formic acid, which is usually present in large excess in the reaction, is separated off completely from the ester. Only because of this is it possible to transesterify the ester with small amounts of a catalyst without producing noteworthy amounts of salt as waste material. Catalysts which can be used for the transesterification are, preferably, alkali metal and alkaline earth metal compounds, such as, for example, alkali metal and alkaline earth metal alkoxides. Examples which may be mentioned are sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide and potassium methoxide.
The molar ratio of cyclooctene to formic acid is from 1:1 to 1:6, preferably from 1:2 to 1:4.
The reaction temperature is between 60 and 100° C., preferably between 70 and 90° C. A reaction temperature of approximately 80° C. is particularly preferred. The process can be carried out discontinuously or continuously.
After the reaction, which is complete in the case of the discontinuous procedure in from 2 to 10 hours, preferably in from 4 to 8 hours, the reaction mixture is cooled. After separation of the phases, the cyclooctane formate of phase A rich in formic acid is extracted using a nonpolar solvent. Suitable solvents are linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbons having from 5 to 10 carbon atoms, such as, for example, pentane, hexane and octane; cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons such as, for example, cyclohexane; aromatic hydrocarbons, such as, for example, benzene or toluene; and (cyclo)olefinic hydrocarbons such as, for example, cyclooctene. Preference is given to using cyclooctene because it is already a constituent of the reaction system.
Distillative work-up is carried out in an evaporator with a short distillation path, such as, for example, a falling-film evaporator, a short-path evaporator or a thin-film evaporator.
Following extraction, the crude formic acid is worked up in a column having at least 10 theoretical plates, a virtually anhydrous acid distilling off and a higher-boiling formic acid/water mixture being left over in the reboiler, which mixture is disposed of, for example by combustion. The water is formed as a result of slight thermal decomposition of the formic acid during the reaction. It must be removed because it interferes with the reaction with the cyclooctene. The water content of the formic acid used for the reaction should therefore preferably be <1% by weight.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3609182 (1971-09-01), Baker
patent: 4506105 (1985-03-01), Kaufhold
patent: 5475158 (1995-12-01), Krug
patent: 6093857 (2000-07-01), Fischer et al.
patent: 1 153 468 (1969-05-01), None
Beuth Michael
Kaufhold Manfred
Kohler Guenther
Paulczynski Renate
Degussa Huels AG
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
Shippen Michael L.
LandOfFree
Process for the preparation of cyclooctanol does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Process for the preparation of cyclooctanol, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Process for the preparation of cyclooctanol will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2609844