GB1130231A - Recovery of alcohol from an epoxidation reaction product - Google Patents

Abstract

1,130,231. Epoxides; alcohols. HALCON INTERNATIONAL Inc. 3 Nov., 1965 [9 Nov., 1964], No. 46611/65. Heading C2C. Oxiranes and alcohols are obtained by the liquid phase epoxidation of an olefinically unsaturated compound by reaction with an organic hydroperoxide, having at least one hydrogen atom attached to the carbon atom adjacent to the carbon atom of the hydroperoxy group, in the presence of a metal epoxidation catalyst to produce a product mixture containing the oxirane, the alcohol corresponding to the hydroperoxide and acidic components which tend to dehydrate the alcohol on heating, separating the oxirane and, before or after said separation, treating the product mixture to diminish the concentration of said acidic components and subsequently separating the alcohol by distillation. The olefinic compound may be a hydrocarbon or an ester, alcohol, ketone, ether or organic halide. Specified hydroperoxides include those of cumene, ethyl benzene, t-butane, cyclohexanone, tetralin, methyl ethyl ketone and methylcyclohexane. Preferred catalysts are compounds of Ti, V, Cr, Se, Zr, Nb, Mo, Te, Ta, W, Re and U which are soluble in the reaction mixture. The reduction of the concentration of the acidic components may be effected by addition of a basic material, e.g. NaOH, or by chemical or catalytic reduction. If the latter methods are employed reagents and conditions are selected to avoid reduction of the oxirane, if it is present, or of the alcohol. Examples relate to the preparation of propylene oxide and α-phenylethanol and dimethylphenylcarbinol.