Vapor-Phase Carbonylation of Dimethoxymethane over H-Faujasite

摘要

The carbonylation of formaldehyde or formaldehyde derivatives has been investigated as a means for producing glycolic acid and its esters/ethers. These products can be converted readily into ethylene glycol, an important industrial chemical used in polyester synthesis. Previous investigations of these reactions have been carried out in the liquid phase, and have required high carbon monoxide pressures (tens to hundreds of atmospheres) to overcome the low solubility of carbon monoxide. It has also been observed that at lower carbon monoxide pressures, the reaction of formaldehyde with itself, the Cannizzaro disproportionation reaction, becomes the dominant process.