Catalysts for the production of carboxylic acid salts from alcohols, useful as chelates in detergents and pharmaceuticals, comprise copper and are prepared by precipitation of copper salt solutions with a base and reduction with hydrogen

摘要

Catalysts (I), for the production of carboxylic acid salts from alcohols, comprise (wt.%): (1) copper; or (2) copper (10-99.9), iron (0.01-90) and at least one other metal (0-50). Catalysts (I) are optionally doped. The hydroxide is prepared by precipitation of copper salt solutions (and/or copper and iron salt solutions with salts of at least one other metal (A)) by coprecipitation with a base and reduction with hydrogen. An Independent claim is included for a process for the production of carboxylic acid salts by reaction of an alcohol of formula (II) with an alkali hydroxide and/or alkaline earth metal hydroxide in water. The reaction is in the presence of a catalyst (I), at 120-280 deg C, and at a pressure between the vapor pressure of water and 75 bar. R = -(OCH2CH2OH) or -NR1R2; and R1, R2 = H, phenyl, -CH2CH2OH, 1-20 C alkyl or 2-5C dialkylamino.