Process for the production of high-purity dimethyl 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate and naphthalenedicarboxylic acid

摘要

A process for the production of dimethyl 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate, which process comprises esterifying with methanol 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid obtained by liquid phase oxidation of 2,6-dialkylnaphthalene with molecular oxygen in the presence of an oxidation catalyst, and then purifying the thus obtained crude ester in the presence of an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent, in which process impurities contained in a reaction product can be effectively removed with simple procedures, and a process for the production of naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, which process comprises oxidizing dialkylnaphthalene and/or an oxide thereof with an oxygen-containing gas in a solvent containing a lower aliphatic carboxylic acid and in the presence of an oxidation catalyst comprising at least cobalt, manganese and bromine, the oxidation being carried out using, as a catalyst component, a solid naphthalenedicarboxylic acid metal salt.