Suppression of diglycol ether ester in chromium (III) catalyzed ethylene oxide reaction with aromatic carboxylic acids

摘要

Chromium (III) catalysis of the reaction between ethylene oxides (ethylene oxide and 1,2-propylene oxide) and aromatic carboxylic acids at temperatures in the range from 50° to 180° C. are rapid but produce excessive amounts of diglycol ether ester (2- hydroxyethoxyethanol or 2-hydroxy-2-methylethoxy 2-methylethanol) which is present as the diglycol ether ester of the aromatic carboxylic acid and is a contaminent hard to remove from the desired 2-hydroxyethyl ester of the aromatic carboxylic acid. The use of an amine, in such ethylene oxide reaction with aromatic carboxylic acid suppresses the formation of diglycol ether and increases the conversion of aromatic carboxylic acid to the desired 2- hydroxyethyl ester thereof.