Alkylene glycol prepn. without corrosion of reaction equipment - by hydration of alkylene oxide using quaternary phosphonium salt catalyst and carbon di:oxide

摘要

Alkylene glycol is prepd. by hydration of alkylene oxide, employing quaternary phosphonium salt as catalyst in the presence of carbon dioxide. The prod. can be prepd. advantageously on an industrial scale, without corrosion of reaction equipment of the need to provide a means for removing unpleasant odour. The quaternary phosphonium salt used in this process has formula (I). In the formula, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are alkyl or aryl, and X is chlorine, bromine or iodine ion.