Abstract: A process for the production of methacrylic acid is described. The process comprises the base catalysed decarboxylation of at least one or a mixture of dicarboxylic acids selected from itaconic, citraconic or mesaconic acid. The decarboxylation is carried out in the range greater than 240 and up to 275° C. to provide high selectivity. The methacrylic acid product may be esterified to produce an ester. A method of preparing polymers or copolymers of methacrylic acid or methacrylic acid esters using the process is also described. Optionally, the process may be preceded with a decarboxylation and, if necessary, a dehydration step on a source of pre-acid such as citric acid or isocitric acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst for the reaction of formaldehyde with a carboxylic acid or ester to produce an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or ester, preferably ?, ? ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids or ester. The catalyst includes a metal oxide having at least two types of metal cations, M1 and M2, wherein M1 is at least one metal selected from group 3 or 4 in the 4th to 6th periods of the periodic table, group 13 in the 3rd to 5th periods of the periodic table, or the remaining elements in the lanthanide series and M2 is at least one metal selected from group 5 in the 5th or 6th periods of the periodic table or group 15 in the 4th or 5th periods of the periodic table. The production includes reacting formaldehyde with a carboxylic acid or esterin the presence of the catalyst effective to catalyse the reaction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or ester, preferably an ?, ? ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or ester. The method includes contacting formaldehyde or a suitable source thereof with a carboxylic acid or ester in the presence of a catalyst and optionally in the presence of an alcohol. The catalyst comprises a nitrided metal oxide having at least two types of metal cations, M1 and M2, wherein M1 is selected from the metals of group 2, 3, 4, 13 (called also IIIA) or 14 (called also IVA) of the periodic table and M2 is selected from the metals of groups 5 or 15 (called also VA) of the periodic table. The invention extends to a catalyst system.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus 100 for mixing at least two fluids, the mixing apparatus 100 comprising a shaft 120 rotatable about its longitudinal axis 121, a first 122 and a second 124 radially extending impeller mounted on the shaft 120 and respectively axially spaced apart, characterised in that the first impeller 122 comprises a plurality of curved blades 125 operable to move said fluids in an axial direction towards the second impeller 124, and the second impeller 124 comprises a plurality of curved blades 125 operable to move said fluids in an axial direction towards the first impeller 122.

Abstract: The invention concerns metal complexes and their preparation, in particular a metal complex MLnXm, where M is a metal of group 8, 9 or 10 and X is a halide, HCO3-, NO3-, CO32- or carboxylate. n is a number equal to or less than the coordination number of the metal and m is 1 or 2 and is equal to the oxidation state of the metal. The ligand L may be a bidentate phosphine of formula (I), (II), (III) or (IV) as set out herein. The process of production comprises reacting an ammine compound of metal M with a complexing compound, which is preferably a phosphine.

Abstract: A novel bidentate ligand of general formula (I) is described together with a process for the carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds. The group X1 may be defined as a univalent hydrocarbyl radical of up to 30 atoms containing at least one nitrogen atom having a pKb in dilute aqueous solution at 18° C. of between 4 and 14 wherein the said at least one nitrogen atom is separated from the Q2 atom by between 1 and 3 carbon atoms. The group X2 is defined as X1, X3 or X4 or represents a univalent radical of up to 30 atoms having at least one primary, secondary or aromatic ring carbon atom wherein each said univalent radical is joined via said at least one primary, secondary or aromatic ring carbon atom(s) respectively to the respective atom Q2. Q1 and Q2 each independently represent phosphorus, arsenic or antimony.

Abstract: A method of increasing the TON of a catalyst system for the monocarbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds using carbon monoxide in the presence of a co-reactant, other than water or a source thereof, having a mobile hydrogen atom is described. The catalyst system is obtainable by combining: (a) a metal of Group (8, 9) or (10) or a suitable compound thereof; (b) a ligand of general formula (I) wherein the groups X3 and X4 independently represent univalent radicals of up to 30 atoms or X3 and X4 together form a bivalent radical of up to 40 atoms and X5 has up to 400 atoms; Q1 represents phosphorus, arsenic or antimony; and c) optionally, a source of anions. The method includes the step of adding water or a source thereof to the catalyst system. The method is preferably carried out in the presence of an electropositive metal.

Abstract: A method of producing a compound of formula (i): wherein R?H or CH3 the method comprising exposing a source of a compound of formula (ii) to reaction conditions of temperature and pressure: formula (ii) wherein R is defined as above wherein, when R?CH3, the source of a compound of formula (ii) is exposed to reaction conditions of temperature and pressure while being in a liquid phase.

Abstract: A continuous process for carbonylation of ethylene in a liquid phase using carbon monoxide, a co-reactant and a suitable catalyst system, including: (i) forming a liquid phase comprising the co-reactant and a suitable catalyst system obtainable by combining: (a) a group VIII metal/compound; (b) a ligand of general formula (I) ?and c) optionally, a source of anions; wherein Q1 is optionally phosphorous; (ii) forming a gaseous phase in contact with the liquid phase by providing at least an ethylene gas input feed stream and a carbon monoxide gas input feed stream wherein the ethylene:CO molar ratio entering the liquid phase from the input feed streams is greater than 2:1; (iii) reacting ethylene with carbon monoxide in the presence of the co-reactant, and of the suitable catalyst system in the liquid phase; wherein the ethylene:CO gas molar ratio in the gaseous phase is between 20:1 and 1000:1 or wherein the molar ratio of ethylene:CO in the liquid phase is greater than 10:1.

Abstract: An acrylic polymeric composition comprising a melt blend of a thermoplastic high molecular weight acrylic material (HMWA) and a thermoplastic low molecular weight acrylic material (LMWA) is described. At least 70% w/w of the HMWA and the LMWA comprises an alkyl (alk)acrylate (co)polymer. The HMWA has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of between 40 k Daltons and 1000 k Daltons and the LMWA has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of between the entanglement molecular weight (Me) (expressed in k Daltons) and 250 k Daltons. A method of producing an acrylic polymeric composition and the use of an acrylic polymeric composition are described together with thick section molded products.

Abstract: An acrylic polymeric composition comprising a melt blend of a thermoplastic high molecular weight acrylic material (HMWA) and a thermoplastic low molecular weight acrylic material (LMWA) is described. At least 70% w/w of the HMWA and the LMWA comprises an alkyl (alk)acrylate (co)polymer. The HMWA has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of between 40 k Daltons and 1000 k Daltons and the LMWA has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of between the entanglement molecular weight (Me) (expressed in k Daltons) and 250 k Daltons. A method of producing an acrylic polymeric composition and the use of an acrylic polymeric composition are described together with thick section moulded products.

Abstract: A process for the reactivation of an acidic ion exchange resin is described. The invention relates to the treatment of an at least partially deactivated resin which has been deactivated by contact with an impure ethylenically unsaturated acid or ester containing target impurities. The reactivation includes the step of contacting the at least partially deactivated resin with an alcohol to thereby increase the activity thereof. The invention extends to reactivating a resin deactivated by contact with an impure ethylenically unsaturated acid, ester or nitrile containing target impurities by contacting the at least partially deactivated resin with an alcohol and a carboxylic acid to thereby increase the activity thereof. A reactivated resin and a process for preparing and purifying an ethylenically unsaturated acid or ester of the following formula:— R1—C(?(CH2)—COOR2 are also described.

Abstract: A process for purifying methyl methacrylate (MMA) is described. The process involves contacting liquid MMA having impurities therein with a sulphonic acid resin, in the presence of formaldehyde or a suitable source of methylene or ethylene of formula I. R5 and R6 are independently selected from C1-C12 hydrocarbons or H; X is either O or S; n is an integer from, 1 to 100; and m is 1 or 2: The compound of formula I may be suitable source of formaldehyde.

Abstract: A hardenable two part acrylic composition, a polymer component of the two part hardenable composition and a method of producing a polymer component of the two part composition are disclosed. The hardenable two part acrylic composition includes an acrylic polymer composition first part and an acrylic monomer composition second part. The acrylic polymer composition first part includes a first type of acrylic polymer particles wherein each first type of acrylic polymer particle is formed of a network of coalesced emulsion polymerized acrylic microparticles or is microporous. The acrylic polymer composition may include emulsion polymerised acrylic polymer particles of particle size between 10 and 2000 nm and includes the use of acrylic polymer particles formed of a network of coalesced emulsion polymerized acrylic microparticles as a dough time reduction agent in a hardenable two part acrylic composition.

Abstract: An embedment casting composition and a process of embedding a specimen in an acrylic polymer matrix is described. The composition comprises an acrylic copolymer and a suitable solvent. The acrylic copolymer is derived from 80-99% w/w methyl methacrylate, 0.1-10% w/w of a C3-C10 olefinically unsaturated acid co-monomer selected from carboxylic, phophonic, sulphonic or phosphinic acids and 0-10% w/w other suitable monomers and/or additives. A process of embedding a specimen in an acrylic polymer matrix, a cast of an embedded metal specimen, the use of an embedment composition for coating a specimen prior to an embedment coating process and use of an embedment composition as the copolymer resin component of an embedment slurry are also described.

Abstract: A novel bidentate catalytic ligand of general formula (I) is described. R represents a hydrocarbyl aromatic structure having at least one aromatic ring to which Q1 and Q2 are each linked, via the respective linking group, if present, on available adjacent atoms of the at least one aromatic ring. The groups X3 and X4 represent radicals joined via tertiary carbon atoms to the respective atom Q1 and the groups X1 and X2 represent radicals joined via primary, or substituted aromatic ring carbon atom(s) to the respective atom Q2. A and B represent an optional lower alkylene linking group. Q1 and Q2 each represent phosphorus, arsenic or antimony. A process for the carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds comprising reacting the compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a source of hydroxyl groups, optionally, a source of anions and catalyst system obtainable by combining a metal of Group 8, 9 or 10 or a compound thereof and the bidentate ligand of general formula (I) is also described.

Abstract: A production process for the manufacture of ethylenically unsaturated acids or esters thereof is described. The process includes the steps of reaction of an alkanoic acid, or ester of an alkanoic acid, of the formula R3—CH2—COOR4 where R3 and R4 are each independently hydrogen or an alkyl group, in the presence of a catalyst system to produce an ethylenically unsaturated acid or ester product. The process is characterised in that the acid or ester product is subsequently contacted with a dienophile to thereby remove discolouration therefrom. An ethylenically unsaturated acid or ester crude product purification process is also described.

Abstract: A process for the carbonylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound comprising the step of reacting said compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a co-5 reactant having a mobile hydrogen atom and a catalyst system is described. The catalyst system is obtainable by combining: (a) a metal of Group 8, 9 or 10 or a suitable compound thereof; (b) a ligand of general formula (I): and c) optionally, a source of anions. The invention is characterised in that the catalyst system includes an enhancer compound comprising an aromatic ring or ring system substituted by at least one hydroxyl group wherein the hydroxyl group pKa at 25° C. is greater than 3.0 and less than 9.1, the said enhancer compound excluding 3-quinolinol.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the hydroformylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds, which process comprises reacting said ethylenically unsaturated compound with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, in the presence of a catalyst system and a solvent, the catalyst system obtainable by combining: a) a metal of Group VIII or a compound thereof; and b) a bidentate phosphine, the process characterized in that a chlorine moiety is present in at least one of the said Group VIII metal compound or said solvent.

Abstract: Novel bidentate ligands of general formula (I) are described Formula (I): R represents a hydrocarbyl aromatic structure. The substituent(s) Yx on the aromatic structure has a total X=1-n ?tYX of atoms other than hydrogen such that X-1-n?tYX is 4 where n is the total number of substituent(s) YX and tYX represents the total number of atoms other than hydrogen on a particular substituent YX. The groups X1, X2, X3 and X4 are joined to Q1 or Q2 via tertiary carbon atoms to the respective atom Q1 or Q2; and Q1 and Q2 each independently represent phosphorus, arsenic or antimony. A catalyst system and a process for the carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds utilising the catalyst system is also described.