Patents Examined by Sikarl A. Witherspan
  • Patent number: 6630606
    Abstract: Method of performing alkylation or acylation reactions of aromatic substrates under supercritical or near-critical reaction conditions. In particular, a method of performing Friedel-Crafts alkylation or acylation reactions is disclosed under those conditions. Friedel-Crafts reactions may be effected using a heterogeneous catalyst in a continuous flow reactor containing a super-critical or near-critical reaction medium. Selectivity of product formation can be achieved by varying one or more of the temperature, pressure, catalyst, flow rates and also by varying the ratios of aromatic substrate to acylating or alkylating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Thomas Swan & Co. Limited
    Inventors: Martyn Poliakoff, Thomas M. Swan, Thomas Tacke, Martin G. Hitzler, Stephen K. Ross, Stefan Wieland, Fiona Ruth Smail
  • Patent number: 6552232
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for forming aldol condensation products, comprising reacting at least one aldehyde starting material in the presence of an ionic liquid medium and a basic catalyst at a temperature range of from about −20° C. to about 300° C. and at a pressure range of from about 1 atm to about 1000 atm for a sufficient time to form the aldol condensation products. The invention is also directed to a method for forming aldol condensation products, comprising reacting at least one aldehyde starting material in the presence of a basic ionic liquid medium at the same parameters specified above. The advantage of the instant invention is the increased selectivity and productivity of the resulting aldol condensation products formed in ionic liquid media, along with the ability to recycle the ionic liquid for use in producing additional aldol condensation products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Christian Peter Mehnert, Nicholas Charles Dispenziere, Richard Henry Schlosberg