Abstract: A process for recovering glycols produced during recycling of polyester comprising the step of extracting aromatic contaminants from the glycols. Extracting the aromatic contaminants is accomplished by: providing a glycol rich stream from a process to recycle polyester. The glycol rich stream comprised glycols, water, and aromatic contaminants. A solvent is added to the glycol rich stream to form a mixture. The mixture is resolved to form a glycol rich component and an aromatic contaminant rich component. The glycols are recovered from the glycol rich component.

Abstract: A process for recovering dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) comprises the steps of: providing a dimethyl terephthalate stream including dimethyl terephthalate, glycols, and coordination compounds; acidifying the coordination compounds to disassociate the ligands from the metalions; separating the ligands from the metalions; separating the dimethyl terephthalate from the glycols; and recovering the dimethyl terephthalate. Additionally, the process may include the step of basifying the metalions to precipitate the metal; and recovering the metal.

Abstract: A process for recycling by-products produced from a process for the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate is disclosed. The process includes the steps of: (a) providing ethylene glycol distillation bottoms from an ethylene glycol recovery unit associated with the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate, the bottoms containing an alkali metal organic salt produced during the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate, the alkali metal organic salt being in excess of about 100 ppm of the bottoms; (b) stripping the alkali metal from the organic acid by use of a strong acid; and (c) depolymerizing the organic acid.

Abstract: A process for recovering dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) is disclosed. The process includes the steps of: (a) providing a DMT stream, the DMT stream including DMT, catalyst, and ethylene glycol; (b) adding a solvent to the DMT stream, the solvent being immiscible with water and miscible with DMT; (c) adding water to the DMT stream; and (d) forming two phases, a first phase of the solvent and DMT, and a second phase of water, ethylene glycol, and catalyst.

Abstract: 4-Acetoxystyrene is reacted with a base in a solvent to form a salt of 4-hydroxystyrene via saponification. Alternatively, 4-hydroxystyrene is reacted with a base to form a salt of 4-hydroxystyrene. In the latter case, the 4-hydroxystyrene is prepared by the transesterification of 4-acetoxystyrene. Subsequently or simultaneously, the salt of 4-hydroxystyrene is reacted, preferably in situ, with di-tertiary-butyl-dicarbonate to form 4-tertiarybutoxycarbonyloxystyrene.

Abstract: Copolymers of 4-hydroxystyrene are produced by hydrolyzing copolymers of 4-acetoxystyrene with hydroxylamine.

Abstract: 4-Acetoxystyrene is reacted with a base in a solvent to form a salt of 4-hydroxystyrene via saponification. Alternatively, 4-hydroxystyrene is reacted with a base to form a salt of 4-hydroxystyrene. In the latter case, the 4-hydroxystyrene is prepared by the transesterification of 4-acetoxystyrene. Subsequently or simultaneously, the salt of 4-hydroxystyrene is reacted, preferably in situ. with di-tertiary-butyl-dicarbonate to form 4-tertiary-butoxycarbonyloxystyrene.

Abstract: A process for preparing a substituted styrene by reacting a bisarylalkyl ether in the presence of an acid catalyst is disclosed. The process is preferably used for the preparation of 4-acetoxystyrene from 4,4'-(oxydiethylidene)bisphenol diacetate and 4-methoxystyrene from 4,4'-(oxydiethylidene)bisphenol dimethyl ether. A process for preparing a bisarylalkyl ether by reacting a corresponding arylalkanol in the presence of an acid catalyst is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method of forming a salt of 4-hydroxystyrene by reacting 4-acetoxystyrene with a suitable base in a suitable solvent system. Subsequently, or simultaneously, the salt of 4-hydroxystyrene can be reacted, preferably in situ, with di-tertiary-butyl-dicarbonate to form 4-tertiary-butoxycarbonyloxystyrene.

Abstract: A process for preparing a substituted styrene by reacting a bisarylalkyl ether in the presence of an acid catalyst is disclosed. The process is preferably used for the preparation of 4-acetoxystyrene from 4,4'-(oxydiethylidene)bisphenol diacetate and 4-methoxystyrene from 4,4'-(oxydiethylidene)bisphenol dimethyl ether. A process for preparing a bisarylalkyl ether by reacting a corresponding arylalkanol in the presence of an acid catalyst is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for preparing a substituted styrene by reacting a bisarylalkyl ether in the presence of an acid catalyst is disclosed. The process is preferably used for the preparation of 4-acetoxystyrene from 4,4'-(oxydiethylidene)bisphenol diacetate and 4-methoxystyrene from 4,4'-(oxydiethylidene)bisphenol dimethyl ether. A process for preparing a bisarylalkyl ether by reacting a corresponding arylalkanol in the presence of an acid catalyst is also disclosed.

Abstract: An alcohol such as methanol is reacted with carbon monoxide in a liquid reaction medium containing a rhodium catalyst stabilized with an iodide salt, especially lithium iodide, along with alkyl iodide such as methyl iodide and alkyl acetate such as methyl acetate in specified proportions. With a finite concentration of water in the reaction medium the product is the carboxylic acid instead of, for example, the anhydride. The present reaction system not only provides an acid product of unusually low water content at unexpectedly favorable reaction rates but also, whether the water content is low or, as in the case of prior-art acetic acid technology, relatively high, is characterized by unexpectedly high catalyst stability; i.e., it is resistant to catalyst precipitation out of the reaction medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing 4-(2'-methoxyethyl)phenol by brominating 4-hydroxyacetophenone to produce alpha-bromo-5-hydroxyacetophenone, and then causing a methoxide-bromide exchange to thereby produce alpha-methoxy-4-hydroxyacetophenone; and then conducting a single step reduction of alpha-methoxy-4-hydroxyacetophenone with at least two equivalents of hydrogen per equivalent of alpha-methoxy-4-hydroxyacetophenone in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to thereby directly produce 4-(2'-methoxyethyl)phenol.

Abstract: An alcohol such as methanol is reacted with carbon monoxide in a liquid reaction medium containing a rhodium catalyst stabilized with an iodide salt, especially lithium iodide, along with alkyl iodide such as methyl iodide and alkyl acetate such as methyl acetate in specified proportions. With a finite concentration of water in the reaction medium the product is the carboxylic acid instead of, for example, the anhydride. The present reaction system not only provides an acid product of unusually low water content at unexpectedly favorable reaction rates but also, whether the water content is low or, as in the case of prior-art acetic acid technology, relatively high, is characterized by unexpectedly high catalyst stability; i.e., it is resistant to catalyst precipitation out of the reaction medium.

Abstract: An alcohol such as methanol is reacted with carbon monoxide in a liquid reaction medium containing a rhodium catalyst stabilized with an iodide salt, especially lithium iodide, along with alkyl iodide such as methyl iodide and alkyl acetate such as methyl acetate in specified proportions. With a finite concentration of water in the reaction medium the product is the carboxylic acid instead of, for example, the anhydride. The present reaction system not only provides an acid product of unusually low water content at unexpectedly favorable reaction rates but also, whether the water content is low or, as in the case of prior-art acetic acid technology, relatively high, is characterized by unexpectedly high catalyst stability; i.e., it is resistant to catalyst precipitation out of the reaction medium.

Abstract: A method is provided for the preparation of ibuprofen by carbonylating 1-(4'-isobutylphenyl)ethanol (IBPE) with carbon monoxide in an acidic aqueous medium, e.g. containing at least 10% of water based on the weight of IBPE initially added, at a temperature of at least about 10.degree. C. and a carbon monoxide pressure of at least about 500 psig, and in the presence of (1) a catalyst complex consisting essentially of a palladium compound in which the palladium has a valence of zero to 2 and is complexed with at least one monodentate phosphine ligand miscible with the organic phase of the reaction medium, the phosphorus/palladium mole ratio in said palladium compound and ligand being at least about 2:1 when the palladium/IBPE mole ratio is such that palladium=1 and IBPE=10,000 or more; (2) dissociated hydrogen ions from an acid which is substantially completely ionizable in dilute aqueous solution such that the mole ratio of hydrogen ions to IBPE added to the reaction zone is at least about 0.

Abstract: Black acid or the sulfuric acid residue obtained in the manufacture of ethyl acrylate by reaction of ethylene and acrylic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid is heated and distilled in a distillation zone in the presence of a solvent to form an overhead mixture comprising an organic phase containing ethyl acrylate and solvent, and an aqueous phase containing water, solvent and acrylic acid. The aqueous phase is recycled to the distillation zone for recovery of additional acrylic acid value from the organic phase.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing 1,3-glycols is disclosed. The process comprises reacting an epoxide with synthesis gas in the presence of rhodium and a phosphine.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing 1,3-glycols is disclosed. The process comprises reacting an epoxide with synthesis gas in the presence of rhodium and a phosphine.