Abstract: A solid supported catalyst suitable for the vapor phase carbonylation of lower aliphatic alcohols, ethers, ester, and ester-alcohol mixtures, and desirably, methanol, to produce carboxylic acid, esters and mixtures thereof. The solid supported catalyst includes an effective amount of gold associated with a solid support material in the presence of a halide promoter. Desirably, the support material is selected from carbon, activated carbon, pumice, alumina, silica, silica-alumina, magnesia, diatomaceous earth, bauxite, titania, zirconia, clay, magnesium silicate, silicon carbide, zeolites, ceramics and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vapor phase carbonylation process useful for producing carboxylic acids, esters and mixtures thereof from lower aliphatic alcohols, ethers, ester, and ester-alcohol mixtures. The vapor phase carbonylation process is characterized in that it utilizes a solid supported catalyst having an effective amount of gold associated with a solid support material.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for the preparation of ascorbic acid using a simulated moving bed (SMB) reactor system to accomplish the simultaneous conversion of KLG or a derivative of KLG to ascorbic acid and the separation of reaction products. The SMB reactor contains a solid or mixture of solids effective for catalyzing the reaction of KLG or its derivative and for separating the reactions products by selective adsorption of at least one product. In a general embodiment, this process involves (1) feeding a solution of KLG or a derivative thereof in a first solvent and a desorbent which is miscible with the first solvent, to a simulated moving bed reactor; (2) reacting the KLG or the KLG derivative to form ascorbic acid; and (3) removing from the simulated moving bed reactor (i) a first liquid stream comprising a solution of ascorbic acid in the desorbent and the first solvent (ii) a second liquid stream comprising the first solvent and the desorbent.

Abstract: A method for producing esters, carboxylic acids and mixtures thereof includes contacting, under carbonylation conditions, lower alkyl alcohols, ethers, lower alkyl alcohol derivatives and mixtures thereof and carbon monoxide with a catalyst having a catalytically effective amount a metal selected from iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, tin and mixtures thereof associated with a carbonized polysulfonated divinylbenzene-styrene copolymer matrix. In a preferred aspect of the invention the method is called out under vapor-phase conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vapor phase carbonylation process useful for producing carboxylic acids, esters and mixtures thereof from lower aliphatic alcohols, ethers, ester, and ester-alcohol mixtures. The vapor phase carbonylation process is characterized in that it utilizes a solid supported catalyst having an effective amount of iridium and gold associated with a solid support material.

Abstract: A method for producing esters and carboxylic acids from lower alkyl alcohols, ethers, esters and ester-alcohol reactant mixtures and includes the step of contacting a vaporous mixture of the reactants, carbon monoxide and a halide with a supported catalyst under vapor-phase carbonylation conditions. The catalyst includes iridium and a second metal selected from group 4 (titanium, zirconium, hafnium) metals of the periodic table of elements. Desirably, the iridium and secondary metal are deposited on activated carbon as a support material. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the vapor phase carbonylation process is useful for preparing acetic acid, methyl acetate or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A solid supported catalyst suitable for the vapor phase carbonylation of lower aliphatic alcohols, ethers, ester, and ester-alcohol mixtures, and desirably, methanol, to produce acetic acid, methyl acetate and mixtures thereof. The solid supported catalyst includes an effective amount of iridium and at least one second metal selected from group metals of the periodic table of elements, their respective salts and mixtures thereof associated with a solid support material. Desirably, the support material is selected from carbon, activated carbon, pumice, alumina, silica, silica-alumina, magnesia, diatomaceous earth, bauxite, titania, zirconia, clay, magnesium silicate, silicon carbide, zeolites, ceramics and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method for producing esters and carboxylic acids from lower alkyl alcohols, ethers, esters and ester-alcohol reactant mixtures and includes the step of contacting a vaporous mixture of the reactants, carbon monoxide and a halide with a supported catalyst under vapor-phase carbonylation conditions. The catalyst includes iridium and a second metal selected from group 5 (vanadium, niobium, tantalum) metals of the periodic table of elements. Desirably, the iridium and secondary metal are deposited on activated carbon as a support material. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the vapor phase carbonylation process is useful for preparing acetic acid, methyl acetate or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of ketones by contacting one or more carboxylic acids with a niobium catalyst at elevated temperatures. The process includes the use of a modified base-exchanged niobium catalyst that is particularly useful for the production of cyclopropyl ketones such as cyclopropyl methyl ketone from cyclopropanecarboxylic acid and acetic acid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the stabilization of cyclobutanone compounds with a phenolic stabilizer compound and to stabilized compositions comprising a cyclobutanone compound and a phenolic stabilizer compound. The stabilization of cyclobutanone compounds with a phenolic stabilizer compound eliminates or minimizes the formation of a solid material when cyclobutanone compounds are stored and/or transported under ordinary shipping conditions.

Abstract: A catalyst in carbonylation processes for producing esters, carboxylic acids, and carboxylic acid anhydrides from lower alkyl alcohols, ethers, esters, alcohol producing derivatives. The catalyst includes a catalytically active metal selected from Group VIII metals, tin mixtures thereof associated with a carbonized polysulfonated divinylbenzene-styrene copolymer.

Abstract: In a liquid phase carbonylation process for the production of acetic anhydride by reacting a feed stream which includes methyl acetate, methanol and carbon monoxide using a Group VIII metal-containing catalyst, and preferably a rhodium containing material, a liquid reaction product is continuously withdrawn from the carbonylation zone and fed to an evaporation/separation zone for separating volatile constituents of the reaction from the non-volatile constituents which, includes a portion of the Group VIII metal catalyst from the carbonylation reactor. The Group VIII metal catalyst is contacted with a gas stream which includes hydrogen for a period of from about 0.001 seconds to about 200 seconds as it is being returned to the carbonylation zone.

Abstract: A carbon supported solid catalyst suitable for the vapor phase carbonylation of lower aliphatic alcohols, ethers, ester, and ester-alcohol mixtures, and desirably, methanol, to produce carboxylic acid, esters and mixtures thereof. The solid supported catalyst includes an effective amount of iridium and gold associated with a solid carbon support, and a halogen promoter.

Abstract: A method for the vapor-phase carbonylation of lower alkyl alcohols to esters and optionally, carboxylic acids using a catalyst having a platinum on a solid support material as a first component and a vaporous halide as a second component. Desirably, the catalyst includes platinum on an activated carbon support and the vaporous halide is selected from hydrogen halides, alkyl halides and aryl halides having up to 12 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A catalyst comprising an effective amount of iridium and at least one second metal selected from the Lanthanide Series of the Periodic Table is useful for vapor phase carbonylation to produce carboxylic acids and esters from lower alkyl alcohols, ethers and ester-alcohol mixtures. The iridium and secondary metal are deposited on a support material, preferably carbon. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the catalyst is useful for vapor phase carbonylation to produce acetic acid, methyl acetate and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A vapor phase process for the carbonylation of lower alkyl alcohols to esters and optionally, carboxylic acids using a catalyst containing iridium and at least one second metal selected from the Lanthanide Series. Desirably, the iridium and secondary metal are deposited on activated carbon as a support material. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the vapor phase process is useful for preparing acetic acid, methyl acetate or a mixture thereof by contacting the catalyst with a vapor comprising methanol, a halide and carbon monoxide under carbonylation process conditions.

Abstract: A process using a niobium catalyst includes the step of reacting an ester or carboxylic acid with oxygen and an alcohol in the presence a niobium catalyst to respectively produce an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated ester or carboxylic acid. Methanol may be used as the alcohol, and the ester or carboxylic acid may be passed over the niobium catalyst in a vapor stream containing oxygen and methanol. Alternatively, the process using a niobium catalyst may involve the step of reacting an ester and oxygen in the presence the niobium catalyst to produce an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid. In this case the ester may be a methyl ester. In either case, niobium oxide may be used as the niobium catalyst with the niobium oxide being present on a support. The support may be an oxide selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide and mixtures thereof. The catalyst may be formed by reacting niobium fluoride with the oxide serving as the support.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of an aliphatic carbonyl derivative compound having a normal:iso ratio of at least 3, and preferably 4, selected from aliphatic carboxylic acids, alkylesters of aliphatic carboxylic acids and anhydrides of aliphatic carboxylic acids by the hydrocarboxylation of terminal linear olefins in the presence of a catalyst system comprising (1) a rhodium containing compound, (2) a halide promoter selected from iodine, bromine and compounds thereof and (3) a trisubstituted organic compound of a group-15 element, preferably a phosphine or arsine. This process constitutes an improvement over known processes since it provides a one-step, lower pressure, higher reaction rate method of producing carboxylic acid derivatives having an increased normal:iso ratio in the absence of potentially hazardous chlorinated hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of aliphatic carbonyl compounds selected from aliphatic carboxylic acids, alkyl esters of aliphatic carboxylic acids and anhydrides of aliphatic carboxylic acids by the carbonylation of olefins in the presence of a catalyst system comprising (1) a primary component selected from at least one Group 6 metal, i.e., chromium, molybdenum, and/or tungsten and (2) a secondary component selected from at least one of certain halides and tertiary and quaternary compounds of a Group 15 element, i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus and/or arsenic. The process constitutes and improvement over known processes since it can be carried out at moderate carbonylation conditions without the necessity of using an expensive noble metal catalyst, volatile, toxic materials such as nickel tetracarbonyl, formic acid or a formate ester.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process wherein a mixture of methanol or a methanol source, a halide and carbon monoxide are contacted in the vapor phase with a supported catalyst comprising iridium and at least one second metal selected from ruthenium, molybdenum, tungsten, palladium, platinum and rhenium deposited on a catalyst support material.