Abstract: The invention relates to a process for purification of epichlorohydrin containing 1,2-epoxy-5-hexene impurity, by (a) epoxidizing allyl chloride contaminated with 1,5-hexadiene into epichlorohydrin, (b) removing any unreacted allyl chloride, (c) adding a halogen to the crude epichlorohydrin obtained after the removal of unreacted allyl chloride and allowing the halogen to react with 1,2-epoxy-5-hexene and other olefinically unsaturated components, if any, in the crude epichlorohydrin, and (d) rectifying the product of step (c) to obtain epichlorohydrin, wherein the amount of halogen added in step (c) is at a molar ratio of at least 0.5:1 to less than 1:1 calculated on the amount of said 1,2-epoxy-5-hexene and said other olefinically unsaturated components in the crude epichlorohydrin, and allowing the halogen to react until it is fully converted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of an epoxyethyl carboxylate or glycidyl carboxylate, including reacting a vinyl carboxylate or an allyl carboxylate using an oxidant and a water-soluble manganese complex in an aqueous reaction medium, and the water-soluble manganese complex comprises an oxidation catalyst, characterized in that the water-soluble manganese complex is a mononuclear species of the general formula (I) [LMnX3]Y (I), or a binuclear species of the general formula (II): [LMn(?-X)3MnL]Yn (II), wherein Mn is a manganese; L is a ligand and each L is independently a polydentate ligand, each X is independently a coordinating species and each ?-X is independently a bridging coordinating species, Y is a non-coordinating counter ion, and wherein the epoxidation is carried out at a pH in the range of from 1.0 to 7.0.

Abstract: Processes are provided for the formation of an epoxyethyl ether or a glycidyl ether. In one embodiment, a process is provided for the manufacture of an epoxyethyl ether or glycidyl ether including reacting a vinyl ether or an allyl ether with an oxidant in the presence of a water-soluble manganese complex in an aqueous reaction medium, wherein the water-soluble manganese complex comprises an oxidation catalyst, characterized in that the water-soluble manganese complex is a mononuclear complex of the general formula (I): [LMnX3]Y (I), or a binuclear complex of the general formula (II): [LMn(?-X)3MnL](Y)n (II), wherein Mn is a manganese; L or each L independently is a polydentate ligand, each X independently is a coordinating species and each ?-X independently is a bridging coordinating species, Y is a non-coordinating counter ion, and wherein the epoxidation is carried out at a pH in the range of from 1.0 to 6.0. The invention also relates to epoxyethyl ethers.

Abstract: Accordingly, the invention relates to a process for the preparation of a glycidyl ester of a branched monocarboxylic acid by reacting an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid of the formula R1R2R3CCOOH, wherein R1, R2, and R3 each independently represent an alkyl radical of normal or branched structure containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and an epoxyalkyl halide containing from 3 to 13 carbon atoms in the presence of a catalyst, wherein a greater than stoichiometric amount of epoxyalkyl halide is reacted with the acid (e.g., preferably in the molar ratio of epoxyalkyl halide to acid that is in the range of from 1.02:1 to 1.50:1) to form an intermediate reaction product comprising a halohydrin, the epoxyalkyl halide is added to the acid with appropriate cooling of the reactants and/or the reaction mixture to keep the temperature of the reaction mixture below 80° C., whereupon the epoxyalkyl halide and the acid are reacted at a temperature below 80° C. (preferably in the range of from 55 to 75° C.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of propylene oxide (“PO”) by catalytic oxidation of propylene with an oxidant wherein the catalytic oxidation is performed in an aqueous reaction medium, comprising water with less than 10% by volume of cosolvents, wherein a water-soluble manganese complex is used as oxidation catalyst, characterized in that the water-soluble manganese complex is a mononuclear species of the general formula (I): [LMnX3]Y ??(I) or a binuclear species of the general formula (II): [LMn(?-X)3MnL]Y2 ??(II) wherein Mn is a manganese; L or each L independently is a polydentate ligand, each X independently is a coordinating species and each ?-X independently is a bridging coordinating species, whereas Y is an non-coordinating counterion, and wherein the catalytic oxidation is carried out at a pH in the range of from 1.5 to 6.0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of an epoxyethyl carboxylate or glycidyl carboxylate, including reacting a vinyl carboxylate or an allyl carboxylate using an oxidant and a water-soluble manganese complex in an aqueous reaction medium, and the water-soluble manganese complex comprises an oxidation catalyst, characterized in that the water-soluble manganese complex is a mononuclear species of the general formula (I) [LMnX3]Y (I), or a binuclear species of the general formula (II): [LMn(??X)3MnL]Yn (II), wherein Mn is a manganese; L is a ligand and each L is independently a polydentate ligand, each X is independently a coordinating species and each ??X is independently a bridging coordinating species, Y is a non-coordinating counter ion, and wherein the epoxidation is carried out at a pH in the range of from 1.0 to 7.

Abstract: Processes are provided for the formation of an epoxyethyl ether or a glycidyl ether. In one embodiment, a process is provided for the manufacture of an epoxyethyl ether or glycidyl ether including reacting a vinyl ether or an allyl ether with an oxidant in the presence of a water-soluble manganese complex in an aqueous reaction medium, wherein the water-soluble manganese complex comprises an oxidation catalyst, characterized in that the water-soluble manganese complex is a mononuclear complex of the general formula (I): [LMnX3]Y (I), or a binuclear complex of the general formula (II): [LMn(?-X)3MnL](Y)n (II), wherein Mn is a manganese; L or each L independently is a polydentate ligand, each X independently is a coordinating species and each ?-X independently is a bridging coordinating species, Y is a non-coordinating counter ion, and wherein the epoxidation is carried out at a pH in the range of from 1.0 to 6.0. The invention also relates to epoxyethyl ethers.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of propylene oxide (“PO”) by catalytic oxidation of propylene with an oxidant wherein the catalytic oxidation is performed in an aqueous reaction medium, comprising water with less than 10% by volume of cosolvents, wherein a water-soluble manganese complex is used as oxidation catalyst, characterized in that the water-soluble manganese complex is a mononuclear species of the general formula (I): [LMnX3]Y ??(I) or a binuclear species of the general formula (II): [LMn(?-X)3MnL]Y2 ??(II) wherein Mn is a manganese; L or each L independently is a polydentate ligand, each X independently is a coordinating species and each ?-X independently is a bridging coordinating species, whereas Y is an non-coordinating counterion, and wherein the catalytic oxidation is carried out at a pH in the range of from 1.5 to 6.0.

Abstract: Accordingly, the invention relates to a process for the preparation of a glycidyl ester of a branched monocarboxylic acid by reacting an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid of the formula R1R2R3COOH, wherein R1, R2, and R3 each independently represent an alkyl radical of normal or branched structure containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and an epoxyalkyl halide containing from 3 to 13 carbon atoms in the presence of a catalyst, wherein a greater than stoichiometric amount of epoxyalkyl halide is reacted with the acid (e.g., preferably in the molar ratio of epoxyalkyl halide to acid that is in the range of from 1.02:1 to 1.50:1) to form an intermediate reaction product comprising a halohydrin, the epoxyalkyl halide is added to the acid with appropriate cooling of the reactants and/or the reaction mixture to keep the temperature of the reaction mixture below 80° C., whereupon the epoxyalkyl halide and the acid are reacted at a temperature below 80° C. (preferably in the range of from 55 to 75° C.