Claims
- 1. A process for the preparation of .epsilon.-caprolactone which comprises oxidizing cyclohexanone with a crude unpurified solution of percarboxylic acid wherein the percarboxylic acid contains 2 to 4 carbon atoms prepared by reacting hydrogen peroxide with the corresponding carboxylic acid in the presence of a boric acid catalyst and continuously eliminating water therefrom by azeotropic entrainment, said solution containing unreacted carboxylic acid, unreacted hydrogen peroxide and boric acid.
- 2. The process according to claim 1 wherein the percarboxylic acid comprises between about 5 to 40% by weight of the crude solution.
- 3. The process according to claim 2 wherein the molar ratio of cyclohexanone to percarboxylic acid is between about 1 and 5.
- 4. The process according to claim 3 wherein the crude solution of percarboxylic acid is a solution of peracetic acid.
- 5. The process according to claim 3 wherein the crude solution of percarboxylic acid is a solution of perpropionic acid.
- 6. The process according to claim 4 wherein the crude solution of percarboxylic acid contains an organic solvent that is miscible in and compatible with the percarboxylic acid.
- 7. The process according to claim 6 wherein the crude solution of percarboxylic acid contains up to about 0.1 mole of hydrogen peroxide per 100 g of solution.
- 8. The process according to claim 5 wherein the crude solution of percarboxylic acid contains an organic solvent that is miscible in and compatible with the percarboxylic acid.
- 9. The process according to claim 8 wherein the crude solution of percarboxylic acid contains up to about 0.1 mole of hydrogen peroxide per 100 g of solution.
- 10. A process for the preparation of epsilon caprolactone which comprises oxidizing cyclohexanone with a crude unpurified solution of percarboxylic acid comprising between about 5-40% by weight of the crude solution wherein the percarboxylic acid contains 2 to 4 carbon atoms and further wherein the molar ratio of cyclohexanone to percarboxylic acid is between about 1 and 5 and wherein the percarboxylic acid is prepared by reacting hydrogen peroxide with the corresponding carboxylic acid in the presence of a boric acid catalyst and continuously eliminating water therefrom by azeotropic entrainment, said solution containing unreacted carboxylic acid, unreacted hydrogen peroxide and boric acid.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
81 03374 |
Feb 1981 |
FRX |
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Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 345,240, filed Feb. 3, 1982 and now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 181,830, filed Aug. 27, 1980 and now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Foreign Referenced Citations (7)
Number |
Date |
Country |
691391 |
May 1967 |
BEX |
0004407 |
Mar 1979 |
EPX |
0020952 |
Jan 1981 |
EPX |
1490173 |
Jun 1967 |
FRX |
1492059 |
Jul 1967 |
FRX |
1531053 |
Jun 1968 |
FRX |
2101985 |
Mar 1972 |
FRX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
345240 |
Feb 1982 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
181830 |
Aug 1980 |
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