Claims
- 1. The method of producing an oxirane compound which comprises reacting an olefinically unsaturated compound with an organic hydroperoxide in the presence of a catalytic amount of a hydrocarbon-soluble molybdenum-containing salt produced by reacting, at a temperature of from about 150.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C., while removing water, an ammonium molybdate with a hydrocarbon monocarboxylic acid containing 4 to about 30 atoms in the presence of an organic amine corresponding to the formula R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 N wherein each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl or 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and aryl of 6 to 12 carbon atoms with the proviso that at least one of the R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 is not hydrogen, said amine being employed in a molar ratio of about 0.05 to about 1 with respect to said carboxylic acid.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said carboxylic acid employed in the production of said hydrocarbon soluble molybdenum-containing salt is a hydrocarbon monocarboxylic acid containing of from 4 to about 30 carbon atoms and said molybdate is ammonium molybdate.
- 3. The method of claim 2 wherein, in the production of said hydrocarbon-soluble molybdenum-containing salt, water is removed by employment of a purge gas selected from the group consisting of a molecular oxygen-containing gas and an inert gas through the reaction mixture.
- 4. The method of claim 2 wherein, in the production of said hydrocarbon-soluble molybdenum-containing salt, water is removed by employment of an azeotropic agent.
- 5. The method of claim 2 wherein, in the production of said hydrocarbon-soluble molybdenum-containing salt, water is removed by use of a dehydrating agent.
- 6. The method of claim 4 wherein said azeotropic agent is a member selected from the group consisting of an alkyl substituted benzene and an alkane.
- 7. The method of claim 6 wherein, in the production of said hydrocarbon-soluble molybdenum-containing salt, said carboxylic acid is an alkanoic acid containing from 4 to about 12 carbon atoms and said reaction is effected at a temperature of between about 170.degree. C. and 220.degree. C.
- 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said olefinically unsaturated compound is propylene and said organic hydroperoxide is tertiary butyl hydroperoxide.
- 9. The method of claim 7 wherein said olefinically unsaturated compound is propylene and said organic hydroperoxide is ethylbenzene hydroperoxide.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 816,037 filed on Jan. 3, 1986, now abandoned, which is a divisional of Ser. No. 708,480 filed Mar. 5, 1985, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,012.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1550166 |
Nov 1968 |
FRX |
422437 |
Mar 1974 |
SUX |
411954 |
Dec 1974 |
SUX |
1365589 |
Sep 1974 |
GBX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (5)
Entry |
English translation of Soviet Pat. No. 441954. |
Trifiro et al, J. of the Less Common Metals, vol. 36 (1974) pp. 319-328. |
Forzatti et al, Reaction Kinetics and Catalysis Letters, vol. 1(3) (1974) pp. 367-372. |
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Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
708480 |
Mar 1985 |
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Continuations (1)
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Parent |
816037 |
Jan 1986 |
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