Claims
- 1. Process for the selective monoepoxidation of aryl-vinyl compounds having the structure: ##STR2## wherein Ar is phenyl; phenyl substituted with methyl, methoxy, halogen, vinyl, or phenyl; naphthyl; or pyridyl; and each R is independently selected from hydrogen and alkyl having in the range of 1 up to 20 carbon atoms, with the proviso that there are no hydrogen atoms allylic to a double bond in said structure;
- said process comprising contacting said aryl-vinyl compound with a sufficient quantity of an oxygen-containing gas so as to maintain the molar ratio of aryl-vinyl compound to oxygen in the range of 0.01 to up to 30, in the presence of a silver-containing catalyst containing in the range of 0.01 to 2 weight %, based on the total weight of catalyst, including support, of at least one promoter selected from the salts and oxides of cesium and rubidium; wherein said contacting is carried out at a pressure in the range of 0.1 up to 100 atmospheres, at a temperature in the range of 100.degree. up to 325.degree. C. for a time sufficient to obtain aryl-vinyl compound conversions in the range of 0.5 up to 75%.
- 2. Process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said silver catalyst comprises (i) about 1-30 weight percent silver, (ii) about 0.01 to 2 weight percent of a promoter selected from a halide or nitrate of cesium or rubidium, and (iii) an alumina support having a surface area of less than about 10 m.sup.2 /g; wherein said weight percentages are based on the total weight of the catalyst.
- 3. Process in accordance with claim 2 wherein the promoter is selected from the group consisting of cesium chloride, cesium bromide, cesium nitrate and mixtures thereof.
- 4. Process in accordance with claim 2 wherein the promoter is selected from the group consisting of rubidium chloride, rubidium bromide, rubidium nitrate and mixtures thereof.
- 5. Process in accordance with claim 2 wherein said contacting is carried out at a temperature of about 175.degree. to 275.degree. C., at a pressure of about 1 to 30 atmospheres, and for a time sufficient to obtain aryl-vinyl compound conversions of about 5 to 60%.
- 6. Process for the selective epoxidation of an aryl-vinyl compound selected from the styrene, divinyl benzene and 4-vinylpyridine which comprises contacting said aryl-vinyl compound with a sufficient quantity of an oxygen-containing gas so as to maintain the molar ratio of aryl-vinyl compound to oxygen in the range of 0.01 up to 30, in the presence of a silver-containing catalyst comprising (1) about 2 to 20 weight percent silver, (2) about 0.01 to 2 weight percent of an alkali metal halide or nitrite selected from the group consisting of cesium chloride, cesium bromide, cesium nitrate, and mixtures thereof, and (3) an alumina support having a surface area of less than about 1 m.sup.2 /g, wherein said weight percentages are based on the total weight of the catalyst; wherein said contacting is carried out at a pressure of 1 to 30 atmospheres and at a temperature of 175.degree. to 275.degree. C.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 270,332, filed Nov. 14, 1988, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
48-40739 |
Jun 1973 |
JPX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Y. Murakami, et al., Nippon Kagaku Kaishi, 11, "Styrene Oxide Synthesis by Vapor-Phase Oxidation of Styrene," pp. 1603-1609 (1977). |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
270332 |
Nov 1988 |
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