GB1116523A - Process for producing primary alcohol - Google Patents

Abstract

Primary alcohols, in which at least one carbon atom is directly attached to four other carbon atoms, are prepared by reacting a secondary alkyl chloride or bromide with 2 molecules of ethylene, or a tertiary alkyl chloride or bromide with 1 molecule of ethylene at -60 DEG C. to 150 DEG C. at a pressure of 0-70 kg/cm.2 g. for 1 minute to 4 hours in the presence of 0.5-30% by weight, based on alkyl halide, of AlCl3, FeCl4, BiCl3 or ZnCl2, reacting the resulting primary alkyl halide with 0.1-10 mols. of a monobasic carboxylic acid at 100-400 DEG C., at a pressure of 0-210 kg/cm.2 g. for 1 minute to 48 hours to obtain the coresponding ester and hydrolysing the ester to the required primary alcohol. The alkyl halides are defined as having no halogen atoms attached to adjacent carbon atoms. The secondary and tertiary alkyl halides can be made by reacting an olefin with HCl or HBr or by chlorination or bromination of a saturated hydrocarbon. The esterification step is preferably effected in the presence of a catalyst which is a salt, preferably Mg, Ca, Al or Li, of the esterifying acid. The hydrolysis of the ester may be carried out using the conventional acidic or basic catalysts. Examples relate to the preparation of a 3,3-dimethylhexanol - 1/3 - methyl - 3 - ethylpentanol-1 mixture and 3,3-dimethyl pentanol.