GB1195467A - A Process for the Production of Glycol Esters of Carboxylic Acids - Google Patents

Abstract

1,195,467. Glycol esters of carboxylic acids. FARBENFABRIKEN BAYER A.G. 15 Feb., 1968 [24 Feb., 1967], No. 7359/68. Heading C2C. Glycol esters of carboxylic acids are prepared by reacting a water-soluble alkylene oxide, in aqueous medium, with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of a carboxylic acid of the formula wherein n represents 1 or 2, and R represents a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic radical or an unsubstituted or substituted aryl or arylene radical, the reaction being effected at a temperature in the range of from 5‹ to 100‹ C. and at a pH in the range of from 6 to 10, the inorganic base liberated during the reaction being neutralized continuously or stepwise by the addition of a dilute inorganic acid. Preferred saturated or unsaturated radicals R are those containing from 2 to 10 carbon atoms such as benzoic acid, salicylic acid, p-hydroxyethoxybenzene carboxylic acid, adipic acid, maleic acid, phthalic acid; and preferred unsubstituted or substituted aryl or arylene radicals R are those containing up to 10 carbon atoms in a ring, two such arylene radicals may also be attached to each other directly through a carbon-carbon bond, or through an oxygen or sulphur atom, or through a methylene bridge, and preferred substituents include halogen atoms, nitro groups, alkyl, alkoxy or hydroxyalkoxy groups, each having up to 4 carbon atoms or a hydroxy group in the ortho-position. Examples prepare mono- and di-(hydroxyethyl) adipate, di-(hydroxyethyl) terephthalate and hydroxyethyl p-hydroxyethoxybenzoate.