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US4232170A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Process for homogeneous hydrogenation of esters

Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
•
Filing: 1979-01-31
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Granted: 1980-11-04
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Expires: 1999-01-31
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Abstract

Abstract A novel process is described for the homogeneous hydrogenation of carboxylic acid esters to primary alcohols utilizing anionic Group VIII metal hydride compositions as catalysts which contain phosphorus, arsenic or antimony organoligands. Use of these anionic catalysts allows the process to be conducted in solution under mild conditions of temperature and pressure with high selectivity and eliminates the disadvantages of utilizing heterogeneous catalysts. A process is also described for decarbonylating formate esters utilizing said compositions as catalysts.

Inventors

  • 👤 Roger A. Grey
  • 👤 Guido P. Pez

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 12:57
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07C; C07C29/00; C07C29/132; C07C29/136; C07C29/147; C07C29/149; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/50; Y02P20/52

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 108 words
A process for hydrogenating an ester selected from the group consisting of methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, methyl propionate, methyl trifluoroacetate, trifluoroethyl triflouroacetate and dimethyl oxalate, comprising contacting a solution of hydrogenation catalyst and said ester, neat or in an inert solvent therefor, with an atmosphere containing hydrogen gas, at a temperature of about 0° to 150° C., under a pressure of about 0 to 150 psig (101 to 1135 kPa absolute) of gaseous hydrogen, said catalyst being of the group consisting of potassium tris (triphenylphosphine) ruthenium hydride, potassium triphenylphosphine diphenylphosphide ruthenium hydride, potassium tris (triphenylphosphite) ruthenium hydride, potassium tris triphenylphosphine rhodium hydride, and potassium tris (methyldiphenylphosphine) ruthenium hydride.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 108 words
A process for hydrogenating an ester selected from the group consisting of methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, methyl propionate, methyl trifluoroacetate, trifluoroethyl triflouroacetate and dimethyl oxalate, comprising contacting a solution of hydrogenation catalyst and said ester, neat or in an inert solvent therefor, with an atmosphere containing hydrogen gas, at a temperature of about 0° to 150° C., under a pressure of about 0 to 150 psig (101 to 1135 kPa absolute) of gaseous hydrogen, said catalyst being of the group consisting of potassium tris (triphenylphosphine) ruthenium hydride, potassium triphenylphosphine diphenylphosphide ruthenium hydride, potassium tris (triphenylphosphite) ruthenium hydride, potassium tris triphenylphosphine rhodium hydride, and potassium tris (methyldiphenylphosphine) ruthenium hydride.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 11 words
Process of claim 1 wherein any inert solvent employed is toluene.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 11 words
Process of claim 2 wherein the ester hydrogenated is methyl acetate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 11 words
Process of claim 2 wherein the ester hydrogenated is dimethyl oxalate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 11 words
Process of claim 2 wherein the ester hydrogenated is methyl trifluoroacetate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 11 words
Process of claim 2 wherein the ester hydrogenated is trifluoroethyl trifluoroacetate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
Process of claim 6 wherein the catalyst is potassium triphenylphosphine diphenylphosphide ruthenium hydride.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
Process of claim 7 further comprising regenerating the catalyst by action of sodium trimethoxy borohydride.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3110747A Cited
GB1246123A Cited
US3957827A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-11-04 1984-05-05 1984-11-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-11-04 1988-05-05 1988-11-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-11-04 1992-05-05 1992-11-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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