Poly ether preparation

• US 5,731,476 A
• Filed: 12/01/1995
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ARCO Chemical Technology, L.P. (Lyondellbasell Industries NV)
• Original Assignee: ARCO Chemical Technology, L.P. (Lyondellbasell Industries NV)
• Inventors: Shawl, Edward T., Gupta, Vijai P., Kesling, Haven S. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Geist, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): PADMANABHAN, SREENIVASAN
• Application Number:
  US08/566,382
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 568/619, 568/617, 568/618, 568/613
• US Class Current: 568/619
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 41/06 by addition of organic compounds only
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 41/09 by dehydration of compounds containing hydroxy groups
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 43/04 Saturated ethers
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 43/046 Alkyl tert-alkyl ether, e.g. CH3OC(CH3)3
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 43/13 containing hydroxy or O-metal groups C07C43/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 43/135 having more than one ether bond

Abstract

Polyethers of polyhydric compounds are prepared by the liquid phase reaction of polyhydric compound and the reaction being carried out with separate liquid phases comprised of a polar polyhydric compound phase and an organic polyether containing phase.

Claims

1. In a process for the preparation of a polyether by reaction of a polyhydric compound having at least 3 hydroxyl groups per molecule with a C₅ -C₁₀ tertiary olefin or a C₄ -C₁₀ tertiary alkanol or ether, or by reaction of isobutylene with a polyhydric compound having more than 3 hydroxyl groups per molecule in the presence of an acid catalyst the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction in the liquid phase while maintaining separate phases comprised of a polar polyhydric compound phase and a hydrocarbon phase.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the polar phase comprises at least 30% by weight of the reaction mixture.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the polar phase is comprised of at least 50 wt % polyhydric compound.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the polar phase is comprised of at least 60 wt % polyhydric compound.

5. In a process for the preparation of di-t-butyl glycerine by reaction of t-butanol with glycerine in the presence of an acid catalyst the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction in the liquid phase with a hydrocarbon solvent while maintaining separate phases comprised of a polar glycerine phase and a hydrocarbon solvent phase and recovering product di-t-butyl glycerine from the hydrocarbon solvent phase.

6. In a process for the preparation of di-t-amyl glycerine by reaction of tertiary amylene with glycerine in the presence of an acid catalyst the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction in the liquid phase while maintaining separate phases comprised of a polar glycerine phase and a t-amylene phase and recovering product di-t-amyl glycerine from the t-amylene phase.