Patent ID: 6034254
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: C07D

Abstract:
A process comprising (1) contacting a conjugated diene with sulfur dioxide under conditions sufficient to synthesize a crude sulfolene compound whereby a mixture of said crude sulfolene compound and impurities comprising unreacted sulfur dioxide is produced; (2) transferring said mixture to an impurities removal reactor containing a solvent; (3) removing said impurities under a reduced pressure to produce an impurities-reduced sulfolene compound; (4) transferring said impurities-reduced sulfolene compound to a hydrogenation reactor; (5) contacting said impurities-reduced sulfolene compound with hydrogen, in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, under conditions sufficient to produce a sulfolane compound; and (6) contacting said sulfolane with an oxidizing agent to produce an odor-reduced or substantially odorless sulfolane compound.