Patent ID: 6713656
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for preparing 1,1,2-tetramethoxyethane or 1,1,2,2-tetraethoxyethane by reacting from 40 to 75% by weight aqueous glyoxal with methanol or ethanol in the presence of an acid catalyst, which comprises contacting a liquid mixture which, at the beginning of the reaction, comprises the methanol or ethanol and glyoxal in a molar ratio of at least 15:1 and also water in a concentration of not more than 8% by weight with the acid catalyst until concentration in the reaction mixture of the diacetal formed reaches at least 70% of the equilibrium concentration without more than 5% by weight of the methanol or ethanol used having already been distilled off.