Patent ID: 8946471
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A process for oxidizing an alkyl-aromatic compound comprising: contacting an alkyl-aromatic compound, a solvent, a bromine source, a catalyst, and an oxidizing agent to produce a product comprising terephthalic acid and wherein a CIELAB b* value of the terephthalic acid is less than about 5; wherein the solvent comprises a carboxylic acid and an ionic liquid and wherein the solvent has a ratio of the carboxylic acid to the ionic liquid within a range of about 7:13 and 13:7 by weight; and wherein a cation of the ionic liquid is selected from the group consisting of imidazoles, pyrazoles, thiazoles, isothiazoles, azathiazoles, oxothiazoles, oxazolines, oxazaboroles, dithiazoles, triazoles, selenozoles, oxaphospholes, pyrroles, boroles, furans, thiophenes, phospholes, pentazoles, indoles, indulines, oxazoles, isothiazoles, tetrazoles, benzofuran, dibenzofurans, benzothiophenes, dibenzpthiophenes, thiadiazoles, pyrdines, pyrimidines, pyrazines, pyridazines, piperazines, piperidines, morpholines, pyrans, anilines, phthalazines, quinazolines, quinoxaline, and combinations thereof.