Patent ID: 6316664
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: C07C,C08F,C08G

Abstract:
A process for preparing a hydroxyl-containing compound of the formula R.sup.2 OH and a formic ester of a hydroxy-containing compound of the formula R.sup.3 OOCH, comprising transesterifying a formic ester of an organic hydroxyl-containing compound having the formula R.sup.2 OOCH and an organic hydroxyl-containing compound of the formula R.sup.3 OH in the presence of a transesterification catalyst according to the equation:R.sup.2 OOCH+R.sup.3 OH.revreaction.R.sup.3 OOCH+R.sup.2 OHwherein the transesterification catalyst consists essentially of a tertiary amine catalyst selected from the group consisting of a tertiary amine having the formula R.sup.a R.sup.b R.sup.c N, wherein R.sup.a,R.sup.b and R.sup.c are each, independently, optionally substituted branched or unbranched alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl or optionally substituted aromatic hydrocarbon; andwherein R.sup.2 is an optionally substituted, branched or linear C.sub.1 -C.sub.30 alkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aromatic hydrocarbon or C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 cycloalkyl; and R.sup.3 is an organic group.