Patent ID: 6455712
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: C07D

Abstract:
A process for preparing oxirane compounds, which process comprises the steps of:(i) oxidizing an alkylaryl to obtain a stream comprising alkylaryl hydroperoxide, (ii) contacting at least part of the alkylaryl hydroperoxide obtained in step (i) with an olefin in the presence of a catalyst comprising titanium in combination with silica and/or silicate to obtain a product stream comprising an oxirane compound and alkylaryl hydroxyl, (iii) reacting part of the alkylaryl hydroperoxide obtained in step (i) to obtain a mixture comprising (a) phenol, and (b) a ketone and/or aldehyde, and (c) optionally by-products, (iv) separating oxirane compound from the product stream of step (ii) to obtain (a) a residual product stream and (b) oxirane, and (v) contacting at least a part of the residual product stream with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a copper compound, a zinc compound and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of aluminum, zirconium, magnesium, a rare earth metal and mixtures thereof to obtain alkylaryl, wherein at least a part of said alkylaryl is recycled to step (i).