PROCESS FOR THE MONOEPOXIDATION OF COMPOUNDS CONTAINING TWO DOUBLE BONDS

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the monoepoxida­ tion of compounds containing two olephinic double bonds by means of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst constituted by a Si-Ti synthetic zeolite (titanium-silicalite), wherein Ti and Si in the form of their oxides TiO₂ and SiO₂ have a molar ratio in the zeolite corresponding to the formula x TiO₂.(1-x)SiO₂ with x being comprised within the range of from 0.0001 to 0.04, preferably of from 0.0055 to 0.036, possibly in the presence of at least one solvent of polar nature, by operating with the heterogeneous catalyst being dispersed in the liquid phase at a temperature of from 0°C to 150°C, and under a pressure comprised within the range of from 0.1 abs.atm to 20 abs.atm.

Description: The present invention relates to a process for the monoepoxidation with H O of compounds containing two 22 olephinic double bonds. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for the monoepoxidation with H 202 of compounds with two olephinic double bonds containing at least an allyl group, or of diolephinic compounds. It is known that hydrogen peroxide is capable of epoxidizing monoolephinically unsaturated compounds. The process is known in particular as disclosed in the Italian Patent Application 22608 A/82, according to which the olephins can be epoxidized by means of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a synthetic zeolite (titanium-silicalite) containing Ti atoms replacing silicon inside silica's crystalline lattice. It is known that the epoxidation occurs in correspondence of the olephinic double bonds, so that compounds containing two double bonds were thought to yield di-epoxides on epoxidation. It has been surprisingly found that compounds containing two double bonds can be transformed into monoepoxides by hydrogen peroxide, by using the titaniumsilicalite of the above-mentioned Italian Patent Application, when inside their molecules the double bonds are separated by less than 8 carbon atoms, or equivalent groups (-0-, -N-, -SO2-, and the like). The process being the object of the present inven tion is particularly valuable for compounds with two double bonds containing at least an allyl group, or for diolephinic compounds with a number of carbon atoms not lower than four, in particular butadiene-1,3. The process being the object of the present invention comprises placing the compound with two double bonds in contact with hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution at a concentration of from 3% to 70% by weight, in the presence of a catalyst constituted by titaniumsilicalite (Si-Ti synthetic zeolite, wherein Ti and Si in the form of their oxides TiO and SiO have a molar 2 2 ratio in the zeolite corresponding to the formula x TiO .(1-x)SiO 2 2 with x being comprised within the range of from 0.0001 to 0.04, preferably of from 0.0055to 0.036 )and possibly in the presence of at least one solvent of polar nature As for the solvents which can be used according to the present invention, they are in particular alcohols, ketones, ethers, glycol-ethers, glycols, with a number of carbon atoms lower than ot equal to 6. More preferably, among alcohols methanol or tert.butanol; among ketones, acetone; and among ethers, (2) methoxy-(1)-propanol can be used. As for the titanium-silicalite to be used as the catalyst according to the invention, it is in particular disclosed in Belgian Patent N. 886812. We report hereinunder the process for the preparation of titanium-silicalite, and the properties thereof. The process for the preparation of titanium-silicalite comprises the preparation of a reaction mixture free or substantially free from alkaline metals, constituted by sources of silicon oxide, and titanium oxide, a nitrogen-containing organic base and water, having a composition, as expressed in terms of reactants'molar ratios, defined as follows: Reactants Molar ratios Preferably SiO /TiO 5-200 35-65 2 2 OH/SiO 0.1-1.0 0.3-0.6 2 H O/SiO 20-200 60-100 2 2 RN+/SiO 0.1-2.0 0.4-1.0 2 By RN+, we have indicated the nitrogen-containing organic cation deriving from the organic base used for the preparation of titanium-silicalite (TS-1). The source of silicon oxide can be a tetraalkylorthosilicate, preferably tetraethyl-orthosilicate, or also simply a silica in colloidal form. The source of titanium oxide is a hydrolizable titanium compound preferably selected among TiCl41 TiOCl , Ti-(alkoxy) , preferably Ti (OC H ) 4 254 The organic base is tetraalkyl-ammonium hydroxide, in particular tetrapropyl-ammonium hydroxide. The mixture of reactants undergoes a hydrothermal treatment in autoclave at temperatures comprised within the range of from 130 to 2000C, under the autogenous pressure, and for a time of from 6 to 30 days, until the crystals of titanium-silicalite (TS-1) precursor have been formed; such crystals are separated from mother solution, thoroughly washed with water and dried; in the anhydrous state, they have the following composition: x Ti 0 . (1-x) Si O , 0.04 (RN +) O. 2 2 2 Precursor's crystals are heated for from 1 to 72 hours in air, at 550 C, to the purpose of completely removing the nitrogen-containing organic base. End TS-1 has the composition: x Ti O . (l-x) Si O 2 2 with x being as hereinabove defined, i.e., ranging from 0.0001 to 0.04, preferably from 0.0055 to 0.036. TS-1 can contain alkaline metals in concentrations of up to 50 ppm, and possibly iron up to 30 ppm. TS-1 is of silicalite type, and all titanium replaces silicon. The synthetic material shows characteristics which are evidenced by X-ray and I.R. analyses. X-Ray analysis is carried out by diffractometer for powders, provided with electronic system for impulse counting, using CuK radiation. Titanium-silicalites (TS-1) are characterized by an X-ray diffraction spectrum, as shown in Fig. Ib; such spectrum is roughly similar to silicalite's typical spectrum (Fig. lea); it shows however some clearly "singlet" reflections wherein, in pure silicalite's spectrum doublet reflections are evident. As the differences in TS-I and silicalite spectra are relatively minor, a particular precision is required in spectrum detection; for such a reason, TS-1 and silicalite have been examined with the same equipment, using as well Al O as internal standard. 23 In Table 1 the most significant data are reported from spectra of a TS-1 with x = 0.017, and of a pure silicalite. The constants of lattice's elemental cell have been determined by means of the method of minimum squares, on the basis of the values of interplanar distances of 7-8 single reflections comprised within the range of 10400 28. A large number of the values of TS-1 interplanar distances trend to be, even if slightly, higher than corresponding ones of pure silicalite, according to the higher values foreseeable for the Ti-O hond length, than for Si-O bond. The turning from a doublet to a single reflection is interpreted as a turning from a monoclinic (pseudoorthorhombic) symmetry (silicalite) to a real orthorhombic symmetry, "titanium-silicalite" (TS-1). In Fig. 1, the most evident spectrum differences as above are indicated by arrows. Infrared analysis TS-1 shows a characteristic absorption band at about 950 cm 1 (see Fig. 2, spectra B, C and D), which is not present in the spectrum of pure silicalite (Fig. 2, spectrum A), as well as it is absent from spectra of titanium oxides (rutile, anatase) and of alkaline titanates. Spectrum B is the spectrum of TS-1 with 5% of TiO2 by mole; spectrum C is that of TS-1 with 8% of TiO2 by mole; and spectrum D is finally that of TS-1 with 23% of TiO2 by mole. As it can be seen in Figure 2, the intensity of the band at about 950 cm 1 increases with increasing content of silicon-replacing titanium in silicalite structure. Morphology From a morphological point of view, TS-1 appears as parallelepipedons with beveled corners. An examination carried out by X-ray microprobe has demonstrated that the distribution of titanium inside the crystal is perfectly uniform, thus confirming that titanium is replacing silicon inside the silicalite lattice structure, and is not present in other forms. As for the reaction conditions, it must be observed that an excess of compound with two double bonds in rection medium can be used when said compound can be easily distilled off under vacuum at low enough temperature. In this way, the reaction proceeds up to the desired conversion and the excess can be easily removed without excessively heating the mixture containing the epoxidized derivative, which is usually heat-sensible. On the contrary, when said method cannot be practiced, in that the compound cannot be easlily distilled in vacuo at low enough temperature, an excess is used of H202, and this latter is removed by water-washing. After this washing step, removing the solvent in vacuo, without distilling the product is enough. As for the catalyst, it is removed at the end of reaction by filtration or centrifuging. The temperature and the pressure used during the reaction are such as to maintain the whole mass in the liquid phase, and are respectively comprised within the ranges of from 0 C to 1500C, and of from 0.1 to 20 abs. atm. We are now supplying Examples to the purpose of better illustrating the invention, it being to be understood that the invention is not to be considered as being limited to them or by them. Example 1 Allyl glycidyl carbonate (AGC) To 50 g of diallylcarbonate (DAC) (0.35 mol) in 20 cc of methanol, plus 1,5 g of titanium-silicalite (%TiO2 =4.0; Fe = 6 ppm; Na = 42 ppm; K = 3 ppm), 6 cc of 60% H 0 (0.14 mol) are added, and the mixture is stirred 22 - for 6 hours at 20 C. The reaction mixture is centrifuged to the purpose of removing the catalyst, and the solvent and excess DAC are distilled off in vacuo (450C under (23g) 0.1 torr), a residu containing 93% of AGC (the balance being constituted by diglycidylcarbonate), peroxidefree, being obtained. If obtaining a more pure product is desired, a distillation in vacuo (85 - 900C under 0.1 torr) can be carried out, with a yield of 20 g of pure AGC. Example 2 Glycidyl acrylate To 40 cc of allyl acrylate (0.35 mol) in 200 cc of acetone, plus titanium-silicalite (5 g) (the same as of Example 1), 20 ml of 60% H202 (0.44 mol) are added. After a 15-hour stirring at 200C, a centrifuging is carried out to remove the catalyst, then 200 cc each of water and toluene are added to extract the organic portion. The aqueous phase is washed with further 100 cc of toluene. To the combined organic extracts 1 mg is added of hydroquinone monomethyl ether as stabilizer, and solvent and unconverted allyl acryalte are disilled off in vacuo at room temperature. A residue is obtained of 33.1 g of glycidyl acrylate, pure enough not to be distilled. Example 3 Glycidyl metacrylate The same process as used for glycidyl acrylate is used, starting from allyl metacrylate (45 g). Thirtyfive grams of not-distilled glycidyl metacrylate are obtained. - Example 4 Butadiene monoepoxide Into a 250-cc flask, 50 g of molten tert.butyl alcohol plus 1 g of titanium-silicalite (TiO = 2.80; 2 Na = 9 ppm; K = 2 ppm; Fe = 30 ppm) are placed. Butadiene is bubbled at the rate of 1.5 l/h, under stirring, and contemporaneously 5 cc of 60% H O (0.11 mol), 22 diluted in 10 cc of tert.butyl alcohol, are added dropwise over a 1-hour time, while keeping the temperature at 20 - 250C. At the end of the addition, butadiene bubbling is continued for a further 3 hours. The reaction mixture is then centrifuged to remove the catalyst, and is distilled on a rectification column, 5.5 g of butadiene monoepoxide (boiling point 650C) being obtained. Example 5 Allylglycidylether (AGE) To 30 g of diallylether (DAE) (0.3 mol) in 25 cc of methanol plus 1 g of titanium-silicalite (as of Example 4), 9 cc of 60% H 0 (0.2 mol) are added. The reaction 22 mixture is kept stirred for 2 hours at 20at. The reaction mixture is centrifuged to remove the catalyst, and the solvent and excess of DAE are distilled in vacuo at room temperature. As the residue, 17.5 g of 95%-pure AGE are obtained. TABLE 1 TS - 1 Silicalite Interplanar Relative Interplanar Relai 2Z, distance, d Intensity 26, distance, d Inter (CuK a) (A) (b) (CuK ) (A) (l 7.94 11.14 vs 7.94 11.14 vs 8.85 9.99 5 8,85 9.99 s 9.08 9.74 m 9.08 9.74 m 13.21 6.702 w 13.24 6.687 w 13.92 6.362 mw 13.95 6.348 mw 14.78 5.993 mw 14.78 5.993 mw 15.55 5.698 w 15.55 5.698 15.90 5.574 w 15.90 5.574 w 17.65 5.025 w 17.65 5.025 w 17.81 4.980 w 17.83 4.975 w 20.37 4.360 w 20.39 4.355 w 20.85 4.260 mw 20.87 4.256 mw 23.07 3.855 s 23.08 3.853 s 23.28 3.821 ms 23.29 3.819 s 23.37 3.806 ms 23.71 3.753 ms 23.72 3.751 s 23.80 3.739 ms 23.92 3.720 s 23.94 3.717 s 24.35 3.655 mw 24.41 3.646 m 24.60 3.619 mw 25.84 3.448 w 25.87 3.444 w 25.97 3.431 w 26.87 3.318 w* 26.95 3.308 29.23 3.055 w 29.27 3.051 mw 29.45 3.033 w 29.90 2.988 mw 29.90 2.988 mw 30. S 2.946 w 30.25 2.954 w 45.00 2.014 mw * 45.05 2.012 mw 45.49 1.994 mw* 45.60 1.989 mw (a) Prepared according to the modalities as disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,061,724; product calcined at 550 C. (b) vs = very strong; s = strong; ms = medium-strong; m = medium; mw = medium-weak; w = weak; * = multiplet.

Claims: C 1 a i m s 1. Process for the monoepoxidation of compounds containing two olephinic double bonds by means of hydrogen peroxide, wherein the compound containing two double bonds has its double bonds separated by a number of carbon atoms, or of equivalent groups, lower than 8, characterized in that the reaction between the compound containing two double bonds and hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of from 3 to 70% by weight occurs by placing said two reactants in the presence of a catalyst constituted by a Si-Ti synthetic zeolite, wherein Ti and Si, in the form of their oxides TiO and SiO have a 2 2 molar ratio in the zeolite corresponding to the formula x TiO2.(1-x)SiO2 with x being comprised within the range of from 0.0001 to 0.04, possibly in the presence of at least one solvent of polar nature, at such temperatures, and under such pressures as to keep the whole reaction mass in the liquid phase. 2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that x is comprised within the range of from 0.0055 to 0.036. 3. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the solvent of polar nature is selected among alcohols, ketones, ethers, glycols, glycol-ethers with a number of carbon atoms lower than or equal to 6. 4. Process according to claim 3, wherein the alcohols are selected among methanol and tert.butanol. 5. Process according to claim 3, wherein the ketone is acetone. 6. Process according to claim 3, wherein the ether is (2)methoxy(1)=propanol. 7. Process according to claim 1, wherein the temperature is comprised within the range of from 0 C to 150 C, and the pressure is comprised within the range of from 0.1 to 20 abs. atm.

Inventors: MASPERO, FEDERICO, ROMANO, UGO
Applicants: ENICHEM SYNTHESIS S.P.A.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: C07D301
IPC codes: C07D303, B01J27, B01J29, C07D301, C07B61