Patent GB-456049-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in the production of esters
IPC: C07F9/12
Filed: 1935-01-26
Abstract: Cresylic acid of boiling point 201--203 DEG  C., which is substantially a mixture of m- and p-cresols, is esterified with phosphoric acid.  The resulting tricresyl phosphates may be purified by treatment with alkali solution and/or a permanganate. Esterification is effected by the action of a phosphorus oxyhalide on the cresylic acid or by treating an alkali salt of the acid with a phosphorus oxyhalide or phosphorus pentachloride.  The purified phosphates are non-toxic in character and may be added to compositions comprising cellulose esters or ethers, resins or rubber. Thus, they may be employed as plasticizers, waterproofing agents and fireproofing agents for cellulose esters and ethers by incorporating them in moulding powders containing the cellulose derivative or in filament- or film-forming solutions thereof, using quantities of up to 50 per cent of the cellulose derivative. They may be added as plasticizers to lacquers and other coating compositions for waterproofing, moisture-proofing and sizing, or to synthetic films, fabrics and paper by incorporating them in a plastic of gum or resins, or to nitrocellulose lacquers, transformer oil, waxes, polishes and ink, or used as a vehicle for grinding pigments.  They may also be used as a modifier for rubber and resins and as a detergent in soap.  Cellulose derivatives mentioned are cellulose nitrate, acetate, formate, propionate and butyrate, as well as ethyl, methyl and benzyl cellulose.  The compositions may also contain pigments and filling materials, e.g. powdered metal, metal oxides, natural fibres, lampblack and logwood, dyes or lakes, softeners, e.g. castor and linseed oils, and other plasticizers, e.g. dimethyl and diethyl phthalates and ethyl toluene sulphonamide.  Coating compositions contain the tricresyl phosphates together with gum dammar, paraffin wax, alcohol, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, toluene and benzene.  As examples of substances to be employed as lubricants for textiles prepared from cellulose ester and ether compositions, reference is made to olive oil, light mineral oil, petroleum jelly and ethoxy butyrate, and as examples of sizes, wax, gelatins, starches, gums and salts of resins and glycerides.  The phosphates may also be used for the recovery of phenols and amines from coal- and peat-distillation gas liquors in the process described in U.S.A. Specification 1,826,369.  The purified cresyl phosphates are particularly useful as plasticizers in cellulose ester and ether compositions used in the production of foils or coatings for foodstuffs, e.g. candies.  Being stable to light, they may be used in the preparation of photographic films.ALSO:Tricresyl phosphates prepared from cresylic acid of boiling point 201--203 DEG  C., which is substantially a mixture of m- and p-cresols, may be incorporated with compositions containing resins, or added to transformer oil, waxes and polishes, or used as a detergent in soaps.  Reference is made to coating-compositions containing the tricresyl phosphates together with gum dammar, paraffin wax, alcohol, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, toluene, and benzene.  Lubricants for fibres may be made of olive oil, light mineral oil, petroleum jelly and ethoxy butyrate, to which the phosphates are added.ALSO:Tricresyl phosphates prepared from cresylic acid of boiling point 201-203 DEG  C., which is substantially a mixture of m- and p-cresols, are added to compositions containing rubber.  The phosphates are non-toxic in character, particularly when purified by treatment with alkali solution and/or a permanganate.  The tricresyl phosphates may also be added to sizes for textiles prepared from cellulose ester and ether compositions which comprise wax, gelatins, starches, gums and salts of resins and glycerides.