Patent ID: 7307183

Claim:
A method for preparing tetrabromobenzoate ester from tetrabromophthalic anhydride comprising the steps of: combining the tetrabromophthalic anhydride and an alcohol in at least one reaction vessel to form a first reaction mixture; heating the first reaction mixture to a temperature that favors partial esterification over complete esterification to form a tetrabromophthalate half-ester intermediate mixture; feeding the tetrabromophthalate half-ester intermediate mixture and a catalyst comprising alkali carbonates, alkali bicarbonates and caustic alkalis to at least one heated reactor having a temperature that favors decarboxylation over esterification; and maintaining the at least one reactor at the temperature that favors decarboxylation over esterification to produce a tetrabromobenzoate ester-containing product.