Patent ID: 6838515

Claim:
Process for the preparation of esters of (meth)acrylic acid comprising (trans)esterifying (meth)acrylic acid or its ester derivatives with monohydric or polyhydric alcohols in the presence of an acidic (trans)esterification catalyst selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, monoester of sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, monoester of phosphoric acid, para-toluene sulfonic acid, benzene sulfonic acid, styrene sulfonic acid and methane sulfonic acid, wherein said process after the formation of the esters of (meth)acrylic acid further comprises reacting free acid groups with a neutralizing system comprising one or more component(s), wherein at least one component is selected from the group consisting of an oxetane compound or derivative thereof, an ortho-ester compound, and an alcohol compound or a mixture of two or more of said compounds and forms with at least said acid (trans)esterification catalyst an ester compound not having a β-hydroxyl group or an amid compound, wherein the neutralizing system is used in an amount of about 300 mol % or less, relative to the total amount of acids.