Patent ID: 8022244

Claim:
A process for producing a composition comprising a benzoate mixture of isononyl benzoate and one or more benzoic esters whose alkoxy groups have from 7 to 13 carbon atoms, wherein said process comprises: reacting in a reaction mixture, via an esterification reaction, benzoic acid with an alcohol comprising a mixture of isononanol and at least one alcohol having from 7 to 13 carbon atoms present, wherein the alcohol is used in stoichiometric excess, wherein the esterification reaction takes place at a reaction temperature of from 180° C. to 210° C. in the presence of a tin(II) catalyst selected from the group consisting of tin(II) chloride, tin(II) sulfate and tin(II) benzoate, and wherein the esterification reaction takes place in the presence of a solvent consisting of the alcohol; removing from the reaction mixture by azeotropic vacuum distillation a liquid comprising water being formed during the esterification reaction, and unreacted alcohol, wherein the azeotropic vacuum distillation is carried out at a distillation temperature of from 180° C. to 210° C. and at a distillation pressure of from 10 mbar to 320 mbar; removing from the reaction mixture after completion of the esterification reaction unreacted alcohol; and directly filtering or centrifuging off from the reaction mixture at a temperature of 100-130° C., without base treatment and without additional purification, tin(II) catalyst remaining after the removal of unreacted alcohol to produce the benzoate mixture having a tin(II) concentration of less than 1 mg/kg (ppm).