Patent ID: 7153981

Claim:
A process for preparing a reaction product comprising an alpha-methylene lactone of the Formula II, said process comprising combining a lactone of the Formula I with formaldehyde derived from a formaldehyde source and a solvent to produce a reaction mixture, wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, and straight or branched C 3 –C 5 alkyl; at a temperature and pressure sufficient to cause the reaction mixture to exist as a supercritical or near-critical fluid, said temperature being sufficient to cause the formation of said alpha-methylene lactone of Formula II; said reaction mixture being in the presence of a catalyst; said catalyst being an oxynitride catalyst of the nominal formula Al 1 Si x P (O (4+2x)−y) )N 2/3 y wherein; X=0 to 1, and Y=0.001 to 2.