Low Pressure Koch Reaction by Cu(CO)_n⁺-H₂SO₄-H₃PO₄-H₂O Catalyst (Part 1)

Low Pressure Koch Reaction of Isobutylene Oligomers

Abstract

Industrialization of low pressure Koch reaction of isobutylene oligomers with Cu(I) carbonyl catalysts was studied. The important technical attainments of this study consist of improved yield per one batch reaction and recycling of catalysts, and the development of a highly active, selective, and long-life Cu(CO)_n⁺-H₂SO₄-H₃PO₄-H₂O catalyst system. With this Cu(CO)_n⁺-H₂SO₄-H₃PO₄-H₂O catalyst (Cu: 1.5wt%), triisobutylene was converted to highly pure tert-carboxylic acids composed of C_5-8 acids (14.3%), C₉ acids (18.2%) and C₁₃ acids (67.5%) under the CO pressure of 1.6MPa at 5°C. The catalyst could be reused in the next reaction after extraction of the carboxylic acids.