High Pressure Synthesis of Succinic Acid from Acrylic Acid and Carbon Monoxide

Abstract

Kinetic studies have been made on the synthesis of succinic acid from acrylic acid and carbon monoxide in SO₃-H₂SO₄ medium.
Rate determinations have been carried out under such conditions that the reaction in liquid phase is rate-determining, which can be realized by reducing the concentration of the substrate with H₂SO₄.
The liquid phase reaction is of the first order with respect to the pressure of carbon monoxide and to the concentration of the sultone-like complex, respectively.
The over-all activation energy is found to be 24kcal mole^-1.