Utilization of Carbon-monoxide.II

Reaction of Di-or Tri-isobutylene with CO using BF3 Catalyst.

Abstract

Carboxylation of di- and triisobutylene or tripropylene with CO and water with pressure at 100 atm and at 200°C-320°C in the presence of BF₃ hydrate catalyst yielded mainly of pivalic acid and C5-fatty acid from the former two and the latter yielded mainly of C₁₀-fatty acid.
Namely, isobutylene polymer was more unstable than propylene polymer. The former was decomposed into isobutylene monomer under this experimental condition and it showed carboxylation reaction at a certain reaction velocity, while the latter was stable and the carboxylation reaction was proceeded at the olefin bonding in C₉-side chain, without decomposing into propylene monomer. Thus, the yield of C₁₀-acid from propylene system was rather low in comparison with the yield of C₅-acid from isobutylene system, and these differences became more apparent at higher temperature.These facts explain clearly the relations between the velocity of carboxylation reaction of diand triisobutylene, and triisopropylene, carboxylation velocity of isobutylene monomer and the velocity of decomposition of di- and triisobutylene.It is interesting to note that there were considerable differences in yield of acid by the difference of reaction vessel (copper and stainless steel SUS 7).