Transesterifications

Some esters of substituted alcohols have been synthesized by transesterification. Treatment of 4-methyl-5-thiazolecarboxylic acid (14) with 3-chloroethyldiethylamine in acetone in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate gives the desired ester (15) in good vield (60%) (Scheme 10) (163). 

Rea.ctlons, The chemistry of butanediol is deterrnined by the two primary hydroxyls. Esterification is normal. It is advisable to use nonacidic catalysts for esterification and transesterification (122) to avoid cycHc dehydration. When carbonate esters are prepared at high dilutions, some cycHc ester is formed more concentrated solutions give a polymeric product (123). With excess phosgene the usefiil bischloroformate can be prepared (124). 

Acryhc esters may be saponified, converted to other esters (particularly of higher alcohols by acid catalyzed alcohol interchange), or converted to amides by aminolysis. Transesterification is comphcated by the azeotropic behavior of lower acrylates and alcohols but is useful in preparation of higher alkyl acrylates. 

Higher alkyl acrylates and alkyl-functional esters are important in copolymer products, in conventional emulsion appHcations for coatings and adhesives, and as reactants in radiation-cured coatings and inks. In general, they are produced in direct or transesterification batch processes (17,101,102) because of their relatively low volume. 

Transesterification of a lower acrylate ester and a higher alcohol (102,103) can be performed using a variety of catalysts and conditions chosen to provide acceptable reaction rates and to minimize by-product formation and polymerization. 

Dialkylaminoethyl acryhc esters are readily prepared by transesterification of the corresponding dialkylaminoethanol (102,103). Catalysts include strong acids and tetraalkyl titanates for higher alkyl esters and titanates, sodium phenoxides, magnesium alkoxides, and dialkyitin oxides, as well as titanium and zirconium chelates, for the preparation of functional esters. Because of loss of catalyst activity during the reaction, incremental or continuous additions may be required to maintain an adequate reaction rate. 

RandomiZation/Interesterification. Transesterification occurs when a carboxyUc acid (acidolysis) or alcohol (alcoholysis) reacts with an ester to produce a different ester (20). Ester—ester interchange is also a form of transesterification. If completely unsaturated triglyceride oil (UUU) reacts with a totally saturated fat (SSS) in the presence of an active catalyst such as sodium, potassium, or sodium alkoxide, triglycerides of intermediate composition may be formed. 

Alternative technology for modifying a poly(aLkylene terephthalate) by incorporation of a phosphinate stmcture has been developed by Enichem. Phosphinate units of the stmcture —P(CgH5) (0)CH20— are introduced into a polyester such as PET or PBT by transesterification with an oligomer comprised of the aforementioned units (136). 

PET) is produced by esterification of terephthahc acid [100-21 -0] (1) to form bishydroxyethyl terephthalate [959-26-2] (BHET) (2). BHET polymerizes in a transesterification reaction catalyzed by antimony oxide to form PET (3). 

Glycols may undergo intramolecular cyclization or cycHcaHy condense with other molecules to form a number of ring stmctures. Transesterification of carbonates with ethylene glycol produces ethylene carbonate [96-49-1] (eq. 4). Numerous materials catalyze carbonate transesterifications. 

Esters. Neopentyl glycol diesters are usually Hquids or low melting soflds. Polyesters of neopentyl glycol, and in particular unsaturated polyesters, are prepared by reaction with polybasic acids at atmospheric pressure. High molecular weight linear polyesters (qv) are prepared by the reaction of neopentyl glycol and the ester (usually the methyl ester) of a dibasic acid through transesterification (37—38). The reaction is usually performed at elevated temperatures, in vacuo, in the presence of a metallic catalyst. 

Cychc carbonates are prepared in satisfactory quaUty for anionic polymerization by catalyzed transesterification of neopentyl glycol with diaryl carbonates, followed by tempering and depolymerization. Neopentyl carbonate (5,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxan-2-one) (6) prepared in this manner has high purity (99.5%) and can be anionically polymerized to polycarbonates with mol wt of 35,000 (39). 

Manufacture. Cyanoacetic acid and cyanoacetates are iadustrially produced by the same route as the malonates starting from a sodium chloroacetate solution via a sodium cyanoacetate solution. Cyanoacetic acid is obtained by acidification of the sodium cyanoacetate solution followed by organic solvent extraction and evaporation. Cyanoacetates are obtained by acidification of the sodium cyanoacetate solution and subsequent esterification with the water formed being distilled off. Other processes reported ia the Hterature iavolve the oxidation of partially oxidized propionittile [107-12-0] (59). Higher esters of cyanoacetic acid are usually made through transesterification of methyl cyanoacetate ia the presence of alumiaiumisopropoxide [555-31-7] as a catalyst (60). 

Most large-scale industrial methacrylate processes are designed to produce methyl methacrylate or methacryhc acid. In some instances, simple alkyl alcohols, eg, ethanol, butanol, and isobutyl alcohol, maybe substituted for methanol to yield the higher alkyl methacrylates. In practice, these higher alkyl methacrylates are usually prepared from methacryhc acid by direct esterification or transesterification of methyl methacrylate with the desired alcohol. 

Transesterification of methyl methacrylate with the appropriate alcohol is often the preferred method of preparing higher alkyl and functional methacrylates. The reaction is driven to completion by the use of excess methyl methacrylate and by removal of the methyl methacrylate—methanol a2eotrope. A variety of catalysts have been used, including acids and bases and transition-metal compounds such as dialkjitin oxides (57), titanium(IV) alkoxides (58), and zirconium acetoacetate (59). The use of the transition-metal catalysts allows reaction under nearly neutral conditions and is therefore more tolerant of sensitive functionality in the ester alcohol moiety. In addition, transition-metal catalysts often exhibit higher selectivities than acidic catalysts, particularly with respect to by-product ether formation. 

Polycarbonates are prepared commercially by two processes Schotten-Baumaim reaction of phosgene (qv) and an aromatic diol in an amine-cataly2ed interfacial condensation reaction or via base-cataly2ed transesterification of a bisphenol with a monomeric carbonate. Important products are also based on polycarbonate in blends with other materials, copolymers, branched resins, flame-retardant compositions, foams (qv), and other materials (see Flame retardants). Polycarbonate is produced globally by several companies. Total manufacture is over 1 million tons aimuaHy. Polycarbonate is also the object of academic research studies, owing to its widespread utiUty and unusual properties. Interest in polycarbonates has steadily increased since 1984. Over 4500 pubflcations and over 9000 patents have appeared on polycarbonate. Japan has issued 5654 polycarbonate patents since 1984 Europe, 1348 United States, 777 Germany, 623 France, 30 and other countries, 231. 

The historical direct reaction route, which utilised phosgenation of a solution of BPA in pyridine, proved inefficient commercially because of the need for massive pyridine recycle. Calcium hydroxide was used as an HCl scavenger for a period of time. In the historical transesterification process, BPA and diphenyl carbonate are heated in the melt in the presence of a catalyst, driving off by-product phenol, which is recycled to diphenyl carbonate. Using a series of reactors providing higher heat and vacuum, the product polymer was eventually produced as a neat melt. 

Transesterification. There has been renewed interest in the transesterification process for preparation of polycarbonate because of the desire to transition technology to environmentally friendly processes. The transesterification process utilizes no solvent during polymerization, producing neat polymer direcdy and thus chlorinated solvents may be entirely eliminated. General Electric operates a polycarbonate plant in Chiba, Japan which produces BPA polycarbonate via this melt process. 

The polymer is exposed to an extensive heat history in this process. Early work on transesterification technology was troubled by thermal—oxidative limitations of the polymer, especially in the presence of the catalyst. More recent work on catalyst systems, more reactive carbonates, and modified processes have improved the process to the point where color and decomposition can be suppressed. One of the key requirements for the transesterification process is the use of clean starting materials. Methods for purification of both BPA and diphenyl carbonate have been developed. 

An analogue of the transesterification process has also been demonstrated, in which the diacetate of BPA is transesterified with dimethyl carbonate, producing polycarbonate and methyl acetate (33). Removal of the methyl acetate from the equihbrium drives the reaction to completion. Methanol carbonylation, transesterification using phenol to diphenyl carbonate, and polymerization using BPA is commercially viable. The GE plant is the first to produce polycarbonate via a solventiess and phosgene-free process. 

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