Process for the carbonylation of epoxides

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the carbonylation of epoxides by reacting epoxides with carbon monoxide in the presence of a two-component catalyst system, wherein the first component is one or more of cobalt, ruthenium and rhodium. A variety of metal sources, the second component is a coordination complex of tetrapyrrole compound and one or more metals belonging to IIIA and IIIB groups, lanthanides and actinides in the periodic system. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the catalyst system and the use of the catalyst system in the carbonylation of epoxides.

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a process for the carbonylation of epoxides, a catalyst system suitable for the process and a process for preparing the catalyst system. Background technique

[0002] Carbonylation is generally understood as the insertion of a carbonyl group in an organic compound. For example, the reaction of epoxides with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising a Group VIII metal selected from the periodic system (as defined in CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 72nd Edition, 1991, pp. 1-11) is such a carbonylation reaction . In the context of the present invention, carbonylation of epoxides means the insertion of a carbonyl group in the alkylene oxide moiety when forming the 2-oxetanone (β-lactone) structure. Methods for the carbonylation of epoxides are well described in the literature. For example, EP-A-0577206 describes the carbonylation of epoxides to give beta-lactones or beta-hydroxycarboxylic acid deriv...