Improved method for producing metal alkoxide compounds

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a metal alkoxide compound MOR 1 from a metal hydroxide MOH and compounds of the formula R 2 OH and R 2 OH, wherein the boiling point of R 1 OH is lower than the boiling point of R 2 OH. R 1 and R 2 are here alkyl radicals or haloalkyl radicals, the carbon chain of which may be interrupted by an ether group and may have a hydroxy group. Here M is a metal, preferably an alkali metal. This method is carried out as a multiple reactive distillation in a reactive distillation column, in contrast to the conventional transalkylation method which requires at least two reaction steps in two different reactive distillation columns. Thereby, the complexity of the apparatus is reduced and the need for power and steam heating is reduced. This method is particularly suitable for the preparation of the compound MOR 2 where the corresponding compound R 2 OH forms an azeotrope with water and / or the boiling point of R 2 OH is close to the boiling point of water.

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