Epichlorohydrin → Diglycidyl ether

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Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

In a 750 ml sulfonation flask equipped with thermometer, reflux condenser, N2 inlet and metering device, a solution of catalyst F is added to 1,4-butanediol and the reaction mixture is heated to 100° C. With efficient stirring, 164.7 ml (2.10 mol) of epichlorohydrin are added, and the reaction mixture is thereafter allowed to react for 7 h. After cooling to 50° C., 200 ml of toluene are added and to the solution are then added 16 g (0.2 mol) of a 50% aqueous solution of NaOH over 5 min, followed by the addition of 76 g (1.9 mol) of pulverised NaOH in increments over 45 min. The suspension is stirred for 30 minutes. The reaction mixture is filtered, washed with 100 mol of toluene and the phases are separated. The organic phase is dried over MgSO4, filtered, and the filtrate is freed from solvent on a rotary evaporator at a bath temperature of 70° C., giving 196.0 g (97% of theory) of yellowish diglycidyl ether of 1,4-butanediol having the following properties: epoxy value: 8.22 eq/kg (83% of theory); total chlorine content: 5.0%; concentration of hydrolisable chlorine: 170 ppm.

Provenance & Evidence