1,4-Butanediol → 3,8-Dioxabicyclo[8.2.2]tetradeca-1(12),10,13-triene-2,9-dione

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

474 g of dimethyl terephthalate and 660 g of 1,4-butanediol were placed into a 2 liter round bottomed flack fitted with a condenser, vigreux distillation column, nitrogen inlet and mechanical stirrer. The reactor was placed inside an isomantle and slowly heated to a temperature of 160° C. At this point 248 mg of tetrabutyl titanate catalyst pre-mixed with a small amount of pure 1,4-butanediol was injected, whilst the reactor contents were being stirred. The reaction was allowed to continue for 1 hour at 200° C. Methanol vapor which is produced during the reaction, was removed via the vigreux distillation column and combined condenser. The composition of the product was 82% by weight of butylene terephthalate (as confirmed by NMR) and 18% by weight of 1,4-butanediol.

Provenance & Evidence