Propionic Acid → Propionic anhydride

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A 250 ml stainless steel, magnetically stirred autoclave was filled with 0.1 mmol palladium(II) acetate, 5 mmol bisphenyl(2-pyridyl)phosphine, 4 mmol p-toluenesulfonic acid, 50 ml propionic acid and 10 ml n-butylamine. Air was then evacuated from the autoclave. The autoclave was then pressurized with 30 bar carbon monoxide and 20 bar ethene, sealed and heated to 110° C. After 11/2 hours reaction time, a sample of the contents of the autoclave was withdrawn and analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. The analysis revealed that N-butyl propionamide had been formed with a selectivity (based on amine) of >95%, together with propionic anhydride. The mean conversion rate was calculated to be 1,500 moles ethene/gram atom Pd/hour.

Provenance & Evidence