US 12,252,455 B2
Process for the continuous preparation of heavy alkyl acrylates
Clement Bellini, Saint Avold (FR); Sandra Maget, Saint Avold (FR); and Patrice Defer, Saint Avold (FR)
Assigned to Arkema France, Colombes (FR)
Appl. No. 17/781,394
Filed by ARKEMA FRANCE, Colombes (FR)
PCT Filed Dec. 9, 2020, PCT No. PCT/FR2020/052365
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 1, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/116608, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 17, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 1913924 (FR), filed on Dec. 9, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0002310 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. C07C 213/06 (2006.01)
CPC C07C 213/06 (2013.01) 13 Claims
 
1. A process for the continuous synthesis of (meth)acrylic esters of formula (I):

OG Complex Work Unit Chemistry
in which R is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R1 is a linear or branched alkyl radical, or a cycloaliphatic, aryl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl radical, including from 4 to 40 carbon atoms, or a linear or branched alkyl radical containing at least one heteroatom and from 3 to 40 carbon atoms, comprising the step of reacting an alkyl (meth)acrylate of formula (II):

OG Complex Work Unit Chemistry
in which R has the abovementioned meaning and R2 is a linear or branched alkyl group containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, with an alcohol of formula (III):
R1—OH  (III)
in the presence of at least one polymerization inhibitor and hydrozincite as heterogeneous catalyst,
wherein the catalyst content is between 0.01 mol_% and 0.5 mol % relative to the alcohol.