Process for preparing alkynecarboxylic acids by oxidation of alkyne alcohols

1. A process for preparing alkynecarboxylic acids, comprising

oxidizing an alkyne alcohol with a hypohalite in the presence of a nitroxyl compound at a pH of greater than 7 within a reaction mixture; and

using from 2 to 5 mol equivalents of the hypohalite bsed on the number of functional groups to be oxidized, and

continuously adding the alkyne alcohol and the hypohalite to the reaction mixture, wherein said nitroxyl compound

is selected from the group consisting of (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl also known as TEMPO, 4-hydroxy-TEMPO, 4-oxo-TEMPO, 4-amino-TEMPO, 4-acetamido-TEMPO, 4-benzyloxy-TEMPO, and 4-acetoxy-TEMPO, and

wherein the reaction mixture is in two phases.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one phase transfer catalyst is used.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1 , comprising removing the reaction mixture continuously.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pH of aqueous phase of the reaction mixture is between 7 and 11.

5. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the nitroxyl compound used is 4-hydroxy-TEMPO.

6. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein reaction temperature is between −5° C. and 20° C.

7. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein from 2 to 3 mol equivalents of the hypohalite are used based on the number of functional groups to be oxidized.

8. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the alkyne alcohol used is selected from the group consisting of 2-propyn-1-ol and 2-butyne-1,4-diol.

9. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of a substance selected from the group consisting of phosphate buffer and calcium carbonate.

10. A process for preparing alkynecarboxylic acids, comprising

initially charging less than all of an alkyne alcohol to be oxidized in a reaction mixture;

oxidizing the alkyne alcohol with a hypohalite in the presence of a nitroxyl compound at a pH of greater than 7 within the reaction mixture;

using from 2 to 5 mol equivalents of the hypohalite based on the number of functional groups to be oxidized, and

continuously adding remainder of the alkyne alcohol and the hypohalite to the reaction mixture, wherein said nitroxyl compound

is selected from the group consisting of (2,2,6,6-tetrametylpiperidine-1-oxyl) also known as TEMPO, 4-hydroxy-TEMPO, 4-oxo-TEMPO, 4-amino-TEMPO, 4-acetamido-TEMPO, 4-benzyloxy-TEMPO, and 4-acetoxy-TEMPO, and

wherein the reaction mixture is in two phases.

11. The process as claimed in claim 10 , wherein at least one phase transfer catalyst is used.

12. The process as claimed in claim 10 , comprising removing the reaction mixture continuously.

13. The process as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the pH of aqueous phase of the reaction mixture is between 7 and 11.

14. The process as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the nitroxyl compound used is 4-hydroxy-TEMPO.

15. The process as claimed in claim 10 , wherein reaction temperature is between −5° C. and 20° C.

16. The process as claimed in claim 10 , wherein from 2 to 3 mol equivalents of the hypohalite are used based on the number of functional groups to be oxidized.

17. The process as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the alkyne alcohol used is selected from the group consisting of 2-propyn-1-ol and 2-butyne-1,4-diol.

18. The process as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of a substance selected from the group consisting of phosphate buffer and calcium carbonate.