Tertiary alkyl acetate preparation
View Patent ↗Esters are formed by reaction of acetic anhydride with tertiary butyl or tertiary anyl alcohol in the presence of tertiary amine catalyst such as DMAP or NMI catalyst and acetic acid in amount sufficient to present catalyst degradation; in preferred practice a mixed acetic anhydride and acetic acid stream is recycled to the esterfication.
1. A process for the preparation of tertiary butyl acetate or tertiary amyl acetate wherein acetic anhydride is reacted with t-butyl alcohol or t-amyl alcohol in the presence of at least 5wt. % acetic acid during the entirety of the reaction.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein a mixture of acetic anhydride and acetic acid is recycled from product separation to the esterification reaction.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein a 1-alkylimidazole catalyst is used.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein a dialkylamino pyridine catalyst is used.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein 1-methylimidazole catalyst is used.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein a dimethylamino pyridine catalyst is used.