Process for esterifying silicon-halogen compounds in a column and apparatus suitable therefor

1. Process for continuously esterifying halosilanes of the formula I with alcohols of the formula II to give silane esters of the formula III in a single column ( 1 )

R 1 a SiHal b   (I)

R 2 —(OH)  (II)

R 1 a S—(OR 2 ) b   (III)

in which R 1 is hydrogen or a monovalent organic radical, where any two R 1 radicals within a molecule may be different within the scope of the given definitions,

Hal is a halogen atom, a plurality of Hal atoms within a molecule may be different within the scope of the given definitions,

R 2 is a monovalent organic radical,

a and b are integers from 0 to 4 and the sum total of a and b is 4, comprising the measures of:

i) feeding the total amount of the halosilane of the formula I required for the reaction in liquid form through line ( 6 ) into the upper third of the column ( 1 ),

ii) feeding at least 60% by weight of the alcohol of the formula II required for the reaction in liquid form through line ( 7 ) into the upper third of the column ( 1 ),

iii) feeding the remainder of the alcohol of the formula II required for the reaction in liquid form through line ( 8 ) into the lower third of the column ( 1 ),

iv) conducting the reaction of the halosilane of the formula I with the alcohol of the formula II to give the silane ester of the formula III in the interior of the column ( 1 ), the temperature in the interior of the column ( 1 ) between line ( 7 ) and line ( 8 ) being below the boiling temperature of the alcohol of the formula II,

v) removing the hydrogen chloride formed in the reaction via the top of the column ( 1 ), and

vi) removing the esterification product of the formula III formed in the reaction from the bottom of the column ( 1 ).

2. Process according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

R 1 and/or R 2 are organic radicals selected from linear and branched alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl and/or heterocyclyl, each of which is optionally substituted by alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, amino, halogen or nitro, or in which one or more carbon atoms not directly adjacent to one another in alkyl groups are replaced by oxygen or sulphur atoms or by imino groups, or in which R 1 is hydrogen.

3. Process according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

R 1 is hydrogen and/or C 1 -C 6 -alkyl and/or vinyl, especially hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or vinyl, and in that R 2 is C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, especially methyl or ethyl.

4. Process according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the amount of alcohol of the formula II fed in through line ( 7 ) is 70% to 95% by weight of the amount required for the reaction, and in that the remaining amount of the alcohol of the formula II required for the reaction is introduced in liquid form into the lower third of column ( 1 ) through line ( 8 ).

5. Process according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the compounds of the formulae I and II are introduced into the column ( 1 ) through lines ( 6 , 7 , 8 ) in which there are 90° bends directed vertically downward at the column ends thereof.

6. Process according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the temperature of the alcohol of the formula II in lines ( 7 , 8 ) is 10 to 30° C.

7. Process according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the temperature of the halosilane of the formula I in line ( 6 ) is 10 to 30° C.

8. Process according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the halosilane of the formula I and a portion of the alcohol of the formula II are each introduced in the upper portion of the column ( 1 ) below the uppermost packing element ( 1 a ).

9. Process according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the remaining portion of the alcohol of the formula II is introduced in the lower portion of the column ( 1 ) above the lowermost packing element ( 1 a ).

10. Process according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the reaction of the compounds of the formulae I and II is conducted in a column ( 1 ) containing random packings or structured packings.

11. Process according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the reaction of the compounds of the formulae I and II is effected in the pressure range between 700 hPa abs and 1300 hPa abs.

12. Process according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the column ( 1 ) is heated by a circulation evaporator ( 3 ) which is mounted in the lower third of the column ( 1 ) and heats the bottom product present in the column ( 1 ).

13. Column ( 1 ) for continuously esterifying halosilanes of the formula I with alcohols of the formula II to give silane esters of the formula III according to claim 1 , comprising the following elements:

A) line ( 6 ) which opens into the upper third of the column ( 1 ) and which serves to feed in the halosilane of the formula I,

B) line ( 7 ) which opens into the upper third of the column ( 1 ) and which serves to feed in a portion of the alcohol of the formula II required for the reaction,

C) line ( 8 ) which opens into the lower third of the column ( 1 ) and which serves to feed in the remaining portion of the alcohol required for the reaction,

D) circulation evaporator ( 3 ) which is mounted in the lower third of the column and heats the bottom product present in the column ( 1 ),

E) line ( 9 ) for removing the hydrogen halide formed in the reaction via the top of the column ( 1 ), and

F) line ( 10 ) for removing the esterification product of the formula III formed in the reaction from the bottom of the column ( 1 ).

14. Column ( 1 ) according to claim 13 ,

characterized in that

a condenser ( 2 ) is provided at the top of the column ( 1 ).

15. Column ( 1 ) according to claim 13 ,

characterized in that

a product cooler ( 4 ) is provided at the lower end of the column ( 1 ).

16. Column ( 1 ) according to claim 15 ,

characterized in that

a pump ( 5 ) connected downstream of the product cooler ( 4 ) conveys the reaction product out of the column ( 1 ).