Process for preparing 2, 13-tetradecanedione from 1-methylcyclohexyl hydroperoxide

Claim 2

A PROCESS FOR PREPARING 2,13-TETRADECANEDIONE WHICH COMPRISES SUBJECTING 1-METHYLCYLCOHEXYL HYDROPEROXIDE IN A HOMOGENEOUS REACTION MIXTURE CONTAINING AN INERT ORGANIC DILUENT TO THE ACTION OF A FERROUS SALT OF LONG CHAIN ALKANOIC ACID IN WHICH THE ALKANOATE RADICAL CONTAINS FROM 6 TO 18 CARBON ATOMS.

Claim 3

A PROCESS WHICH COMPRISES HEATING AT A TEMPERATURE OF -50* TO +100* C. A METHYLCYCLOHEXANE-CONTAINING AND 1-METHYLCYCLOHEXYL HYDROPEROXIDE-CONTAINING AIR OXI DATION PRODUCT OF METHYLCYCLOHEXANE IN A HOMOGENEOUS ANHYDROUS SYSTEM WITH FERROUS HEPTANOATE IN A REACTION VESSEL WHEREIN 1-METHYLCYCLOHEXYL HYDROPEROXIDE IS CONVERTED TO 2,13-TETRADECANEDIONE, THE THEREUPON EXTRACTING FERRIC SALT FROM THE RESULTING REACTION PRODUCT WITH AQUEOUS SULFURIC ACID, WHEREBY HEPTANOIC ACID IS LIBERATED AND REMAINS IN THE METHYLCYCLOHEXANE LAYER, CONVERTING THE SAID HEPTANOIC ACID TO SODIUM HEPTANOATE, SEPARATING 2,13 TETRADECANEDIONE FROM THE METHYLCYCLOHEXANE LAYER, HYDROGENATING THE AQUEOUS EXTRACT IN THE PRESENCE OF A PALLADIUM CATALYST TO CONVERT SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE FERRIC SULFATE TO FERROUS SULFATE, REACTING THE SAID FERROUS SULFATE WITH SODIUM HEPTANOATE TO PRODUCE FERROUS HEPTANOATE AND SODIUM SULFATE, EXTRACTING FERROUS HEPTANOATE FROM THE RESULTING MIXTURE BY MEANS OF METHYCYCLOHEXANE, AND RETURNING THE METHYCYCLOHEXANE EXTRACT CONTAINING THE FERROUS HEPTANOATE TO THE REACTION VESSEL CONTAINING THE 1-METHYLCYCLOHEXYL HYDROPEROXIDE.

Claim 4

A PROCESS WHICH COMPRISES HEATING AT A TEMPERATURE OF -50* TO +100* C. A METHYLCYCLOHEXANE-CONTAINING AND 1-METHYLCYCLOHEXYL HYDROPEROXIDE-CONTAINING AIR OXI DATION PRODUCT OF METHYLCYCLOHEXANE IN A HOMOGENEOUS ANHYDROUS SYSTEM WITH FERROUS HEPTANOATE IN A REACTION VESSEL WHEREIN 1-METHYLCYCLOHEXYL HYDROPEROXIDE IS CONVERTED TO 2,13-TETRADECANEDIONE, THE THEREUPON EXTRACTING FERRIC SALT FROM THE RESULTING REACTION PRODUCT WITH AQUEOUS SULFURIC ACID, WHEREBY HEPTANOIC ACID IS LIBERATED AND REMAINS IN THE METHYLCYCLOHEXANE LAYER, CONVERTING THE SAID HEPTANOIC ACID TO SODIUM HEPTANOATE, SEPARATING 2,13 TETRADECANEDIONE FROM THE METHYLCYCLOHEXANE LAYER, HYDROGENATING THE AQUEOUS EXTRACT IN THE PRESENCE OF A PALLADIUM CATALYST TO CONVERT SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE FERRIC SULFATE TO FERROUS SULFATE, REACTING THE SAID FERROUS SULFATE WITH SODIUM HEPTANOATE TO PRODUCE FERROUS HEPTANOATE AND SODIUM SULFATE, EXTRACTING FERROUS HEPTANOATE FROM THE RESULTING MIXTURE BY MEANS OF METHYCYCLOHEXANE, AND RETURNING THE METHYCYCLOHEXANE EXTRACT CONTAINING THE FERROUS HEPTANOATE TO THE REACTION VESSEL CONTAINING THE 1-METHYLCYCLOHEXYL HYDROPEROXIDE.