Process for condensing epoxyalkyl halides with hydroxyl group-containing compounds

Claim 1

IN THE PRODUCTION OF GLYCIDYL ETHERS IN WHICH (1) A HYDROXYL-GROUP-CONTAINING COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF WATER, MONOHYDRIC ALKANOLS, POLYHYDRIC ALKANOLS, MONOHYDRIC PHENOLS, AND POLYHYDRIC PHENOLS, WHOSE HYDROXYL GROUPS ARE CAPABLE OF REACTING WITH THE EPOXIDE GROUP OF EPICHLOROHYDRIN, IS REACTED WITH A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF (2) EPICHLOROHYDRIN, IN THE PRESENCE OF (3) AN ACIDIC CATALYST SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF BORON TRIFLUORIDE, COMPLEXES OF BORN TRIFLUORIDE, INORGANIC ACIDS AND SALTS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH CONSISTS OF CARRYING OUT THE REACTION IN A REACTION ZONE CONSISTING OF AT LEAST THREE REACTION STAGES ARRANGED FOR PRODUCT FLOW IN SERIES WITHOUT BACKMIXING BEWTEEN STAGES, IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER: (A) CONTINUOUSLY PASSING SAID HYDROXYL-GROUP-CONTAINING COMPOUND EXCLUSIVELY INTO THE FIRST STAGE OF SAID REACTION ZONE, (B) PASSING AT LEAST A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF EPICHLOROHYDRIN AND CATALYST INTO SAID FIRST REACTION STAGE, (C) PASSING THE REACTION MIXTURE FROM EACH STAGE INTO THE FOLLOWING STAGE, (D) PASSING THE REMAINDER OF EPICHLOROHYDRIN AND CATALYST INTO AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL REACTION STAGE, (E) MAINTAINING THE TEMPERATURE IN EACH STAGE BETWEEN 100*C. AND 200*C. BY INDIRECT HEAT REMOVAL, AND (F) CONTROLLING THE RATE OF FLOW THROUGH SAID REACTION ZONE SUCH THAT THE CONTACT TIME THEREIN IS IN THE RANGE FROM 2 MINUTES TO 60 MINUTES AND DOES NOT SUBSTANTIALLY EXCEED THE TIME REQUIRED FOR COMPLETION OF REACTION AT THE TEMPERATURE EMPLOYED.