Oxidation process

Claim 1

A process for the production of unsaturated esters from a conjugated diene which comprises reacting (a) an acyclic conjugated diolefin having from 4 to 16 carbon atoms per molecule of the formula ##STR4## wherein each R is individually selected from the group consisting of --H, --F, --Cl, --Br, --I, --CN, --COOR', alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having from 5 to 12 carbon atoms and aryl having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and combinations thereof, and said R' is selected from the group consisting of --H, alkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and aryl having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms; (b) a carboxylic acid anhydride having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms per molecule of the formula ##STR5## wherein each R" is individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and (c) molecular oxygen; in the presence of a catalyst system consisting essentially of cuprous acetate, lithium bromide and 1,2-dibromo-2-butene wherein the amount of copper ion is in the range of from 0.01 to about 1 mole of copper ion per mole of said conjugated diene, the amount of lithium metal ion is in the range of from 0.1 to about 100 moles per mole of copper ion, and the amount of bromide ion is in the range of from 0.1 to about 100 moles per mole of copper ion, and wherein the reaction is carried out in a reaction system wherein the total amount of water present in the initial reaction charge is not greater than about 1 mole of water per mole of copper ion.