Preparation of unsaturated acids and esters from saturated carboxylic acid derivatives and carbonyl compounds over phosphate catalysts

Claim 2

A process for producing unsaturated carboxylic acid and esters which comprises passing into a reaction zone, a vaporous mixture of a saturated monocarboyxlic acid or its ester with formaldehyde or a formaldehyde derivative, at a temperature of from 200° C. to about 450° C., in the presence of a catalyst having the empirical formula A.sub.a PO.sub.x wherein A is Fe, Ni, Co, Mn, Cu, Ag or mixtures thereof; a is 0.2-3.0; and x is determined by the nature and oxidation state of the other elements.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is on a support comprising alumina.

Claim 4

A process for producing unsaturated carboxylic acid and esters which comprises passing into a reaction zone, a vaporous mixture of a saturated monocarboxylic acid or its ester with formaldehyde or a formaldehyde derivative, at a temperature of from 200° C. to about 450° C., in the presence of a catalyst having the empirical formula A.sub.a B.sub.b C.sub.c PO.sub.x wherein A is Fe, Ni, Co, Mn, Cu, Ag or mixtures thereof; B is alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, TL or mixtures thereof; C is Se, Y, La, rare earth metal, Th, Nb, Mo, Te, Cr, Ta, U or mixtures thereof; and A=0.2-3.0; b=0-1.5; c=0-2.0; and x is determined by the nature and oxidation state of the other elements.

Claim 5

A process for producing unsaturated carboxylic acid and esters which comprises passing into a reaction zone, a vaporous mixture of a saturated monocarboxylic acid or its ester with formaldehyde or a formaldehyde derivative, at a temperature of from 200° C. to about 450° C., in the presence of a catalyst having the empirical formula A.sub.a B.sub.b C.sub.c PO.sub.x wherein A is Fe, Ni, Co, Mn, Cu, Ag or mixtures thereof; B is alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, TL or mixtures thereof; C is Se, Y, La, rare earth metal, Th, Nb, Mo, Te, Cr, Ta, U or mixtures thereof; and A=0.2-3.0; b=0-1.5; c=0-2.0; and x is determined by the nature and oxidation state of the other elements.

Claim 6

The process of claims 1 or 3 wherein the formaldehyde derivative is methylal.

Claim 7

The process of claims 1 or 3 wherein the formaldehyde derivative is trioxane.

Claim 8

The process of claims 1 or 3 wherein the saturated monocarboxylic acid is acetic acid.

Claim 9

The processes of claims 1 or 3 wherein the saturated monocarboxylic acid is propionic acid.

Claim 10

The process of claims 1 or 3 wherein the ester fed to the reaction zone is methylacetate.

Claim 11

The process of claims 1 or 3 wherein the ester fed to the reaction zone is methylpropionate.

Claim 12

The process of claim 3 wherein A is iron.

Claim 13

The process of claim 10 wherein B is an alkali metal.

Claim 14

The process of claim 11 wherein B is potassium.

Claim 15

The process of claims 10 or 11 wherein C is thorium.

Claim 16

The process of claim 10 wherein C is lanthanum.

Claim 17

The process of claim 10 wherein C is chromium.

Claim 18

The process of claim 3 wherein A is iron and copper.

Claim 19

The process of claim 3 wherein A is cobalt.

Claim 20

The process of claim 3 wherein A is silver.

Claim 21

The process of claim 3 wherein A is copper.

Claim 22

The process of claims 17, 18 or 19 wherein B is an alkali metal.

Claim 23

The process of claims 17, 18 or 19 wherein C is thorium.

Claim 24

The process of claim 3 wherein the catalyst is on a support comprising alumina.

Claim 25

The process of claim 10 or 11 wherein C is one or more elements selected from the group of Cr, La, Ce, Th, and Mo.