Process for the alkoxylation of organic compounds in the presence of novel framework materials

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the alkoxylation of organic compounds comprising the reaction of at least one organic compound with at least one alkoxylating agent in the presence of a catalyst system, wherein a polyetheralcohol is obtained, characterized in that the catalyst system comprises a metallo organic framework material comprising pores and at least one metal ion and at least one at least bidentate organic compound, which is coordinately bounded to said metal ion, and polyurethanes or polyurethane foams, which are obtainable by using a prepared polyether alcohol as a starting material.

1 . Process for the alkoxylation of organic compounds comprising the reaction of at least one organic compound, which is capable of being alkoxylated, with at least one alkoxylating agent in the presence of a catalyst system, wherein a polyether alcohol is obtained, characterized in that the catalyst system comprises a metallo-organic framework material comprising pores and at least one metal ion and at least one at least bidentate organic compound, which is coordinately bounded to said metal ion.  
     
     
         2 . Process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the metal ion is selected among ions of elements of groups Ia, IIa, IIIa, IVa to VIIIa and Ib to VIb of the periodic table of the elements.  
     
     
         3 . Process according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the bidentate organic compound is selected among substituted or unsubstituted aromatic polycarboxylic acids, which may comprise one or more nuclei; and substituted or unsubstituted aromatic polycarboxylic acids, which comprise at least one heteroatom and which may have one or more nuclei.  
     
     
         4 . Process according to any of  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that the metallo-organic framework material comprising pores exhibits a specific surface area, as determined via adsorption (BET according to DIN 66131) of larger than 20 m 2 /g.  
     
     
         5 . Process according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the alkoxylation agent is selected among mono- or multi-functional epoxides having 2 to 30 carbon atoms and mono- or multi-functional polyetherpolyoles having a molar mass of above 600 g/mol and a mixture of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         6 . Integrated process for the preparation of a polyurethane comprising at least the following steps: 
 (2) Reacting at least one organic compound, which is capable of being alkoxylated, with at least one alkoxylating agent via a process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a polyether alcohol is obtained;    (3) Reacting the polyether alcohol of step (2) with at least one isocyanate.    
     
     
         7 . Integrated process according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the alkoxylating agent is propylene oxide, which has been obtained in a step (1) by reacting propylene with oxygen, hydrogen and oxygen; hydrogen peroxide; organic hydroperoxides; or halohydrins; preferably by reacting propylene with hydrogen peroxide; further preferred by reacting propylene with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising a zeolitic material; particularly by reacting propylene with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising a titanium containing zeolitic material having TS-1 structure.  
     
     
         8 . Polyurethane, obtainable by an integrated process, comprising at least the following steps: 
 (2) Reacting at least one organic compound, which is capable of being alkoxylated, with at least one alkoxylating agent via a process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a polyether alcohol is obtained;    (3) Reacting the polyether alcohol of step (2) with at least one isocyanate.    
     
     
         9 . Polyurethane according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the polyether alcohol, which is obtainable according to step (2) and which is used as an starting material for the preparation of the polyurethane, comprises at least a mixed block of ethylene oxide-propylene oxide-units or a terminal propylene oxide block or a combination of both.  
     
     
         10 . Process for preparing a polyurethane foam starting from a polyurethane obtainable by an integrated process according to any of  claims 1  to  7  or starting from a polyurethane according to claims  8  or  9 , which comprises at least the following step: 
 (4) foaming of the said polyurethane.  
 
     
     
         11 . Polyurethane foam, obtainable by an integrated process according to any of  claims 1  to  7  or starting from a polyurethane according to claims  8  or  9 , said integrated process comprising at least the following further step: 
 (4) foaming the polyurethane, which has been obtained in the reaction according to step (3).  
 
     
     
         12 . Shaped body comprising a polyurethane, which is obtainable by an integrated process according to any of  claims 1  to  7  or a polyurethane according to  claim 8  or  9  or a polyurethane foam obtainable by the process according to  claim 10  or a polyurethane foam according to  claim 11.