Preparation of unsaturated carboxylic acids and unsaturated carboxylic acid esters from alkanes and/or alkenes

Abstract

Unsaturated carboxylic acids (and esters thereof) are prepared directly from alkanes (and alcohols) utilizing vapor phase oxidative esterification.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . A process for the production of esters of unsaturated carboxylic acids, said process comprising: 
 reacting an unsaturated aldehyde with an alcohol to form an acetal;    passing a gaseous stream comprising the so-formed acetal and molecular oxygen to a reactor, said reactor containing at least one catalyst effective for oxidation of said acetal to its corresponding ester;    operating said reactor at a temperature of from 200° C. to 500° C., with a reactor residence time of no more than 100 milliseconds.    
   
   
       14 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein said unsaturated aldehyde is obtained by the process comprising: 
 passing a gaseous stream comprising an alkane and molecular oxygen to a reactor,    said reactor containing at least one catalyst effective for the oxidation of said alkane to its corresponding unsaturated aldehyde.    
   
   
       15 . A process for the production of unsaturated carboxylic acids, said process comprising: 
 passing a gaseous stream comprising an alkane and molecular oxygen to a reactor,    said reactor containing one or more oxidation catalysts cumulatively effective for the oxidation of said alkane to its corresponding unsaturated carboxylic acid,    operating said reactor at a temperature of from 500° C. to 1000° C., with a reactor residence time no greater than 100 milliseconds.