GB1387447A - Carboxylic acids and derivatives - Google Patents

Abstract

1387447 Ether polycarboxylic acids MONSANTO CO 29 June 1972 [30 June 1971 (2) 15 May 1972] 30373/72 Heading C2C [Also in Division C5] The invention comprises polycarboxylic acids of general Formula I where R 1 , R 2 = H or alkyl; R 3 = H, alkyl or carboxyl; and their esters and salts. Compounds of Formula II where each R = H, methyl, ethyl, alkoli metal or ammonium; R 1 and R 2 are each H, methyl or ethyl and R 3 is H, methyl, ethyl or COOR (except one in which R 1 and R 2 are H and R 3 is COOR) are prepared by reacting a holomalonate of Formula III where R 4 is methyl or ethyl, and X is Cl or Br but is Cl when R 1 is H, with a sodium salt of an α-hydroxyester of Formula IV in an inert solvent to give an ester which is then optionally hydrolysed to the acid or saponified to give an alkali metal or ammonium salt. Compounds of Formula II where each R = H, methyl, ethyl, alkoli metal, or ammonium; R 1 , R 2 = H; methyl or ethyl; and R 3 = -COOR are prepared by racting compounds of Formula V with lithium diisopropylamide or butyl lithium followed by reaction with CO 2 to give the dilithium salt VI which is then converted to the half-ester halfacid VII by treatment with an organic strong acid cation exchange resin. The half-ester half-acid may be optionally esterified to the full ester, hydrolysed to the full acid or saponified to a salt. The alkoli metal and ammonium salts of the polycarboxylic acids are used in detergent compositions.