GB825902A - Condensation and polymerisation agents - Google Patents

Abstract

A condensation and polymerization agent is prepared from an alkali metal and carbon, the ratio of alkali metal to carbon being 1 to 8-64. The agent is decomposed by water to produce hydrogen. The agent may be prepared by heating a mixture of alkali metal and carbon to a temperature of 300-800 DEG C., preferably 600 DEG C., under a layer of carbon. The alkali metal may be sodium or potassium. The carbon may be activated carbon, soot, or graphite. The graphite may be substantially ash-free, finely ground, of particle size 0.5-20m , and of surface area 80 m2/gm., or may be ashrich, coarsely ground, and of surface area 6 m2/gm. The agent may be used in suspension in an inert solvent, e.g. diethyl ether, petroleum ether, hexane, benzene, or xylene.ALSO:A condensation agent comprising a compound of an alkali metal and carbon in which the ratio of alkali metal to carbon is 1 to 8-64 (see Group III) may be used in the production of aldol-like compounds, e.g. diacetone alcohol, or dehydration products thereof, e.g. phorone, depending on the proportion of carbon, its ash content, and state of division, and the dispersion medium. Examples: (a) acetoacetic ester is produced by heating ethyl acetate at a temperature of 90 DEG C. under reflux with petroleum ether and C8K; (b) phorone is produced, together with mesityl oxide, by adding acetone dropwise to diethyl ether containing C8K at room temperature; (c) o -nitrostyrene is produced by interacting benzaldehyde and nitromethane in the cold in the presence of C8K; (d) chalcone is produced by the interaction of acetophenone and benzaldehyde in the cold in the presence of C8K; (e) chloretone is produced by the interaction of acetone and chloroform in the cold in the presence of C8K; (f) malonic ester-benzalacetophenone adduct is produced by interacting the components at room temperature in the presence of C8K; (g) trichloro-butyronitrile is produced by adding a mixture of acrylonitrile and chloroform to a suspension of C8K in diethyl ether at a temperature not exceeding 30 DEG C.; (h) 2-phenyl-1-nitro-ethanol is produced by interacting benzaldehyde and nitromethane in the cold in the presence of C16K. Condensation products of benzaldehyde and malonic acid; and acrylonitrile and nitro-methane may be prepared in a manner similar to that of (f).ALSO:A polymerization agent comprises a compound of an alkali metal and carbon in which the ratio of alkali metal to carbon is 1 to 8-64 (see Group III). An example is given of the polymerization of a -methyl styrene in hexane using a compound of the formula C8K.