GB830671A - Process for oxidizing glutaraldehydes - Google Patents

Abstract

Glutaraldehyde or a substituted glutaraldehyde is oxidized to the corresponding acid by forming a reaction mixture of the aldehyde with an aliphatic mono carboxylic acid having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms which is present in an amount between 10 and 50% by weight of the mixture, and passing molecular oxygen through such mixture while maintained at a temperature between 10 DEG and 110 DEG C. Preferably the acid used is acetic acid but propionic or butyric acids may also be employed. Acetic anhydride may also be present in the reaction mixture. It is preferable to use substantially anhydrous conditions and a metal compound as catalyst, such as an acetate, carbonate, oxide, hydroxide, glutarate, butyrate, naphthenate, or a 2-ethyl hexanoate of cobalt, copper, manganese or vanadium. A preferred catalyst is ammonium metavanadate. Suitable substituted glutaraldehydes are alkyl substituted glutaraldehydes containing up to 12 carbon atoms including those prepared by the hydrolysis of 2-alkoxy-3,4-dihydro-1,2-pyran and its alkyl derivatives. The separation of the glutaric acid from the crude reaction products is preferably effected by converting to the corresponding anhydride by reaction with acetic anhydride and purifying the anhydride by distillation in vacuo. Specification 767,416 is referred to.