Highly efficient two-stage ring-opening of epichlorohydrin with carboxylic acid in a microreaction system

Ring-opening of epoxides with carboxylic acids has been widely used to prepare many high value intermediates in the polymer and pharmaceutical industries. Most of conventional processes proceeded in batch stirred reactors. As such they always suffer from low productivity and selectivity. Here we developed an advanced technology to perform the ring-opening reaction of epichlorohydrin with neodecanoic acid (NDA) for continuous production of 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl neodecanoate in a more efficient and safer way. A microreaction system where a microreactor connected to a stirred reactor was established. When the conversion of NDA rapidly reaching around 90% in a microreactor at 110 degrees C, the reaction solution was transferred to a stirred reactor at 90 degrees C. This two-stage operating mode can reduce the reaction time and improve the selectivity through free switching of temperature in the consecutive two reactors, thus substantially reducing the consumption of energy and materials.

Automated summary

The ring-opening reaction of epoxides with carboxylic acids is commonly conducted in batch stirred reactors, but it suffers from low efficiency and selectivity. In this study, an advanced technology involving a microreactor connected to a stirred reactor was developed to enhance the reaction efficiency and selectivity.