Reactions of glyoxylic acid with aliphatic alcohols using cationic exchange resins as catalysts

The reactions of glyoxylic acid with different aliphatic alcohols were stud ied in the presence of both gelular and macroporous ion exchange resins as catalysts. The alcohol reacts with both acid and aldehyde group of glyoxyli c acid to form ester and the acetal of the ester, respectively. The simulta neous removal of water during the course of the reaction, helps in increasi ng the conversion level. An increase in temperature leads to better selecti vity towards the acetal of the eater. The kinetics of the extractive reacti ons (solid-liquid-liquid mode) of aqueous solution of glyoxylic acid with 2 -ethyl hexanol was studied and a significant level of conversion was obtain ed even with dilute (5% w/w) solution. A pseudohomogeneous kinetic model ex plains the data successfully. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.