Process for the alkoxylation of monools in the presence of metallo-organic framework materials

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the alkoxylation of a monool with at least one alkoxylating agent to an alkoxylated alcohol wherein a catalyst is employed which comprises a metallo-organic framework material of metal ions and at least bidentate coordinately bound organic ligands.

1 . A process, which comprises: 
 alkoxylating a monool with at least one alkoxylating agent to obtain a polyoxyalkylene alcohol in the presence of a catalyst which comprises a metallo-organic framework material of metal ions and at least bidentate coordinately bound organic ligands.    
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal ion is selected from the group consisting of any one elements of Groups 1 to 18, and combinations thereof of the periodic table of the elements.  
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the bidentate organic ligand is selected from the group consisting of a substituted aromatic mononuclear polycarboxylic acid, an unsubstituted aromatic mononuclear polycarboxylic acid, a substituted polynuclear aromatic polycarboxylic acid, an unsubstituted polynuclear aromatic polycarboxylic acid, a substituted aromatic mononuclear polycarboxylic acid comprising at least one heteroatom, an unsubstituted aromatic mononuclear polycarboxylic acid comprising at least one heteroatom, a substituted aromatic polynuclear polycarboxylic acid comprising at least one heteroatom, an unsubstituted aromatic polynuclear polycarboxylic acid comprising at least one heteroatom, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 3 , wherein the bidentate organic ligand is terephthalic acid or a derivative thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the metallo-organic framework material exhibits a specific surface area, as determined via adsorption, of >20 m 2 /g.  
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the alkoxylation agent is selected from the group consisting of a monofunctional epoxide having 2 to 30 carbon atoms, a multifunctional epoxide epoxides having 2 to 30 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 6 , wherein the epoxide is selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, a butylene oxide and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         9 . A method of using an alcohol obtained by the process as claimed in  claim 1 , which comprises: 
 preparing a tenside, a flotation oil, a lubricating liquid, a hydraulic fluid, a carrier liquid or a polyurethane foam comprising the alcohol.    
     
     
         10 . The method of using according to  claim 9  where the alcohol is selected from monools of linear and branched alkyl groups having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, which alkyl groups may carry one or more aryl substituents, of homo- and polynuclear aromatic groups having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, which aromatic groups may carry one or more alkyl substituents, and of linear and branched alkenyl groups having 2 to 30 carbon atoms and which alkenyl groups may carry one or more aryl substituents.