Removal of alcohols and water from a methylcyclopentadiene recycle stream in a process for the synthesis of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl

Abstract

The field of the present invention is the synthesis of a manganese-containing organometallic compound—methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl. More specifically, a key raw material in the synthesis process is treated to reduce the amount of protic side products in the material, thereby improving the yield of the overall synthesis.

1 . A method of extracting water and alcohol from a mixture comprising methylcyclopentadiene, water and alcohol, comprising: 
 (a) providing an organic material comprising methylcyclopentadiene, water and alcohol;    (b) adding water to the organic material to create organic and aqueous fractions; and    (c) separating the organic and aqueous fractions;    wherein the separated organic fraction comprises less water or alcohol than in the organic material before the addition of water and separation of fractions.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alcohol comprises methanol.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alcohol comprises 2-methoxyethanol.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of water added to the organic material is from about one to about ten vol. %.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of water added to the organic material is about 2.5 vol. %.  
     
     
         6 . The method of claim f, further comprising processing the separated organic fraction by contacting a bed of molecular sieve.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising processing the separated organic fraction by contacting a bed of activated alumina.  
     
     
         8 . A method of improving the purity of methylcyclopentadiene to be added to a methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl synthesis reaction, by removing water and/or alcohol contaminants therein, said method comprising: 
 (a) adding to methylcyclopentadiene contaminated with water and/or alcohol an amount of water sufficient to create methylcyclopentadiene and aqueous fractions;    (b) separating the methylcyclopentadiene and aqueous fractions;    wherein the separated methylcyclopentadiene comprised less water and/or alcohol than the initial methylcyclopentadiene.    
     
     
         9 . Methylcyclopentadiene produced by the method of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising processing the separated organic fraction by contacting a bed of molecular sieve.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising processing the separated organic fraction by contacting a bed of activated alumina.  
     
     
         12 . Methylcyclopentadiene of  claim 11 , wherein the methylcyclopentadiene is greater than about 85%, by weight, pure.  
     
     
         13 . Methylcyclopentadiene of  claim 12 , wherein the methylcyclopentadiene is greater than about 90%, by weight, pure.  
     
     
         14 . Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl produced by the method comprising providing the methylcyclopentadiene of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         15 . A composition comprising a hydrocarbonaceous fuel and methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl of  claim 14 .  
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the hydrocarbonaceous fuel is selected from a group consisting of a gasoline fuel and a diesel fuel.  
     
     
         17 . An internal combustion engine containing the composition of  claim 15.