Method of producing diol derivatives

Abstract

A method of producing a diol derivative efficiently and to high purity is provided. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method of producing a diol derivative having, as a fundamental step, a step of obtaining an α-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester by reacting (i) one or more 1,2-diols or (ii) a 1,2-diol and a primary alcohol as starting material(s) with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising metal loaded on a carrier, further hydrolyzing the α-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester to obtain α-hydroxycarboxylic acid, and subjecting the α-hydroxycarboxylic acid to polycondensation.

1 . A glycolic acid ester containing substantially no formaldehyde or chlorine.  
   
   
       2 . The glycolic acid ester according to  claim 1 , which is α-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester.  
   
   
       3 . The glycolic acid ester according to  claim 2 , which is obtained by reacting (i) one or more 1,2-diols or (ii) a 1,2-diol and a primary alcohol as starting material(s) with oxygen in the presence of catalyst comprising metal loaded on a carrier.  
   
   
       4 . Glycolic acid containing substantially no formaldehyde or chlorine.  
   
   
       5 . The glycolic acid according to  claim 4 , which is α-hydroxycarboxylic acid.  
   
   
       6 . The glycolic acid according to  claim 5 , which is obtained by reacting (i) one or more 1,2-diols or (ii) a 1,2-diol and a primary alcohol as starting material(s) with oxygen in the presence of catalyst comprising metal loaded on a carrier to obtain α-hydroycarboylic acid ester, and hydrolyzing the α-hydroycarboylic acid ester.  
   
   
       7 . Polyglycolic acid containing substantially no formaldehyde or chlorine.  
   
   
       8 . The polyglycolic acid according to  claim 7 , which has an average molecular weight of 200-150,000.  
   
   
       9 . The polyglycolic acid according to  claim 7 , which has an average molecular weight of 50,000-1,000,000.  
   
   
       10 . The polyglycolic acid according to  claim 7 , which is α-polyhydroxycarboxylic acid.  
   
   
       11 . The polyglycolic acid according to  claim 8 , which is obtained by reacting (i) one or more 1,2-diols or (ii) a 1,2-diol and a primary alcohol as starting material(s) with oxygen in the presence of catalyst comprising metal loaded on a carrier to obtain α-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester, hydrolyzing the α-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester to obtain α-hydroxycarboxylic acid, and subjecting the α-hydroxycarboxylic acid to polycondensation.  
   
   
       12 . The polyglycolic acid according to  claim 9 , which is obtained by reacting (i) one or more 1,2-diols or (ii) a 1,2-diol and a primary alcohol as starting material(s) with oxygen in the presence of catalyst comprising metal loaded on a carrier to obtain α-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester and subjecting the obtained α-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester to polycondensation.