Metal oxycarboxylates and method of making same

Abstract

Metal oxycarboxylates are made by reacting a metal, a carboxylic acid, and hydrogen peroxide in aqueous reaction mixture. The metal oxycarboxylate is precipitated and removed from the reaction mixture in high yield and with high purity. The compound is effective in supplying the metal to plants, animals and humans.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of preparing a metal oxycarboxylate which comprises reacting, in an aqueous reaction mixture at a temperature of below about 130° C., a metal, a carboxylic acid, and hydrogen peroxide to form said metal oxycarboxylate said hydrogen peroxide being utilized in said reaction mixture as a dilute aqueous solution of up to 10% H 2  O, precipitating said metal oxycarboxylate and separating the precipitated metal oxycarboxylate. 
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said metal comprises zinc. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of beryllium, .[.magnesium,.]. chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, .[.palladium, platinum, copper, silver, gold,.]. cadmium and mercury. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said carboxylic acid is an aliphatic carboxylic acid containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of formic, acetic, proprionic and butyric acid. 
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said acid comprises acetic acid. 
     
     
       7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the metal oxycarboxylate is precipitated by adding acetone to said reaction mixture. 
     
     
       8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the amount of metal is in excess of stoichiometric and wherein unreacted metal is removed from the reaction mixture prior to precipitation of said metal oxycarboxylate. 
     
     
       9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the amount of hydrogen peroxide is from 0.1 to 0.5 parts by weight per part by weight of metal. 
     
     
       10. A method according to claim 7 wherein the temperature of said reaction mixture is not in excess of about room temperature at the time of the addition of said acetone. 
     
     
       11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the reaction mixture is cooled to a temperature not in excess of 50° F. to facilitate said precipitation. 
     
     
       12. A method according to claim 1 wherein said metal oxycarboxylate has the formula M 4  O(R-CO 2 ) 6 . 
     
     
       13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of zinc, manganese, and cobalt. 
     
     
       14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said metal comprises zinc. 
     
     
       15. A method according to claim 12 wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of beryllium, chromium, nickel, cadmium and mercury. 
     
     
       16. A method according to claims 12 and 13 wherein said carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid and formic acid. 
     
     
       17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said metal comprises zinc. .[.18. Metal oxycarboxylate having the formula M 4  O(R-CO 2 ) 6   wherein M is a metal cation selected from the group consisting of chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel cadmium, and mercury, and R is hydrogen or alkyl..]. .[.19. A compound according to claim 18 wherein said metal comprises manganese..]. .[.20. A compound according to claim 19 wherein R is hydrogen or methyl..].