A process for the selective dimerization and etherification of isoolefins. The process including feeding a mixed C5 stream to a selective hydrogenation unit to convert dienes to olefins and isoolefins, producing a hydrogenated effluent stream. The hydrogenated effluent stream is fed to a first fixed bed reactor, producing a first reactor effluent. The first reactor effluent is fed to a catalytic distillation reactor system, producing a first overheads including unreacted olefins, isoolefins, oxygenate, and one or more C5 ethers and a first bottoms including dimers of the isoolefins, any produced trimers of the isoolefins, and heavy oxygenates. The first overheads is fed to a second fixed bed reactor, producing a second reactor effluent including dimers of the isoolefins, unreacted C5s, and unreacted oxygenates. The first bottoms stream and the second reactor effluent are combined and fed to a product splitter, producing a second overheads stream including unreacted C5 olefins, isoolefins, and oxygenates and a second bottoms stream including C10+ hydrocarbons.

A method for preparing 1,2-propanediol and dipropylene glycol involves continuously reacting propene with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst mixture, containing a phase transfer catalyst and a heteropolytungstate, in a liquid reaction mixture containing an aqueous phase with a maximum apparent pH of 6 and an organic phase, to obtain 1,2-propanediol and dipropylene glycol. The method then involves separating the reaction mixture into an aqueous phase (P.sub.a) containing 1,2-propanediol and dipropylene glycol and an organic phase (P.sub.o); recycling at least part of the separated organic phase (P.sub.o) to the reaction; and recovering 1,2-propanediol and dipropylene glycol from the separated aqueous phase (P.sub.a), The reaction heat generated is at least partially removed, and the ratio of 1,2 propanediol to dipropylene glycol is controlled by adjusting the weight ratio of hydrogen peroxide to water fed to the reaction.

A method for preparing 1,2-propanediol and dipropylene glycol involves continuously reacting propene with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst mixture, containing a phase transfer catalyst and a heteropolytungstate, in a liquid reaction mixture containing an aqueous phase with a maximum apparent pH of 6 and an organic phase, to obtain 1,2-propanediol and dipropylene glycol. The method then involves separating the reaction mixture into an aqueous phase (P.sub.a) containing 1,2-propanediol and dipropylene glycol and an organic phase (P.sub.o); recycling at least part of the separated organic phase (P.sub.o) to the reaction; and recovering 1,2-propanediol and dipropylene glycol from the separated aqueous phase (P.sub.a), The reaction heat generated is at least partially removed, and the ratio of 1,2 propanediol to dipropylene glycol is controlled by adjusting the weight ratio of hydrogen peroxide to water fed to the reaction.

Systems and processes for the efficient conversion of high concentration isoolefin streams to tertiary alkyl ethers are disclosed. The systems and processes may include a feed system to advantageously divide the high concentration isoolefin feed to multiple fixed bed reactors and a catalytic distillation reactor to control the reaction exotherm and achieve a high isoolefin conversion.

Systems and processes for the efficient conversion of high concentration isoolefin streams to tertiary alkyl ethers are disclosed. The systems and processes may include a feed system to advantageously divide the high concentration isoolefin feed to multiple fixed bed reactors and a catalytic distillation reactor to control the reaction exotherm and achieve a high isoolefin conversion.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a dialkyi or dialkenyl ether of a cycloaliphatic or araliphatic diol, which comprises (i) reacting the cycloaliphatic or araliphatic diol with metallic sodium in an aprotic organic solvent in the presence of a catalytic amount of at least one monoether-monoalcohol of formula (I) wherein Y is identical or different and selected from C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkylene, n is an integer in the range from 1 to 10, and R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-C.sub.4-Alkyl, whereby the corresponding disodium dialcoholate is obtained, reacting the disodium dialcoholate obtained in step (i) with an alkylation alkenylation reagent. ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a dialkyi or dialkenyl ether of a cycloaliphatic or araliphatic diol, which comprises (i) reacting the cycloaliphatic or araliphatic diol with metallic sodium in an aprotic organic solvent in the presence of a catalytic amount of at least one monoether-monoalcohol of formula (I) wherein Y is identical or different and selected from C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkylene, n is an integer in the range from 1 to 10, and R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-C.sub.4-Alkyl, whereby the corresponding disodium dialcoholate is obtained, reacting the disodium dialcoholate obtained in step (i) with an alkylation alkenylation reagent. ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a dialkyi or dialkenyl ether of a cycloaliphatic or araliphatic diol, which comprises (i) reacting the cycloaliphatic or araliphatic diol with metallic sodium in an aprotic organic solvent in the presence of a catalytic amount of at least one monoether-monoalcohol of formula (I) wherein Y is identical or different and selected from C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkylene, n is an integer in the range from 1 to 10, and R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-C.sub.4-Alkyl, whereby the corresponding disodium dialcoholate is obtained, reacting the disodium dialcoholate obtained in step (i) with an alkylation alkenylation reagent. ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a dialkyi or dialkenyl ether of a cycloaliphatic or araliphatic diol, which comprises (i) reacting the cycloaliphatic or araliphatic diol with metallic sodium in an aprotic organic solvent in the presence of a catalytic amount of at least one monoether-monoalcohol of formula (I) wherein Y is identical or different and selected from C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkylene, n is an integer in the range from 1 to 10, and R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-C.sub.4-Alkyl, whereby the corresponding disodium dialcoholate is obtained, reacting the disodium dialcoholate obtained in step (i) with an alkylation alkenylation reagent.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a dialkyi or dialkenyl ether of a cycloaliphatic or araliphatic diol, which comprises (i) reacting the cycloaliphatic or araliphatic diol with metallic sodium in an aprotic organic solvent in the presence of a catalytic amount of at least one monoether-monoalcohol of formula (I) wherein Y is identical or different and selected from C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkylene, n is an integer in the range from 1 to 10, and R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-C.sub.4-Alkyl, whereby the corresponding disodium dialcoholate is obtained, reacting the disodium dialcoholate obtained in step (i) with an alkylation alkenylation reagent.