Methods and systems for the preparation of high purity and high quality cannabinoid acids and metal salts of cannabinoids. Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) is a major cannabinoid of interest for and health reasons. It is the natural precursor of cannabidiol (CBD). The invention provides methods for the synthesis of CBDA from CBD with reagents that produce a high purity product without need for further purification. Insertion of a magnesium complexing agent prior to conversion of the reaction intermediate to the final acid product produces a high purity product with aesthetically pleasing white color and neutral odor. Methods are provided for the simultaneous synthesis and purification of cannabinoid acids, especially CBDA, produced from high purity CBD (or other cannabinoid) via a Kolbe-Schmitt type reaction using an organic base, such as DBU (1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene), incorporating complexation of acid anions to a multivalent metal, alkaline earth or transition metal, prior to product acid work-up. During the work-up to the final acid, the distinct solubility of the complex in selected solvents is used advantageously to first exclude water soluble reagents and impurities and next to exclude lipophilic hydroxyl-quinone impurities, as well as any unconverted CBD.

Methods and systems for the preparation of high purity and high quality cannabinoid acids and metal salts of cannabinoids. Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) is a major cannabinoid of interest for and health reasons. It is the natural precursor of cannabidiol (CBD). The invention provides methods for the synthesis of CBDA from CBD with reagents that produce a high purity product without need for further purification. Insertion of a magnesium complexing agent prior to conversion of the reaction intermediate to the final acid product produces a high purity product with aesthetically pleasing white color and neutral odor. Methods are provided for the simultaneous synthesis and purification of cannabinoid acids, especially CBDA, produced from high purity CBD (or other cannabinoid) via a Kolbe-Schmitt type reaction using an organic base, such as DBU (1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene), incorporating complexation of acid anions to a multivalent metal, alkaline earth or transition metal, prior to product acid work-up. During the work-up to the final acid, the distinct solubility of the complex in selected solvents is used advantageously to first exclude water soluble reagents and impurities and next to exclude lipophilic hydroxyl-quinone impurities, as well as any unconverted CBD.

The invention relates to a process for distillative removal of a unsaturated carboxylic anhydride of the general formula (I) RC(O)OC(O)R in which R is an unsaturated organic radical having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, wherein said unsaturated carboxylic anhydride is discharged in gaseous form from a sidestream take-off and is condensed in an atomized liquid circulating stream of said unsaturated carboxylic anhydride.

The invention relates to a process for distillative removal of a unsaturated carboxylic anhydride of the general formula (I) RC(O)OC(O)R in which R is an unsaturated organic radical having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, wherein said unsaturated carboxylic anhydride is discharged in gaseous form from a sidestream take-off and is condensed in an atomized liquid circulating stream of said unsaturated carboxylic anhydride.

The invention relates to a process for distillative removal of a unsaturated carboxylic anhydride of the general formula (I) RC(O)OC(O)R in which R is an unsaturated organic radical having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, wherein said unsaturated carboxylic anhydride is discharged in gaseous form from a sidestream take-off and is condensed in an atomized liquid circulating stream of said unsaturated carboxylic anhydride.