Thomas H Curtis

US Patent:

49906810, Feb 5, 1991

Filed:

Dec 4, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/445055

Inventors:

Thomas A. Curtis - Virginia Beach VA
Timothy R. Ryan - Corpus Christi TX
Daniel D. Lindley - D6239 Eppstein 3, DE

International Classification:

C07C 4580

US Classification:

568324

Abstract:

A method is provided for separating hydrogen fluoride (HF) from a mixture comprising HF complexed with an aromatic ketone in which the keto carbon atom is directly bonded to an aromatic ring carbon atom, e. g. , 4-isobutylacetophenone, by adding a carboxylic acid anhydride, e. g. , acetic anhydride, to the mixture while maintaining the mixture at conditions sufficient to sustain a reaction between the anhydride and the HF to form the corresponding acyl fluoride, e. g. , acetyl fluoride, and carboxylic acid, e. g. , acetic acid, and separating the acyl fluoride from the mixture. The method is conveniently carried out in a stripping column near the top of which the mixture comprising aromatic ketone and HF is fed and below which the anhydride is fed. Between these feed points, the uncomplexed HF is stripped from the mixture, while below the anhydride feed point or points, the anhydride reacts with the complexed HF to form the acyl fluoride which is stripped from the mixture, and the carboxylic acid. The separation method may be integrated with the production of the aromatic ketone by the Friedel-Crafts acylation of an aromatic compound, e. g.