CATALYTIC CONVERSIONS OF PROPYLENE-GLYCOL ACETATES IN A POTASSIUM ACETATE MELT

The cyclization of glycol acetates to oxiranes generally occurs with the participation of strongly basic catalysts [1-4]. Earlier it was established that contacts produced by impregnating silicas (for example, diatomite) with alkali solutions are active and selective in the cyclization of glycol acetates [5, 6]. Since, over the course of their conversion, acetic acid is eliminated and neutralization of highly basic centres of the catalyst occurs with the formation on its surface of alkali metal acetate, it is of interest to establish the influence of the latter (for example, potassium acetate) on the catalytic conversions of glycol acetates.