Method for the production of methylsuccinic acid and the anhydride thereof from citric acid

A process for the preparation of methylsuccinic acid in any form, including its salts, its mono- and diester derivatives and the anhydride thereof, which comprises reacting citric acid or a derivative thereof in decarboxylation conditions, said process comprising (i) reacting citric acid or mono- and diester derivatives thereof in a non- aqueous solvent, specifically excluding alcohols, on a metallic catalyst at a temperature between 50 to 400°C and under a partial hydrogen pressure from 0.1 to 50 bar or (ii) reacting citric acid or any salt thereof or mono-, di- and triester derivatives thereof on a metallic catalyst in solvents comprising at least 5% water, at a temperature of from 50 to 400°C under a hydrogen partial pressure from 0.1 to 400 bar

Patent Publication Number: WO2018065475

Year filing: 2017

Year approval: 2019

Year publication: 2018

Status: Requested

Technology domains: Organic fine chemistry

Validated for IOF-key: Yes

Attributed to: Associatie KULeuven