FORM 2
The Patent Act 1970,
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent rule 2003
Complete Specification
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
"PROCESS FOR OXIDATION OF 3-PENTANOL"
2. APPLICANT: NAME: ALCHEM SYNTHON PRIVATE LIMITED
NATIONALITY: INDIAN
ADDRESS: B-201, GIRIJA, NEELKANTH HEIGHTS,
POKHARAN NO 2, SHIVA1 NAGAR, THANE (W) 400 606
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification describes the invention

PROCESS FOR THE OXIDATION OF 3-PENTANOL
Field of invention
The invention provides a process for industrially and advantageous production of 3-pentanone which comprises subjecting 3-pentanol or mixture of 3-pentanol and 3-pentanone or mixture of 3-pentanol, 3-pentanone and 3-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-pentylamine to vapor phase catalytic oxidation in the presence of a catalyst consisting of Copper oxide, Zinc oxide supported on alumina or silica. Background of the Invention:
Commercial process for producing Pendimethalin involves the reductive alkylation of 3,4—dimethylaniline or 3,4-dimethylnitrobenzene with 3-pentanone in the presence of a suitable noble metal catalyst and hydrogen gas. During the process part of 3-pentanone also gets reduced to 3-pentanol, thereby generating this side product in a substantial quantity. Since Pendimethalin is manufactured in several hundred tons, this side product 3-pentanol is also generated in substantial quantities, which needs to be processed in order to reduce the load on effluent. Either incineration or converting the waste stream of 3-pentanol into valuable chemical entity can substantially lower down this effluent load and economics. Incineration is a very costly operation mainly due to high-energy consumption, whereas converting a waste stream into useful chemical entity would be an added advantage and will reduce load on environment. The primary purpose of this invention is to convert 3-pentanol or mixture consisting of 3-pentanol and 3-pentanone or mixture consisting of 3-pentanol, 3-pentanone, 3-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-pentylamine into 3-pentanone which can be further recycled for production of Pendimethalin.
Industrial methods for the production of the 3-pentanone are catalytic ketonization of propionic acid over a thorium oxide or zirconium oxide catalyst at 350-380°C (1)E2111722) and hydroformylation of ethylene in the presence of cobalt carbonyl complexes at 100°C (DP2445193). Another method reported for 3-pentanone

involves (he catalytic oxidation of 3-pentanol at 375°C (DE2358254). The other method reported for the oxidation of 3-pentanol involves polymer supported platinum complex supported on silicon dioxide (Polym. Adv. Technol, 5(9), 609-11 (1994). The major disadvantage of these reported processes for the oxidation of 3-pentanol are requirement of high temperature, very specific catalyst and high purity of 3-pentanol feed.
The primary purpose of this invention is to convert 3-pentanol or mixture of 3-penlanol consisting .of 3-pentanone or mixture-of 3-pentanol consisting of 3-pentanone and 3-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-pentylamine to 3-pentanone.
Object of invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide a process for conversion of 3-pentanol to 3-pentanone by vapor phase catalytic oxidation in the presence of a catalyst consisting of copper oxide, zinc oxide supported on alumina or silica at temperature in the range of 150°C to 300°C.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a process for converting 3-pennmol, consisting of 3-pentanone, to 3-Pentanone by vapor phase catalytic oxidation in the presence of a catalyst consisting of Copper oxide, Zinc oxide supported on alumina or silica at temperature in the range of 150°C to 300°C. It is another object of the present invention to provide a process for converting 3-pentanol consisting of 3-pentanone and 3-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-pentylamine to 3-Pentanone by vapor phase catalytic oxidation in the presence of a catalyst consisting of copper oxide, zinc oxide supported on alumina or silica at temperature in the range of 150oC to 300°C.

Detailed Description of The invention:
According to the process of the present, invention 3-pentanol or mixture of 3-pentanol consisting of 3-pentanone or mixture of 3-pentanol consisting of 3-pentanone and -(3,4-dimelhylphenyl) pentylamine is oxidized to 3-pentanone using vapor phase catalytic oxidation process in presence of a catalyst consisting of copper oxide, zinc oxide supported on alumina or silica at temperature ranging from 150° - 300°C. In one aspect of the invention 3-pentanol is oxidized to 3-pentanone using vapor phase catalytic oxidation process in presence of a catalyst consisting of copper oxide, zinc oxide supported on alumina or silica at temperature ranging from 150° - 300°C. In another aspect of the present invention mixture of 3-pentanol consisting of 3-pentanone is oxidized to 3-pentanone using vapor phase catalytic oxidation process in presence of a catalyst consisting of copper oxide, zinc oxide supported on alumina or silica at temperature ranging from 150° - 300°C. The 3-pentanone content in the mixture of 3-penlanol and 3-pentanone is in the range of 0.5 to 95%, preferably in the range of 40 to 60% and most preferably 3-pentanone content in the mixture is in the range of20 to 40%.
In another aspect of the present invention the mixture of 3-pentanol consisting of 3-pentanone and (3,4-dimelhylphenyl) pentylamine the 3-pentanone content varies in the range of 0.5 to 95%, preferably in the range of 40 to 60% and most preferably 3-pentanonc content in the mixture is in the range, of 20 to 40 %. The (3,4-dimethylphenyl) pentylamine content in the mixture varies from 0.5 to 5 % and most preferably it is in the range of 1 to 2%.
The process according to the invention is preferably carried out at 150° to 300°C preferably at temperature in the range of 180° to 280°C and most preferably at 210° to 250°C.
In another aspect of the invention the oxidation is performed over suitable copper catalyst having mixture of copper oxide and zinc oxide. The content of copper oxide in the catalyst is preferably from 35 to 48% and most preferably it is 40 to 43%. The

content zinc oxide in the catalyst is preferably from 40 to 50% and most preferably
45 to 48%. The catalyst is deposited on suitable support such as alumina or silica.
The process according to the invention is carried out under normal pressure; the
application of vacuum or slight excess pressure can also be applied if required.
The following examples illustrate the process of this invention and are not to be
construed as limitations thereof.
Example 1;
The assembly for the run consists of a pre heater attached with an air or nitrogen inlet
and temperature is maintained at 150°C to 180°C. A stainless steel tube consisting of
catalyst and temperature is maintained at 210° to 250°C. 3-Pentanol is slowly added
to the pre heater to vaporize and the vapors are passed through the catalyst bed and
the condensate is analyzed by GLC which shows around 95% conversion with ratio
94 % 3-pentanone and 6 % 3-pentanol.
Example 2:
The assembly for the run consists of a pre heater attached with an air or nitrogen inlet
and temperature is maintained at 150°C to 180°C. A stainless steel tube consisting of
catalyst and temperature is maintained at 210° to 250°C. Mixture of 3-Pentanol
consisting of 20 to 40 % 3-pentanone is slowly added to the pre heater to vaporize
and the vapors are passed through the catalyst bed and the condensate is analyzed by
GLC which shows around 93% conversion with ratio 91 % 3-pentanone and 9 % 3-
penlanol.
Example 3:
The assembly for the run consists of a pre heater attached with an air or nitrogen inlet
and temperature is maintained at 150°C to 180°C. A stainless steel tube consisting of
catalyst and temperature is maintained at 210° to 250°C. Mixture of 3-Pentanol
consisting of 20 to .40 % 3-pentano'ne and 1 to 2 % (3,4-dimethylphenyl)
pentylamme is slowly added to the pre heater to vaporize and the vapors are passed

through the catalyst bed and the condensate is analyzed by GLC which shows around 90% conversion with ratio 89 % 3-pentanone, 11 % 3-pentanol.
Claims:
1. A process for producing 3-Pentanone which comprises of subjecting 3-Pentanol or mixture of 3-pentanol consisting of 3-peritanone or mixture of 3-pentanol consisting of 3-pentanone and - (3,4-dimethylphenyl) pentylamine to vapor phase catalytic oxidation at a temperature in the range from 150°C to 300°C in presence of catalyst consisting of Copper oxide, Zinc Oxide supported on alumina or silica.
2. A process according to Claim 1, where in content of 3-pentanone in mixture of 3-pentanol and 3-pentanone is in the range of 0.5 to 95%, preferably it is in the range of 40 to 60% and most preferably it is in the range of 20 to 40%.
3. A process according to Claim 1 and 2 wherein the 3-pentanone content in the mixture of 3-pentanol and 3-pentanone is 20 to 40%..
4. A process according to Claim 1, where in the mixture of 3-pentanol consisting of 3-pentanone and (3,4-dimethylphenyl) pentylamine the 3-pentanone content varies in the range of 0.5 to 95%, preferably in the range of 40 to 60% and most preferably 3-penlanone content in the mixture is in the range of 20 to 40 %. The (3,4-dimethylphenyl) pentylamine content in the mixture varies from 0.5 to 5 % and most preferably it is in the range of 1 to 2%.

5. A process according to Claim 1 wherein the vapor phase catalytic oxidation is performed ai temperature in the range of 150°C to 300°C, more preferably at 180 to 280°C and the most preferred temperature is 210°C to 250°C.
6. A process according to Claim 1 wherein the vapor phase catalytic oxidation is performed over a catalyst consisting of Copper oxide. The content of Copper oxide in the catalyst is preferably from 35 to 48% and most preferably 40 to 43%.

7. A process according to Claim 1 wherein the vapor phase catalytic oxidation is performed over a catalyst consisting of Zinc oxide. The content of Zinc oxide in the catalyst is preferably from 40 to 50% and most preferably 45 to 48%.