| abstract |
The present invention describes a catalyst composition. The composition of the present invention comprises a titanium compound, a complexing agent, hypophosphorous acid or a metal salt thereof, water and optionally a solvent. The complexing agent may be hydroxycarboxylic acid, alkanolamine, aminocarboxylic acid or a combination of two or more thereof. The solvent may be water, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, isopropylene glycol, butylene glycol, 1-methyl propylene glycol, pentylene glycol or a combination of two or more thereof. Titanium compounds may be combined with zirconium compounds. Also described are methods of using the compositions to prepare esters or polyesters. The method comprises contacting a carbonyl compound and an alcohol in the presence of the composition under conditions suitable for esterification, transesterification, polymerization, or a combination of two or more thereof. |