| abstract |
The application provides a method of making a beta-lactone product. The process reacts an epoxide, a solvent with a carbonylation catalyst and carbon monoxide to produce a reaction stream comprising beta-lactone, and then a portion of the beta-lactone in the reaction stream is separated from the solvent and carbonylation catalyst, i) Producing a beta-lactone stream having beta-lactone and ii) a catalyst recycle stream comprising a carbonylation catalyst and a high boiling solvent; And adding the catalyst recycle stream to the feed stream. |