abstract |
Alkylene oxides are hydrolyzed in a reaction menstruum containing an aqueous phase, a water-immiscible liquid phase, and a selectivity-enhancing, dissociatable metalate anion-containing material. The concentration of the metalate anion-containing material is greater in the water-immiscible liquid phase than that in the aqueous phase. The water-immiscible liquid phase can be separated from the aqueous phase to recover metalate anion-containing material. |