| abstract |
An ester interchange process, preferably for the formation of vinyl higher esters from methyl acrylate or methacrylate, is conducted in the presence of a novel alcoholate of the formula [M1(OR4)2-aRa6]x[M2(OR4)n-bRb6]y I wherein M1 is selected from Mg, Ca and Ba M2 is selected from Ti, Zr and Al n is 3 or 4 and is the valency of M2 a is a number from 0 to 1.5 b is a number from 0 to 0.75n x+Y=1 and each is a number from 0.005 to 0.995 and is such that the compound is liquid at 30 DEG 0 C. R4 is selected from alkyl having at least 4 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having at least 4 carbon atoms and aminoalkyl, and each group R6 is individually selected from C1-3 alkoxy and blocking groups that are substantially less reactive in the ester interchange reaction than the groups OR4. |