| abstract |
Disclosed is a novel process for the manufacture of 2,2,4,4 tetramethylcyclobutane 1,3 diol commencing with the pyrolysis of isobutyric anhydride to produce dimethylketene. Dimethylketene is absorbed into 2,2,4,4 tetramethylcyclobutane 1,3 dione which function as the process solvents for subsequent dimerization of the dimethylketene to 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutane-1,3 -dione followed by the catalytic hydrogenation of the dione to the diol product. |