| abstract |
The invention relates to a catalyst for the reaction of formaldehyde with a carboxylic acid or ester to produce an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or ester, preferably α, β ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids or ester. The catalyst includes a metal oxide having at least two types of metal cations, M 1 and M 2 , wherein M 1 is at least one metal selected from group 3 or 4 in the 4 th to 6 th periods of the periodic table, group 13 in the 3 rd to 5 th periods of the periodic table, or the remaining elements in the lanthanide series and M 2 is at least one metal selected from group 5 in the 5 th or 6 th periods of the periodic table or group 15 in the 4 th or 5 th periods of the periodic table. The production includes reacting formaldehyde with a carboxylic acid or esterin the presence of the catalyst effective to catalyze the reaction. |