POLYOXYMETHYLENE ETHERS Thomas Edwa

POLYOXYMETHYLENE ETHERS Thomas Edward Londergan, Niagara Falls, N. Y.,

assignor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delawere No Drawing. Application December 30,1944, A 5

Serial No. 570,763

8 Claims. (Cl. 260-615) This invention relates to the production of polyoxyinethylene ethers, and more particularly, it relates to a new and improved process for the production of polyoxymethylene ethers from formaldehyde and an aliphatic hydroxy compound in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid.

' It has been known, heretofore, to react formaldehyde, as well as paraformaldehyde, with aliphatic hydroxy compounds in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid-for the production of polyoxymethylene ethers. Such previously known processes were, however, limited to the production of such ethers in comparatively low yields. Prior, to this invention, the above reaction was carried out either by reacting the aliphatic hydroxy compound, for example methanol, with an aqueous solution of formaldehyde such as commercial aqueous formaldehyde, or the hydroxy compound was reacted with solid paraformaldehyde. As a result, yields of the ether above about 40% of theoretical could not be readily obtained.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved process for the production of a polyoiwmethylene ether from formaldehyde or formaldehyde polymers and an aliphatic hydroxy compound whereby greatly increased yields of the ether may be readily obtained.