PURPOSE: To enable continuous reaction of methacrylic acid with isobutylene to form the titled substance, by carrying out the reaction under specific reaction molar ratio, reaction temperature, reaction conversion, etc., in the presence of a catalyst consisting of an ion exchange resin containing sulfonic acid group.
CONSTITUTION: The titled substance is produced by reacting methacrylic acid with isobutylene in the presence of an ion exchange resin containing sulfonic acid group. The reaction is carried out under a condition to satisfy the formula y<100-50x wherein x is ratio of total molar number of isobutylene and isobutylene reaction product to total molar number of methacrylic acid and methacrylic acid reaction product and y (%) is conversion of reaction product obtained at -20W+20°C based on isobutylene. After the reaction, unreacted isobutylene is exhausted, low-boiling components are removed and the objective compound is obtained as a distillate from the fractionation column. The unreacted methacrylic acid is recovered from the column bottom and recycled to the reaction step. The objective compound can be produced in high purity and yield. The product is useful as a constituent component of acrylic paint.
SATO TOSHIHIRO
KOBAYASHI MASAO
