PURPOSE: To prepare the titled compound by reacting a crude ethylene oxide containing aldehyde with CO2 in the presence of a quaternary phosphonium salt and water, and hydrolyzing the obtained product containing ethylene carbonate.
CONSTITUTION: 1mol of ethylene oxide is made to react with ≥0.1mol (preferably 1W5mol) of CO2 in the presence of a quaternary phosphonium salt and water to obtain a product containing ethylene carbonate, which is hydrolyzed in the presenc of a hydrolysis catalyst and water while extracting the vapor (containing impurities such as aldehyde) from the reaction system and supplying water to the system. The quaternary phosphonium salt is represented by the formula (R1WR4 are alkyl or aryl; X is halogen), and has excellent performance also as a hydrolysis catalyst. Accordingly, the reaction product liquid obtained in the former reaction step is preferably used as it is in the hydrolysis reaction.
FURUYA TOSHIYUKI
YAMAGISHI MASAHIKO
NAKANISHI ATSUSHI
MORI HIDEKI
SHOWA DENKO KK
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