US 7,598,402 B2
	Process for synthesizing trioxymethylene using ionic liquid
Jing Chen, Lanzhou (China); Heyuan Song, Lanzhou (China); Chungu Xia, Lanzhou (China); Zhonghua Tang, Lanzhou (China); Xinzhi Zhang, Beijing (China); Zhen Li, Lanzhou (China); and Enxiu Guo, Beijing (China)
Assigned to Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou (China); and Blue Diamond International Co., Ltd., Hong Kong (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, The)
Filed on Jan. 18, 2008, as Appl. No. 12/16,837.
Prior Publication US 2008/0293954 A1, Nov. 27, 2008
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C07D 323/06 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 549—368

11 Claims

1. A process for synthesizing trioxymethylene, comprising forming a reaction mixture by reacting an aqueous solution of formaldehyde with an acidic ionic liquid as a catalyst, wherein the acidic ionic liquid is present in an amount of from 0.01 to 10 wt % of the reaction mixture and has a cation moiety and an anion moiety, wherein the cation moiety of the catalyst is selected from imidazole cations and pyridine cations.