US 7,456,249 B2
Catalyst, its preparation and the polymerization of cyclic ethers over this catalyst
Stephan Schlitter, Limburgerhof (Germany); Martin Haubner, Eppelheim (Germany); Michael Hesse, Worms (Germany); Stefan Kaeshammer, Schifferstadt (Germany); Rolf Pinkos, Bad Duerkheim (Germany); and Christoph Sigwart, Schriesheim (Germany)
Assigned to BASF SE, Ludwigshafen (Germany)
Filed on Jan. 10, 2008, as Appl. No. 11/971,931.
Application 11/971931 is a division of application No. 10/529035, previously published as PCT/EP03/10149, filed on Sep. 12, 2003.
Claims priority of application No. 102 45 198 (DE), filed on Sep. 27, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2008/0108786 A1, May 08, 2008
Int. Cl. C08G 59/68 (2006.01); C08G 65/26 (2006.01); B01J 21/16 (2006.01); B01J 35/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 528—408  [528/416; 528/485; 528/486; 526/89; 526/266; 526/268; 526/270; 526/271; 549/472; 560/12; 502/80; 502/81; 502/86] 5 Claims
 
1. A process for preparing polytetrahydrofuran, polytetrahydrofuran copolymers, and diesters or monoesters of these polymers, said process comprising:
polymerizing tetrahydrofuran in the presence of at least one telogen and/or comonomer and in the presence of a solid, acid catalyst,
said catalyst comprising a clay material which comprises at least 20% by weight of SiO2 and at least one further oxide of an element selected from the group consisting of Al, Fe and the elements of groups III A to VII A of the Periodic Table, and wherein said catalyst further comprises a proportion of alkali-soluble silicon dioxide of from 20 to 85% by weight, where the catalyst has been calcined at from 150 to 800° C. and has an N2 pore volume of at least 0.35 cm3/g for pore diameters in the range from 2 to 200 nm, with at least 0.2 cm3/g of this N2 pore volume being made up by pores having diameters in the range 5-50 nm and the mean BJH pore diameter (4V/A) of the pores in the range from 2 to 200 nm being from 2.0 to 10.0 nm, has a BET surface area of at least 160 m2/g and has an acid center density of at least 0.25 mmol/g for pKa values of from 1 to 6.