Opracowanie procesu otrzymywania ε-kaprolaktonu z cykloheksanonu i nadtlenku wodoru

A safer and more cost-effective method for producing ε-caprolactone using H₂O₂-derived perdecanoic acid were developed and conditions that maximize process selectivity and enable continuous prodn. were detd. High selectivity to ε-caprolactone (95–96%) was achieved under solvent-free conditions (45–55°C, 20–45 min). The addition of ZnO in toluene increased the selectivity to ~99% at high conversion and could be effectively recycled for ≥ 3 cycles. The limitation of perdecanoic acid molar ratio to cyclohexanone to ~2 mol % potentially removed the hazardous peroxide-destruction step facilitating continuous operation.